News

Dear Friends

This is the very first of what will feature on our website as a monthly greeting from SANParks Executive Management to all of our valued online stakeholders!

As we approach the holiday season, we hope that many of you will be visiting our Parks, and enjoying the beauty and diversity of our wild places. May you return from your travels refreshed and restored in mind, body and spirit!

Traditionally, as the calendar year draws to a close, thoughts turn to the year that has passed and the new year that will follow. 2006 was an exciting year for SANParks, but worth mentioning are the following highlights:

“¢ The inaugural South African National Parks Week to celebrate our natural, cultural and historical heritage.

“¢ Completion of the Park Management Plans for all national parks, as required by the new legislation.

“¢ Another successful implementation of the “˜Kids in Parks’ programme which has seen thousands of school kids from mostly previously disadvantaged communities coming to our parks (look out for full details in this year’s annual report).

“¢ At the end of the previous financial year (31 March 2005) we recorded 18,8% black visitors to national parks from 11% the previous year.

“¢ Occupancy levels recorded at the previous financial year were at 66%, above the country industry average of between 45% and 49% (as of September 2006).

“¢ The second round of Kudu Awards were sucessfully awarded. These are aimed at rewarding excellent performance within the organization and contributions to conservation by stakeholders.

“¢ We won several awards, of which the recent were the PMR (Professional Management Review) Awards done through peer review. Several awards were won by the parks, but on a national level we won the silver award on the category “˜Highest Rated Overall’.

“¢ Establishment of the new national park in the Northern Cape province.

In the new calendar year we can also look forward to some exciting initiatives, amongst them:

“¢ A final report on the contribution of national parks to the GDP of the country and impact on local economic development.

“¢ The second round of the South African National Parks Week

“¢ Launch of the new national park (previously known as Vaalbos).

“¢ Forumites cricket match in Kruger National Park

This year has also been a great one for the SANParks forum and website, with lots of changes and developments taking place online. Our forum members and website users have been participating enthusiastically in several initiatives, which have seen our relationship with this community grow from strength to strength. T

he organization has gained much from the ideas coming from this community. We really do appreciate your energy and creativity and look forward to seeing you all on line in 2007!

2006 has been a great year and I thank everyone for their input.

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season

Wanda Mkutshulwa

SANParks Head of Corporate Communications