News

SANParks, supported by First National Bank and Total South Africa, recognises deserving individuals, departments and parks at the Kudu Awards annually through awarding them with Chief Executive Awards. According to Glenn Phillips, Acting SANParks CEO, “The Kudu has for the last 10 years recognised internal stakeholders for their efforts in making SANParks the custodian of choice for the national parks system.” All the awards were bestowed for achievements during the previous financial year: 2013/14.

1. Best Performing Camp:

Addo Elephant National Park”s Main Camp, for the second year in a row, won the Chief Executive Award for Best Performing Camp. Some of their achievements during this time were:

• An increase of 15% in visitors from 161 668 in 2012/13 to 186 111. This put Addo in fifth place of all national parks for total visitors.
• Unit occupancy increased to nearly 89% which was second best of all national parks.
• The camp”s bed occupancy was 79% – the highest of all national parks.
• Camping occupancy was nearly 75% – the highest of all national parks.
• The game drives office sold 29 193 seats, which accounted for the second highest activities sold per 100 overnight guests of all camps.

2. Best Performing Park:

Mountain Zebra National Park, outside Cradock, outperformed all other national parks during the period under review. They received the Chief Executive Award for Best Performing Park. Some of the park”s highlights in the organisation”s three core business areas of Conservation, Tourism and People & Conservation included:

Conservation

• Three lions were successfully introduced, improving the biodiversity of the park, improving predator-prey dynamics (especially in terms of large herbivores) and restoring a species to its natural habitat after an absence of more than 130 years.
• The cheetah population was managed effectively through contraception and monitoring. New cheetah genes were brought into the small population through an effective swop with a reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Tourism

• Visitor numbers increased by more than 14% in comparison to the same period the previous year (from 20 529 in 2012/13 to 23 484).
• Unit occupancy showed a 6.6% increase (from 69.9% in 2012/13 to 76.5%).
• Camping showed a 4.2% increase (from 45.4% in 2012/13 to 49.6%).
• Activities booked showed an increase of 43% with night guided drives and cheetah tracking being the most popular drives.

People & Conservation

• A total of 3 354 learners were addressed during environmental education programmes. This represents a 165% improvement on the previous financial year”s achievement (3 354 learners during 2013/14 compared to 2 036 learners during 2012/13).
• There was a 185% improvement in the number of people who entered for free during South African National Parks Week (615 in 2013/14 compared to 329 in 2012/13).

Best Customer Service:

Camdeboo National Park, surrounding the town of Graaff-Reinet, wouldn”t be left behind. Receptionist, Janine Masimela, took home an award for Best Customer Service. Janine has been working in the position for the past two-and-a-half years and received recognition for her friendly engagement with guests and her vibrant personality. As the first point of interaction guests have with the park, Janine”s positive attitude in the front office sets the tone for the rest of their stay. Visitors regularly commend her work, proving that she is indeed a true asset to the park.

Excellent Performance in the Workplace:

Regional Social Development Co-ordinator for Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP), Zukiswa Masela, took home with her the award for Excellent Performance in the Workplace. Under her leadership the region over-achieved on operational skills-related training by achieving 144% – resulting in meaningful growth and development in people”s lives in the process. She established a fully functional bookkeeper”s programme, endorsed by the SMME”s and which has made a noticeable difference in the manner in which they are now managing their financials.

During this time Zukiswa also managed the training centre at Addo Elephant National Park with complete professionalism. During 2013/14 the centre provided 87 beneficiaries with 2 865 hours of skills development classes such as basic computing, contractor development, quotation training, health and safety, risk management, leadership and others. Finally, she implemented new initiatives into the region, such as a transformation strategy and establishing a number of partnerships with local NGO”s.

All had been winners in the organisation”s regional awards ceremony in June this year, and so qualified to be entered into the prestigious national awards.

Winners from SANParks in the Eastern Cape at the organisation”s Kudu Awards ceremony. Zukiswa Masele (Regional Social Development Co-ordinator – Biodiversity Social Projects), Janine Masimela (Receptionist – Camdeboo National Park), Dawid Momberg (Hospitality Services Manager – Addo Elephant National Park) and Megan Taplin (Park Manager – Mountain Zebra National Park)

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region Communications

Enquiries:
Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5371; Cell: 082 888 0201
Email: [email protected]