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The five South African National Parks in the Frontier Region experienced a boost in visitor numbers over the past festive season. The Addo Elephant, Camdeboo, Garden Route, Karoo and Mountain Zebra National Parks all gained in popularity compared to the same period over the last two years.

Cumulatively, they recorded a year-on-year increase in visitors of 4.9% from mid-December to the end of the first week in January. Numbers of visitors increased from 126 265 two years ago to 132 728 this past season. Accommodation occupancy also increased slightly, from 88% to 91%.

The biggest increase was observed at Karoo National Park just outside Beaufort West, which experienced a 47.4% jump in gate arrivals – from 5 246 to 7 734. Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) welcomed 35 563 visitors recently, compared to 30 011 two years ago – an increase of 18.4%.

AENP had the highest occupancy rate – up by 11% compared to the same period last year. Cradock’s Mountain Zebra National Park also had good gains – increasing their occupancy from 85% to almost 90%.

Regional General Manager, Dries Engelbrecht, said, “We are pleased with the overall tourism statistics we’ve achieved this past season, without any serious incidents. If it wasn’t for our staff members who were on duty, forgoing time with friends and family over this period, we would not have been able to achieve these milestones. Their hard work and dedication, under extremely busy and trying conditions, does not go unnoticed. We are happy that we are still a destination of choice for so many people and we hope that they made wonderful memories while in the parks.”

“The growth we’ve seen at Karoo National Park, in particular, is astounding. We think the main reason for this spike in numbers is that we had many more day visitors over the extremely hot days in December, who came into the Park to enjoy the Bulkraal picnic site with its refreshing swimming pool. On busy days such as those, we had to cap the numbers at 100 people at a time so that the picnic site did not get too busy, and over the past festive season, we had to implement this more often than in previous years. It would also appear as if the fire which gutted the restaurant and shop at the Storms River Rest Camp did not significantly impact the tourism figures. We were fortunate to have erected temporary structures for both in time for the season,” Engelbrecht concluded.

2017

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www.sanparks.org

Frontier Times

Camdeboo

Karoo

Addo Elephant

Garden Route

Busy festive season for the Frontier Region

Message from Paddy Gordon, Acting Regional General Manager

One can almost not believe that we’re at the end of the first month of 2017! And what an end we had to 2016, with the rezoning of Africa’s oldest Marine Protected Area, in Tsitsikamma, being announced just as the holiday season kicked off. This rezoning allows registered Tsitsikamma residents access to about 20% of the coastline for angling. Read more about this on the following page.

You might already have read that we were happy to report an increase in tourism figures to a number of our parks in the region over the festive season. It’s great to know that so many people, not just South Africans but our international visitors as well, enjoy experiencing the beauty and wonder that our parks have to offer, whether it be year after year, or if they’re only visiting for the first time. We trust that first time visitors will become longtime friends.

The inaugural Roof de Karoo Mountain Bike Traverse is set to take place in less than two months. Billed as an “experience” instead of a race, participants will be cycling along the mountains (roof) of the Karoo, between Mountain Zebra and Camdeboo National Parks. They will be crossing farms inbetween and criss-crossing the Sundays River a number of times along the route. What makes this experience even more special is the fact that cyclists get to ride in big game area parks, which usually don’t allow for cycling, therefore making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed.

From all of us here at SANParks, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderfully blessed 2017. We look forward to welcoming you again soon…

Januar y

The SANParks team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) has put temporary measures in place to kick-start the registration of local anglers to access Three Coastal Controlled Zones (TCCZs). This follows the approval of the rezoning of Africa’s oldest Marine Protected Area (MPA). Regulations were published in the Government Gazette on Monday, 19 December 2016. Limited access of about 20% of the coastline is open and 80% of the MPA remains a no-take zone.

“We are introducing measures to allow responsible angling starting with the registration process which kick-started on 24 December,” said Bulelwa Msengi, Area Manager of Tsitsikamma. Only those local Tsitsikamma community residents living between Covie and the Bloukrans River or within the Koukamma Municipal area qualify as Tsitsikamma residents as specified in the regulations. A central registration point has been established at the SANParks Offices at Storms River Village and will be open for registration from 09h00-16h00 during weekdays and 09h00-15h00 over weekends.

The registration card enables access solely for registered Tsitsikamma anglers for recreational fishing within the TCCZs within the specifications of the regulations and Park rules as defined by the Protected Areas Act. Access to the Park for other recreational purposes and/or members of the community requires access through normal Park entry gates.

All internal rules governing access and use of the TCCZs, once established, must be followed by all persons accessing the Park.

Park Rangers will be monitoring and patrolling the TCCZs referred to in the Gazette regulations. “All regulations as published in the Gazette must be adhered to. In addition, SANParks will erect signage and posters to guide and aid anglers,” concluded Msengi.

Addo Elephant National Park• The Interpretive Centre and other new features in the camp are a great improvement.

Camdeboo National Park• A huge thank you to Ferdie Serfontein who went out of his way to help us fix the bearing on our trailer and following it up with catching a snake elsewhere in the Park. He was extremely friendly and helpful. Thank you again, Ferdie.• The camp site was very nice and should actually be a model for many other parks.• The communal kitchen was wonderful. The reed ablutions added to the experience. The safari tent was wonderful, adding to the ambience.

Garden Route National Park• Friendliest gate staff by a mile. This camp has honestly the best staff of any I have visited. We loved our family cabin. Amazing spot! • I was thoroughly impressed by the SANParks service. You are doing an amazing job!• The front office at Storms River Rest Camp is an example of Service Excellence. It is amazing how professional they are given the fact that construction of the new entrance gate was incomplete. Hesron Ruiters and his team are really tops and should be awarded for their level of dedication.• We found the temporary restaurant setup impressive and meeting all our requirements.

Karoo National Park• Thank you SANParks for another enjoyable stay. A proudly South African venue. Well done! • Always excellent reception and gate at the Karoo.• From the moment we entered the gate we were treated very well by all staff. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Also the beautiful views and roads. Will visit again soon.• We loved the Salt & Pepper Curio Shop! Well-stocked products with an excellent selection of gifts at reasonable prices. I especially enjoyed seeing a wide variety of Afrikaans merchandise for sale.

Mountain Zebra National Park• I would like to thank all the staff at Mountain Zebra and Addo Elephant National Parks who gave us such great welcomes and looked after us so well. We did not have one single complaint and had a wonderful time. You are all world class!• What an absolute gem the Mountain Zebra National Park is. The best in South Africa. So well run. Condition of the cottages, reception, dining room, gate entrance, the picnic spots and the general bush was brilliant. Well done to all concerned. Everyone was so proud of ‘their’ Park.• Will definitely recommend this national park, in fact we already have to many people. Did not disappoint and will be back.

Compliments received

Tsitsikamma MPA rezoned

Compliment of the month – Storms River Rest Camp

“A great big compliment to SANParks and Cattle Baron for how they managed the burning down of the restaurant and shop. They had everything up and running within a week in these temporary structures. The shop is in the old office building and Cattle Baron in the white tented structure. Excellent view on the sea! All rubble of old buildings removed. Neatly cordoned off.Just had lunch there. No complaints!”

Received from guest, Evelyn Visagie

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It seems the rain which fell over Addo Elephant National Park’s Zuurberg section at the beginning of the year did wonders for the cycads in that area of the Park. Section ranger, Zelna Breytenbach, says they received a total of 108mm of rainfall between 2 and 16 January.

Of the replanted cycads confiscated, rescued and replanted after a poaching incident on a neighbouring farm over a year ago, there are currently five in the Zuurberg section which have pushed their leaves through. Unfortunately a fire in August damaged quite a number, while baboons have been responsible for damage to others.

Given their history, it is good to see that at least some have survived.

A new beginning

2017 has taken off with a bang and Karoo would like to welcome the following staff members to the team!

Samkele Hinana - Section Ranger. Samkele was originally appointed as a Field Guard at Mountain Zebra National Park (Working for Water) in 2011 on a contract basis. In 2012 he was permanently appointed as a Field Ranger at Karoo, before moving to Mokala National Park in 2014 as a Ranger Corporal. Samkele is currently studying towards his Diploma in Conservation and we trust that his appointment will contribute towards achieving this goal.

Also joining the Park this year are Andre Laas and Siphiwo Lusizi, who are both doing their practical year so that they may obtain their Diploma’s in Conservation. Siphiwo and Andre are both originally from Cape Town, but we trust they will soon adapt to the harsh conditions of the Karoo, and that the “plattelandse” hospitality of the area will make up for this.

Karoo National Park ended 2016 with a staff imbizo during which the following staff members were recognised with awards for long service.

Long service awards

Lena van Wyk(5 years)

Marlene Brooks(5 years)

Isak Jacobs(25 years)

Ronel Lottering(5 years)

Riaan Nel(15 years)

Samkele Hinana Andre Laas

Siphiwo Lusizi

Welcome to the Karoo

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Towards the end of 2016, Knysna and Wilderness’ People & Conservation and Human Capital Offices hosted a Family Day event at Leisure Isle in Knysna.

The day was packed with activities, as staff brought their children along for some fun in the sun. People & Conservation staff from both Knysna and Wilderness lined up games for all age groups, but it was the water and swimming that the kids loved the most, while parents played dominos while relaxing at the picnic spot. Later they enjoyed a braai in the summer breeze while their kids swam and played games. This was a welcome break, as it allowed staff from the two areas of the Park to mingle, and also gave the parents an opportunity to spend some valuable time with their children.

And just when the youngsters thought the day had come to an end, they were surprised with a visit from Santa, who came bearing gifts for all of them.

Meanwhile, in Addo, two Honorary Rangers and a volunteer - Tarryn, Erin and Robyn Lovemore - hosted 43 staff children at the Park’s annual Christmas Party.

They had a day of fun-filled activities prepared for the youngsters, which of course, included jumping castles, games and cake, topped off with a visit from Mother Christmas, stocked to the brim with party packs made up of goodies generously donated by the Honorary Rangers.

At both events the organising staff made use of the opportunity to discuss the pertinent topic of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. In Knysna, the Department of Social Development and South African Police Service were roped in to talk to the group about women and child abuse, and who game them tips on general safety. In Addo the group focused on the high rates of abduction of women and children, with the staff and children educated about how to avoid becoming a target of human trafficking.

End of year festivities

ENTRIES CLOSE 19 FEBRUARY OR WHEN SOLD OUT

The Department of Health is making use of a non-governmental organisation, Right to Care, as a service provider in the Central Karoo to offer free wellness services to all government employees and community members on a regular basis.

A professional nurse and wellness counsellor visited the staff at Karoo National Park in January. They carried out blood pressure measurements, diabetes measurements and screened for TB, STI’s and HIV. They also offered referrals and linkages to further care where necessary.

The tests are voluntary, free and confidential and results are given immediately. Karoo staffer, Patience Mangingolo, is pictured here with Right to Care’s Zanela Mlotshwa and Sr Heilie Gouws.

Wellness top of mind in the Karoo

What better way to explore the remoteness of the Karoo than from your mountain bike? That’s exactly what awaits participants of the inaugural two-day Roof de Karoo Mountain Bike Traverse, happening on 24 and 25 March.

What’s more is that the start and end of the event takes place in national parks – starting at a picnic site in the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) outside Cradock and ending the following day at the historical Winterhoek homestead at Camdeboo National Park (CNP), which surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet. This is but one of the unique aspect of the traverse - riding through sections of two national parks, including a big game park like MZNP, which is not otherwise permitted.

The 175km route traverses parts of the 268 000 hectares of the newly proclaimed Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment (MZCPE), established to protect the biodiversity of the land which lies between the two South African National Parks (SANParks) locations. The race’s name, the Roof de Karoo, stems from the fact that participants will be riding mostly along the roof (mountains) of the Karoo, from where, on a clear day, one can see into the distance for miles.

Chairperson of the MZCPE’s Landowners Association and avid mountain biker, Ed Kingwill, says, “Participating teams of two will depart from the MZNP camp site early on the Friday morning in the crisp Karoo air and end under the shadow of the imposing 2 430m high Nardou mountain peak. After 85 kilometres and an elevation gain of 1 260m, the cyclists will be able to relax under the shade of the poplar trees and cool off in the stream at the source of the Great Fish River.”

Day 2 starts with a climb and descent over Nardou on the old ox-wagon track. Cyclists are rewarded with a downhill gradient criss-crossing the Sundays River through private game farms, finishing at the Winterhoek homestead about 90km later in view of the Valley of Desolation in the CNP. No less than 20 different properties will be crossed over the two days.

The purpose of the traverse is multi-fold: to celebrate the first anniversary of the declaration of the protected environment, open up the area to those who may otherwise never get the opportunity so they may enjoy its uniqueness and remoteness and create jobs in the form of trail maintenance and in the tourism sector.

Only 50 team slots are available for this very special event. A team entry fee of R4 200 includes three nights of tented accommodation and all meals - breakfast, supper, water and feeding stations along the route. With stunning views to marvel at while on the bike, an opportunity to camp out under the Karoo’s star-studded skies and experience true Karoo hospitality and cuisine prepared by the local farmers, this event is set to become as special as the area in which it takes place.

For more info and to enter, visit: http://www.mzcpe.co.za/Rdk.html

Explore the Karoo on mountain bike