In June, tour company Safari-Bookings.com analysed more than 2 300 visitor and industry expert reviews to determine the Top 50 parks in Africa. Of the 14 South African parks identified in the list, six were national parks – the Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-MfoloziPark, Addo Elephant National Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park and Karoo National Park.
SANParks is responsible for managing South Africa’s national parks, ensuring that both the environment and surrounding communities benefit.
“It’s always welcomed when the industry recognises SANParks, and in this instance being compared with the Top 50 in Africa is indeed a great achievement, especially given that six of the Top 50 are within the SANParks stable,” says SANParks chief communications officer Janine Raftopoulos.
The increasing importance of national parks
National parks have, in the past, been seen mainly as spaces for conservation. But since the turn of democracy, these parks are increasingly being viewed as opportunities to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in rural areas.
“We have seen a shift in the role national parks are playing. They are becoming areas that are important conduits for government to deliver its mandate and ensure that conservation is a viable contributor to social and economic development, of rural areas in particular,” Raftopoulos explains.
SANParks’ business operations are therefore based on three core pillars, namely conservation responsible tourism and socioeconomic transformation.
Apart from providing full-time jobs to people working in conservation, tourism, hospitality, media and administration, national parks are also contributing strongly towards Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP).
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Public Sector Manager.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Public Sector Manager.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lefentse Phokwane Reaching New Heights At SAA
Growing up on the streets of Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni, Lefentse Phokwane aspired to become a chemical engineer, but ended up studying for a Diploma in Non-Destructive Testing Inspection at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) instead.
Looking To The Skies For Solutions
A young South African is exploring the secrets of the universe and believes studying the cosmos can teach us many things that we can apply in improving our daily lives.
From Flight Attendant To CEO
Zuks Ramasia is the perfect example of what people can achieve when they believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions.
Qualification Frauds Could Find Themselves Behind Bars
Lying about your qualifications could now lead to jail time, according to the new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Amendment Act which aims to prevent the misrepresentation of qualifications and fraud.
City Shelter Assist Displaced Foreign Nationals
Displaced foreign nationals are being accommodated at the DH Williams Community Hall in Gauteng.
Women Must Take Their Rightful Place In Society
This Women’s Month, South Africa has much to be proud of.
G20 Summit Tackles Key Issues
The recent G20 Summit allowed for critical engagement on efforts to address major global economic challenges
Stand Up For
women’s rights in South Africa
Mpumalanga – A Rising Sun Guided By A Visionary Woman
For many South Africans, the province of Mpumalanga (which translates to “place of the rising sun”) flies under the radar.
Giving Women, Youth And People With Disabilities Their Dignity
The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite NkoanaMashabane, wants the advancement of women to continue to be a priority in government’s service delivery programmes.
