Rachel is an accomplished executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience across tourism, conservation, ESG strategy, and institutional governance. She holds a BSc in Environmental Science and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science, along with certifications in human resources and sustainability. She also served as Chairperson of the Sabie Game Reserve, where she led the implementation of cross-reserve conservation frameworks, wildlife management protocols, and community benefit schemes.

In addition, she has held positions on the boards of South African Tourism (Audit and Risk Committee; HR & Remuneration Committee), Prescient Investment Management, SATSA (Vice Chairperson and Chair of the Responsible Tourism Committee), and several other conservation and investment organisations.

The newly appointed SANParks Board members are:

• Chief Livhuwani Matsila (reappointment)
• Ms Hulisani Mushiane (reappointment)
• Ms Beryl Ferguson (Interim Board Chair)
• Dr Sibongile Lynette Masuku
• Mr Mokgema Mongane
• Adv Catherine Warburton
• Mr Thomas Ignatius Bouwer
• Mr Raymond Maboe
• Mr Ashley Latchu
• Ms Goitsemang Mathebula

Welcoming the appointment, SATSA CEO David Frost said: “Rachel’s appointment to the SANParks Board is a fitting recognition of her expertise and deep commitment to both tourism and conservation. Her experience will be invaluable in advancing SANParks’ Vision 2040 strategy, and we are incredibly proud of her. We are confident that Rachel will make a significant and lasting contribution.”

Tourism and conservation increasingly go hand in hand in driving inclusive growth. SATSA congratulates the new SANParks Board, which is well positioned to expand tourism’s reach, deliver lasting benefits to communities, and safeguard South Africa’s protected areas for generations to come.

• Time slot 1: 05:30 to 07:30
• Time slot 2: 07:30 to 09:30
• Time slot 3: 09:30 onwards

“For busy periods such as the school holidays and festive season, we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect, as well as our visitors’ expectations. The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and, as far as possible prevent unnecessary waiting periods at gates”, said the KNP’s GM: Communications and Marketing, Ike Phaahla.

The Day Visitor Quota for the Park is a management tool to prevent overcrowding the roads and facilities and is applied throughout the year although we mostly reach carrying capacity during long weekends and school holidays resulting in us having to turn visitors away. Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of Day Visitor Quota per gate via SANParks Reservations offices on 012 428 9111 and online at www.sanparks.org.

Pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate but must ensure that they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore will not receive preference and could be turned away. These bookings can be changed as well through SANParks Reservations offices if need be.

Phaala also reminded visitors to read the permit which they receive at the gates because all the rules and regulations of the park are clearly stipulated on these documents. “Day visitors may not bring liquor as a result of the alcohol ban in public areas of the Park. Further, visitors must please also refrain from committing other infringements such as littering, feeding of animals, speeding and alighting from vehicles in places where this is prohibited in the Park. These and other Park rules are emphasized to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience, while not impacting other visitors, and hence must be adhered to at all times whilst in the Park. Visitor Management vehicles will also be on patrol; providing information to guests, visibility on the roads and law enforcement in the Park;” he advised.

Visitors can report any rules and regulations infringement which they witness to the Emergency Call Centre numbers 013 735 4064/013 735 0197/076 801 9679. It is however important that the following information is provided:

• Vehicle type and colour
• Vehicle registration
• Date and Time of Incident
• SATSA sticker showing vehicle number (for Open Safari Vehicles)
• Details of Incident
• Photographic evidence
• Location of Incident

“Tourism monitors will be on standby to attend to areas such as swimming pools; however we would like to also take this opportunity to warn the parents not to allow children to swim without elderly supervision at the pools in the Park to avoid drowning,” concluded Phaahla.

Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

• Day Visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R46 per adult and R23 per child.
• Day Visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay Conservation Fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the Park. The Conservation Fee for SA residents as well as Zimbabwe and Mocambique nationals (passport required to prove this) is R100 per adult and R50 per child (between ages 2 – 11). For nationals of Eswatini (previously Swaziland) and other SADC countries, the conservation fees are R200 per adult and R100 per child. For all other guests, the standard conservation fees of R400 for adults and R200 for children applies.
• Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure the membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild
• The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.
• All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission (by producing a South African driver’s license, identity document or passport); please ensure you are in possession of one of these documents and have them ready.
• Gate Quotas will be strictly applied and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry.

Guests are encouraged to continuously provide feedback on their experience to customer.care@sanparks.org

Speaking on-site, Project Manager for Infrastructure Projects in the Garden Route National Park says ‘we are excited and looking forward to completing the project before the festive rush. The café will be opened in December and the curio shop is also underway.’

The project is on the way to the Garden Route National Park’s biggest tree in Tsitsikamma- The ‘Big Tree’ an Outeniqua Yellowwood in Tsitsikamma, estimated to be about 1000 years old. It is close to 40 meters high and about 9 meters in diameter.

The precinct is just off the N2 national road and will provide an ideal stopover for most visitors travelling between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

The R14,4 million infrastructure project had two (2) phases. The first phase took off after a Basic Environmental Assessment and an Environmental Authorisation gave a thumbs-up for bulk services to be installed. It included the provision of bulk services including water, electricity and sewer already feeding the Storms River Village (staff houses) via a pipeline which runs under the N2.

The second phase of the project was completed to create a precinct with a coffee shop and curio shop. Some 16 locals were involved in its construction with a contractor from the Eastern Cape Province (Simunye Developers).

The project was funded by the National Department of Tourism.

Visitors to the Park will be delighted to note the progress of the entrance gate to the Park which was completed earlier in 2019 and now provides better entry and exit to the Park’s Storms River Rest Camp.

The Park’s restaurant which was gutted down by a fire in 2016 was moved to a temporary facility. Architectural designs for the restaurant were completed and finances sourced from the Infrastructure Grant according to SANParks’ Curt Jones who manages infrastructure and special projects.

‘The project has had to receive approval from the National Treasury first. We are now gearing internal process to prepare for the advertisement of the tender in early 2020’ says Jones.

The Park is popular and attracts both local and international visitors.

The GRNP has adjusted its entrance fees also known as conservation fees for most of its gates to include CPI (Consumer Price Index) this year. Suggestions from local cyclists were considered. A day’s pass for cycling the world-famous Harkerville trails and Homtini costs R53. There is an introduction of monthly, seasonal and a family permit for cycling.

There is also a 20% discount applicable to vessels that are kinder to the environment such as 4-stroke engines, provided there is proof thereof. Likewise, tariffs for canoes, rowing boats and electric boats get a discount to encourage more use of environmentally friendly activities. 30 day-permits cost R100 and annual permits R200.

Plants and trees sold at the Diepwalle nursery (Knysna forest) range from R18 for 1.0L to R213 for 20L.

Entrance Gate Fees:

Tsitsikamma Section

Nature’s Valley Section

Knysna Section

WildernessSection

More information on tariffs is available on the Park’s website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/tourism/tariffs.php

Agulhas National Park

The daily conservation fees for South African (SA) citizens with a valid SA identification document is set to increase from R 43 to R46. Rates for SA children under 12 years old are 50% of the adult price at R23 per child. Children under two years of age enter the park for free. Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) will pay R92 from 1 November whilst those from all other foreign countries may expect to pay R184. The rate for children is always half the price of the adults – at R46 and R92 respectively.

Bontebok National Park

The daily conservation fees for South African citizens with a valid SA identification document is set to increase from R43 to R46. Rates for SA children under 12 years old are 50% of the adult price at R23 per child. Children under two enter the park for free. SADC Nationals (with passport) will pay R66 from 1 November whilst those from all other foreign countries may expect to pay R132. The rate for children is always half the price of the adults – at R33 and R66 respectively.

Table Mountain National Park

Please see below table of the rate increase for Table Mountain National Park sections consisting of Boulders Penguin Colony; Cape of Good Hope; Newlands; Oudekraal; Perdekloof; Silvermine; and the Tokai Picnic and Braai Area, effective 1 November 2019:

Tankwa Karoo National Park

The daily conservation fees for South African citizens with a valid SA identification document is set to increase from R43 to R46. Rates for SA children under 12 years old are 50% of the adult price at R23 per child. Children under two enter for free. SADC Nationals (with passport) will pay R92 from 1 November whilst those from all other foreign countries may expect to pay R184. The rate for children is always half the price of the adults – at R46 and R92 respectively.

West Coast National Park

The daily conservation fees for South African citizens with a valid SA identification document is set to increase from R 59 to R64. Rates for SA children under 12 years old are 50% of the adult price at R32 per child. Children under two enter for free. SADC Nationals (with passport) will pay R 96 from 1 November whilst those from all other foreign countries may expect to pay R 96. The rate for children is always half the price of the adults – at R48 respectively.

Please note that during flower season the entry fees are as follows: The daily conservation fees for South African citizens is set to increase from R83 to R 90. Rates for SA children under 12 years old are 50% of the adult price at R 45 per child. Children under two enter for free.

SADC Nationals (with passport) will pay R136 from 1 November whilst those from all other foreign countries may expect to pay R198. The rate for children is always half the price of the adults – at R68 and R99 respectively.

Please note:

The standard rate is automatically applied to all visitors at the gate. To claim/qualify for the local rate, South Africans over 18 years of age must provide Original Proof of South African ID on arrival at the gate. No refunds will be provided after entering through the gate if the SA rate was not claimed and billed for on arrival.

All funds generated from conservation fees are used with the primary mandate of South African National Parks which is to oversee the conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity, landscapes, seascapes and associated heritage assets through a system of national parks.

Cathy studied Nature Conservation and completed her degree at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, after which she did her experiential training at AENP. Here she worked closely with South African National Parks (SANParks) Veterinary Wildlife Service Unit which is based in Kimberley. After completing her experiential training year she joined the game capture team on a permanent basis and worked with them for 12 years, capturing and relocating a wide variety of species throughout Southern Africa and Africa.

In 2012 she left SANParks and took up the position of Conservation Manager at the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, managed by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency. Five years later she returned to SANParks as the Black Rhino Surveillance and Monitoring Co-ordinator for Kruger National Park.

She now heads up conservation in Addo Elephant National Park, home to the “Big 7” – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and the southern right whale and great white shark in the marine section of the park. Addo is the third-largest national park in the country and is comprised of a 182 000ha terrestrial component and 116 000ha Marine Protected Area. It’s been a busy two weeks in the Park for Cathy, who spent her first week participating in her first aerial census as well as being involved in an elephant contraception exercise.

Cathy says the highlight of her career was being awarded the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa in London in 2016. She was the first South African recipient of the award and the first female to have won it. The Tusk Conservation Award is given to an individual who has been judged to be an emerging leader in conservation in Africa and in recognition of their outstanding contribution and considerable successes in their chosen field. The award was presented to Cathy by Sir David Attenborough. She says meeting him was one of the most memorable experiences of her life.

About her role as Addo’s first female Conservation Manager, Cathy says, “I am looking forward to supporting the Park’s terrestrial and marine conservation efforts and feel incredibly privileged to be a part of such a passionate, dedicated and committed team of rangers.”

The programme is aimed at providing professional growth and leadership development opportunities between the two agencies and to increase education and awareness of international wildlife trafficking, which negatively affects conservation efforts in both Texas and South Africa, according to TPWD.

Texas Game Wardens say they have increased the focus on wildlife trafficking operations over the last decade, including navigating through internet forums and online marketplaces where they say trade in both live wildlife and wildlife parts frequently occurs.

“The illegal sale and exploitation of wildlife resources is a global problem that has a direct negative effect on the State of Texas and could lead to the loss of Texas native species, either through the harvest of native species or introduction of non-indigenous invasive species,” said Col. Grahame Jones, Law Enforcement Director with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The release says game wardens are currently working to identify suspect sales and negotiate undercover transactions with willing sellers to purchase a wide variety of native and non-native wildlife species from around the world, removing them from the harmful animal trafficking trade.

Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. They see more than 1.8 million annual visitors, and are home to over 500 bird species, 100 reptiles, and nearly 150 mammals; including species heavily targeted by traffickers, such as leopards, rhinos, elephants and giraffes.

The successful operations are attributed to the dedication and efficiencies of the Ranger Corps, closely supported by rapid reaction K9, aircraft units and applied hi-tech detection technologies.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SANParks, Fundisile Mketeni has commended all those involved in the operations saying “we are still miles away from being on top of this campaign but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Our investment in technology and intelligence gathering means the risk to poachers has increased and they know that if we pick up their spoor, they will lose their freedom. The Rangers Corps, K9 and Airwing units are working relentlessly in coordinated approach which is being continually refined to counter the threat posed by the poaching syndicates and for that we are grateful” said Mketeni.

Mketeni urged communities to continue providing vital information to assist in curbing the scourge of poaching. He warned criminals that they are constantly under scrutiny and will soon end up behind bars if they don’t stop their illegal activities. He cautioned communities to stop supporting the bushmeat trade which has seen an increase in snares in the KNP.  

All arrested suspects are detained at the Skukuza Police Station and will appear in court in due course.

The interpretation centre takes visitors through a journey of the discovery of dinosaur eggs in our country and the beautiful natural heritage of fauna and flora that is found in the park. The display includes an introduction, birds, geology, fauna, vegetation, palaeontology, history, activities, facilities, climate and rock art.

The exhibition was put together by SANParks Honorary Rangers. It has taken more than two years to put together enough information and material for the team to finalise some artwork and get a glimpse of what the final product will look like. The project started around October 2017 and the team has successfully completed the final stages of installing the artwork, palaeontology specimens and geological specimens.

“We are confident that the centre will provide the most ideal platform to educate visitors (especially young learners) about dinosaurs and many other aspects within the study of archaeology.” said Property Mokoena, managing executive – parks division at South African National Parks

“The SANParks and Honorary Rangers relationship has been in existence for decades as both our mandates coincide with one another to promote the conservation and preservation of our national heritage. This is why we could not turn a blind eye to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park management when we received a request for assistance with building an interpretation centre within the park. The discovery of dinosaur eggs is a marvel in South Africa, and what better place than in a National Park?” says Des Bothma, a member of the SANParks Honorary Rangers.

For the first time this year, the Parks were open from one Sunday to the next (8 – 15 September 2019). A total of 11, 589 people visited the GRNP’s three sections- Tsitsikamma, Knysna and Wilderness. This is 95% higher than last year’s 5, 926. This is the highest number recorded of nationals visiting the GRNP in one week since 2017’s 7,449.

The GRNP was the second Park to report an increase at gate arrivals after Bontebok National Park (292%), GRNP (95%) and then Table Mountain National Park (71,2%).

Garden Route National Park Manager, Paddy Gordon says ‘we would like to thank all locals and partners for supporting National Parks. Tourism is one of the economic drivers in the Garden Route’s small towns so it’s great to see locals participating.’

Multiple ‘out of the box’ activities were organised by Parks to attract visitors which worked to the Region’s favour.

Tsitsikamma’s increase from 3004 in 2018 to 6280 visitors in 2019 can be attributed to multiple events organized by People & Conservation for locals over the weekend which included an open day colour run by a popular local DJ Ian Rockman. An excited Nobulumko Gantsho of Tsitsikamma says ‘we organised a business summit during the week, had learner excursions as well as an open day with sporting fixtures, song and dance. We also organised a full day for a gospel concert. People were surprised to hear about the events but can see nature underpins everything- life.’

Knysna visitors increased from 1773 to 2201 visitors due to a partnership with the Featherbed Company who ferry locals for free across the Knysna estuary. Various nature walks and talks were also planned for locals and learners in the mystical Knysna forest. A Knysna Spring Walk was also organised to get locals walking.

Wilderness’ excursions took learners back in time through the old gold mining town of Goudveld. Learners were treated to kayaking in the Touw River, nature talks and birding.