Stakeholder meeting and Survey - Kruger Self-Drive Day Visitors

[RogerFraser]

‎Lesley Nyawo‎ to SANParks - Kruger National Park
10 hrs ·
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STUDY
The Kruger National Park, (KNP) as a wildlife watching destination, has become increasingly popular with local and international visitors. Whilst the mandate of SANParks is to conserve biodiversity, the rise in visitor numbers has created challenges which need to be addressed.
One of these challenges is the increased traffic congestion in the South of the Park experienced on certain days of the year (most notably on public holidays, long weekends and school holidays), particularly at the entrance gates and at wildlife sightings.
SANParks has partnered with the University of Queensland in Australia to investigate potential solutions for a range of traffic-related problems in Kruger. As part of the research process, SANParks will engage in open discussions with various stakeholders of the Park.
Together with the researchers, the Park has identified 9 different stakeholder groups from which we will gather ideas and suggestions for solutions.
These include: Camping overnight visitors; Non-camping overnight visitors; Tour operators; Self-drive day visitors; Managers of large tourist accommodation establishments in close vicinity of the Park who host guests that enter KNP as day visitors (either on OSV’s or private vehicles); SANParks Honorary Rangers; OSV guides; Senior staff of the KNP Management team; and relevant Taxi Associations.
Ten focus group discussions will be conducted over a period of two weeks in November. Opinions and suggestions are gathered from each stakeholder group separately. Focus group methodology was chosen as it allows for in-depth discussions and presents the researchers with an opportunity to ask follow up questions. This also encourages researchers to enter the process with an open mind without preconceived ideas. The aim is to come up with a list of potential solutions which represent the views of different stakeholder groups. For this reason, SANParks opted to make use of a third party to increase the objectivity of the study.
A randomly selected sample of overnight and day visitors have been invited by email to participate as we can only accommodate a maximum of 20 per group, however, we have a few seats left and would like to give you an opportunity to RSVP.
The focus group discussions will then be followed up with a quantitative approach (survey) to gain consensus on which solutions are preferred.
The results will be communicated to SANParks Management to guide their decision making in drafting vehicle traffic management interventions.
Regards
Lesley Nyawo

[Lisbeth]

They are a bit late IMO

Why do they need help from Australia? Last time it was USA

I would very much like to know who they are going to choose for "the few seats left"

Who do they think they are talking to? Not certainly regular Kruger visitors

[Richprins]

Schedule of focus group discussions for KNP Traffic Management research:

Session 1 - Overnight visitors who camp in the South
Date: Monday, 20 November 2017
Time: 9am – 12pm
Venue: SANParks Head Office, Groenkloof, Pretoria.
Address: 643 Leyds street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Click here to RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPTraffic_Camping
Only a few more seats available
Free entry to the Park will be arranged for you for your next visit to the Park (limited to 1 day and 2 visitors).

Session 2 - Non-camping overnight visitors to the South
Date: Monday, 20 November 2017
Time: 2 - 5pm
Venue: SANParks Head Office, Groenkloof, Pretoria.
Address: 643 Leyds street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Click here to RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPtraffic_overnight
Free entry to the Park will be arranged for you for your next visit to the Park (limited to 1 day and 2 visitors).

Session 3 - Tour operators
Date: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Time: 9am – 12pm
Venue: SANParks Head Office, Groenkloof, Pretoria.
Address: 643 Leyds street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Click here to RSVP:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPTraffic_tourop
Free entry to the Park will be arranged for you for your next visit to the Park (limited to 1 day and 2 visitors).

Session 4 - Self drive day visitors to the South
Date: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Time: 9am – 12pm
Venue: Protea Hotel, Nelspruit.
Address: 30 Orchards, Jerepico St, Nelspruit.
Click here to RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPTraffic_Selfdrive
Free entry to the Park will be arranged for you for your next visit to the Park (limited to 1 day and 2 visitors).

Session 5 - Honorary Rangers
Date: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Time: 2 - 5pm
Facilitated through the Chairman of HR Lowveld Region.

Session 6 - Open Safari Vehicle Guides
Date: Friday, 24 November 2017
Time: 10am - 1pm
Facilitated through SATSA

Session 7 - Self drive day visitors to the South
Date: Saturday, 25 November 2017
Time: 10am - 1pm
Venue: Skukuza Game Capture Auditorium
Click here to RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPTraffic_Selfdrive

Session 8 - KNP Park Management and staff
Date: Monday, 27 November 2017

Session 9 - Tourist accommodation establishments bordering the South of the Park
Date: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Time: 10am - 1pm
Venue: Skukuza Game Capture Auditorium
Click here to RSVP:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNPTraffic_estb
Free entry to the Park will be arranged for the day (limited to 2 visitors).

Session 10 - Taxi Associations
Date: Thursday, 30 November
Time: 10am - 1pm
Venue: Phabeni Environment Education Centre.
Facilitated through KNP People & Conservation.
Please click on the relevant link to RSVP.
SANParks will be in contact with you soon to confirm your attendance as seats are limited.

[okie]

They are a bit late IMO

Why do they need help from Australia? Last time it was USA

last time they got members from the Dallas Safari Club in the USA .
This time around , they want members from the Australian branch of the Dallas Safari Club

[Richprins]

This round seems a bit better! Not such short notice!

But still don't know how the mystery guests are selected!

Why not just advertise the gatherings on media and website for those interested, for heaven's sake?

[H. erectus]

Survey monkeys thrive on monkey nuts,..

Food be food,...

[Richprins]

You going to Groendakkies, H.?

Gump is going to the Skuks one!

[H. erectus]

You going to Groendakkies, H.?

Will be going to Groendakkies, that place where scrub hares
were replaced with some domestic bunnies,...yup,...

[Lisbeth]

Why not just advertise the gatherings on media and website for those interested, for heaven's sake?

"Those interested" are too informed

[H. erectus]

Why not just advertise the gatherings on media and website for those interested, for heaven's sake?

"Those interested" are too informed

The word "methodology" in their proposal, already speaks a
thousand words!!

They have a problem, a huge one at that,..