Week of free access to Cape Point

The week-long campaign giving free access to the national parks will take place from 13-17 September 2010 and will be applicable to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders in Table Mountain National Park.

In 2006, Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive of SANParks, recognised that a vast majority of South Africans were not accessing the national parks. He embarked upon this campaign to encourage all South Africans, especially those from the communities around the parks, to share in what SANParks envisions to be “the pride and joy of all South Africans and the world”.

The objective of SA National Parks Week is to cultivate a sense of understanding and pride in South Africans, of their natural, cultural and historical heritage which is the basis for the established theme “Know Your National Parks”. SA National Parks Week is in its fifth year and has proved to be a successful campaign in terms of environmental education and awareness of conservation issues.

The feature element of this campaign is the free access granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official Identity Documents. It must be noted that the free access to the parks will not include any commercial activities in the park such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks, as well as accommodation.

“Environmental education and protection is the responsibility of everyone, not just a privileged few. If we are to create a sense of ownership of the natural heritage of South Africa in all South Africans, then all South Africans must be able to have access to such,” said Dr Mabunda

“We especially want our young people to take advantage of this opportunity because this heritage will be under their protection in the near future,” added Dr Mabunda.

SANParks encourages all South Africans and especially educators and school groups to diarise these dates and plan a visit to a national park nearby!

Club Travel goes bananas

Club Travel has recently announced the opening of a new branded franchise in KwaZulu Natal, Club Travel Westwood. Club Travel has seen its franchise division grow from 7 to 14 branded franchises in the last year. “We’ve had such great feedback from our new branded franchises, that we’re really motivated to sign up even more agencies in the latter part of 2010,” says Jo Fraser, Club Travel Franchise Director. 

Jo’s team behind this dynamic Club Travel division consists of Michelle Hogg (Franchise Assistant), Collin Austen (Relationship Ambassador, and all round “Man-Friday”) and Lorraine Clinton as Franchise Manager up in Gauteng.

The Westwood team of Waseela Fareed and Kirthi Singh has been all systems go since opening their Club Travel doors on the 4th of August.  Both consultants display the passion and dedication that’s part of Club Travel’s DNA.

Email them on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or phone 031 266 6300

Trusted bridal show set to impress once more

If you’re dreaming of a white wedding but you just don’t know where to start, then the Wedding Expo is the only place to start.  The dates to diarise are 4 and 5 September at the Coca-Cola dome in Northgate, Johannesburg where the best in the bridal industry will gather to showcase their products and services to the eager bride-to-be as she searches for her favourite wedding gown, the perfect cake and the best photographer.

Apart from the 4 fashion shows and a bridal workshop that is taking place, there is also an incredible prize of R200 000 up for grabs.

Date:    4 and 5 September 2010
Cost:    R80.00 per person
Hours:    09:00 to 17:00

Includes: entrance to show, workshop, goodie bag, catering, VIP seats to the fashion spectacular and spot prizes. Email Janet on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to book or for more information.

Endangered African penguins given a second chance

The Waterfront Boat Company regularly assists The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), an internationally recognised leader in seabird rehabilitation, with the release of rehabilitated African Penguins and other seabirds along our coast.  Mondays are release days and after a inspection by a registered vet, the penguins are transported to the V&A Waterfront and carefully loaded onto the Condor, the Waterfront Boat Company’s motorcruiser. The African Penguins are then released as close to Robben Island as possible with the aim of integrating them with the resident colony. 

The African penguin status has recently changed from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” and SANCCOB has pledged to help save this precious species through rescue, rehabilitation, release, research, education, training, awareness and advocacy.

SANCCOB rehabilitates oiled, injured and ill seabirds; prepares for and manages the rehabilitation of seabirds during a major oil spill; raises awareness about conservation through environmental education and collaborates on research projects.

You can support SANCCOB through various initiatives, from volunteering at their rehabilitation centre to adopting a penguin. Visit http://www.sanccob.co.za for more information.