Dec 21 2017
Off

Strengthening environmental awareness @ Sibaya – Sodwana Bay

By Sodwana Bay

iSimangaliso: Strengthening environmental awareness and sustainable partnerships through sport The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority teamed up with local SMME and environmentalist Raymond Langa on 16 December for a community youth sports event at Khula Village, which borders the southern part of the World Heritage Site. The iSimangaliso and Dukuduku Sports Tournament event was hosted at the Nyamazaneni sports ground in Khula and was the finale in a round of games played in the month of November, organised by Raymond. He felt this would be an ideal vehicle to aid the message of conservation and environmental care which is so important to him. Raymond received training through one of iSimangaliso’s capacity building programmes and is an accredited Environmental Education facilitator working in the Park with dozens of school groups each year. According to Langa, “I am always frustrated by the environmental degradation activities taking place in areas of conservation significance. My area has many wetlands with an abundance of wildlife, seasonal birds and waterfowl. I have identified one area which is very significant to the entire village, but households living next to it dump all types of filthy items into it.” “To raise awareness, I approached the local school and conducted a workshop on the sustainable use of natural resources. Learners are studying Tourism in Grade 10, but they have little background of responsible tourism in their syllabus. I further invited locals to participate and promote environmental health to curb diseases as most of the litter is hazardous to both human beings and wildlife.” Following the clean-up activities, Langa was thrilled to notice that beautiful birds which had left the area started coming back to these rehabilitated wetlands. It was his drive and initiative that drove him to request a partnership with iSimangaliso in a sports event, and he opened the event with a talk on his environmental education activities, wetlands and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. An introduction on iSimangaliso was also given by the Park’s Environmental Planner, Siboniso Mbense. He engaged with the youth by first asking questions to spectators for which he offered an iSimangaliso t-shirt or cap for the correct answer. These questions included identifying major problems faced by South African parks and the detrimental human impact on nature. iSimangaliso’s Slindile Msweli, Marketing Co-ordinator in charge of the logistics and a former bursary student supported by iSimangaliso, said that “the event gave iSimangaliso a platform to interact with the neighbouring communities, strengthen relationships and create awareness. The presentations were well received by the community present. You could see in other people’s faces the excitement of being part of this event; that made it special and it showed that even though thousands were not reached instantly an impact has been made on a few in one way or another, whether it’s a t-shirt they took away, bursary information or a few answered questions about the Park- that to me is an accomplishment.” Following the event it was gratifying to receive several letters of appreciation including from TM Mdletshe of Khula, who wrote to iSimangaliso to say: “We really appreciate what you did today at Nyamazaneni stadium. It’s given us the opportunity to learn and do something in life. I have gained more than I was expecting during today’s game. You taught me the importance of iSimangaliso and why we should protect our environment as youth.” Langa, on behalf of the Dukuduku communities and participants, said: “iSimangaliso showed a strong commitment to revive sustainable partnership with locals. Please pass my gratitude and best wishes to the entire staff, and management. From an environmental conservation perspective we need more similar gatherings, in order to achieve general support from the entire communities neighbouring the prestigious World Heritage Site.”

Sep 04 2017
Off

Farewell to Andrew Zaloumis @ Sibaya – Sodwana Bay

By Sodwana Bay

iSimangaliso bids farewell to Andrew Zaloumis After some 20 years of outstanding leadership and a career dedicated to people-centred conservation, Andrew Zaloumis has stepped down as CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. He will pursue his studies in sustainability at Cambridge University UK and continue to contribute to Southern African conservation and development. Andrew Zaloumis on the edge of Lake St Lucia, centrepiece of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site, in the early 2000s; Walking in the Tewate wilderness on a guided trail – one of the rare places where one is at complete peace with nature. Recognised in the international and domestic arena as a visionary in his field, Andrew has received a host of global awards for the implementation of a conservation model for protected area management that puts communities at the centre of conservation strategies. Respected by his staff and people who worked with him as a leader who translated ideas into tangible life-changing benefits to the lives of the communities he served, Andrew leaves behind a living legacy that few South African’s would have had the courage and strength to pull together. He met his mandate and proceeded to do more. Not only was he instrumental in the establishment of South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, he also transformed the region from a declining tourist economy into a flourishing and growing tourism destination capable of competing with some of the finest global attractions. Zaloumis was honoured to receive the WWF Living Planet award in 2015; Receiving an ‘Ingwazi (Legend) Award’ from the Land of Legends Association, one of many awarded to Zaloumis and iSimangaliso for outstanding work during his term of service; One of the regular payments made to the Bhangazi Land Claimants through the revenue sharing process; Handing over equipment to Thandi Masuku as part of the Park’s Rural Enterprise Programme. “Under his tenure, Mr Zaloumis pioneered and institutionalised development-focused conservation at the Park,” comments the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, and during his leadership, Government has delivered significant benefits across the iSimangaliso region, both through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority. These include the construction of the Hluhluwe to Mozambique road, upgrades to the N2, the implementation of a malaria programme that reduced malaria incidence by 96% in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the listing of iSimangaliso on the World Heritage role and the promulgation of the World Heritage Convention Act, the consolidation of 16 parks under one banner and management system, the investment and construction of Park roads, bulk services, tourism accommodation and day-visitor facilities in the 320km long iSimangaliso. During the past 17 years iSimangaliso has embarked on an ambitious rewilding programme to reintroduce all historically existing species as well as boost current populations. Above: A rehabilitated green turtle and a rescued serval are released into the Park. In his drive to recreate the wholeness of nature and to begin the process of rewilding the Park, Andrew managed the reintroduction of historically occurring game last seen a century ago on the banks of Lake St Lucia, the removal of commercial forestry plantations from the Park, and the systematic rehabilitation of the Eastern and Western Shores sections of iSimangaliso. Well ahead of his time, however, Andrew recognised that the cornerstone of rewilding iSimangaliso involved a dimension way beyond the rehabilitation of nature. He understood that in order to recreate this wholeness, it was imperative to create a place where people and nature could reconnect and flourish. So Andrew and his management team set about to explore – and implement – every possible avenue to create opportunities for access, equity and economic empowerment of local communities. Most of the land rehabilitation work is undertaken using labour-intensive methods, creating a significant number of temporary jobs in the area, and some 8 000 permanent tourism jobs have been created. There are three community-owned tourism lodges in the Park, as well as community-owned and operated boat cruises, turtle tours, game drives, and other excursions in the Park under licence. The Higher Education Access Programme has provided 87 young people with financial and other support for their university studies. The first 50 graduates are charting a path for themselves in conservation-related fields. The Rural Enterprise Programme has mentored and supported 215 small businesses, 106 of which have been given seed capital and 3 000 odd crafters, artists, and tour guides have been trained. The work in iSimangaliso has translated into a reversal of a negative tourism trajectory. The number of establishments in the iSimangaliso region has grown some 86%. The region has outperformed other KwaZulu-Natal destinations in numbers of arrivals, both domestic and international, and average spend by tourists has increased. Last but not least, under Andrew’s inscrutable direction, iSimangaliso has achieved 15 consecutive clean audits, helped to raise millions with the establishment of the iSimangaliso Rare and Endangered Wildlife Species Fund and enlisted the financial support of the World Bank’s Global Environment Fund, for the rehabilitation of the Lake St Lucia Estuary – arguably the biggest estuary rehabilitation project in the world. Above: The opening of the Western Shores section to the public in 2012; Zaloumis participating in the Mandela Day ’67 minutes of service’ where staff removed alien trees from the Lake St Lucia Estuary. The awards given to Andrew and iSimangaliso include the SAICA 2015/16 award for Public Sector Audit Excellence, the WWF Living Planet Award, Mail and Guardian Greening the Future Award for youth leadership and job creation, the National Heritage Council Golden Shield Award for World Heritage Site of the year, and the KFW Grizmek (for people-centric conservation practices). iSimangaliso was also a finalist in the World Travel and Tourism Council Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and in 2016, Andrew was given the honour as a John P McNulty Laureate for the Rural Enterprise Programme. “He is a legend in our lifetime”, says Buyani Zwane, Chairman of the iSimangaliso Board. “Not many in our nation have demonstrated selflessness, dedication to grooming leaders, managers,…

May 17 2016
Off

Coastal Skippers Training

By Sodwana Bay

Coastal Skippers @ Sodwana Bay Indian Ocean Skippers You always been dreaming of becoming a “Captain” – now make your dreams come true. All our Coastal Skippers course are on location in Sodwana Bay – with a Theoretical and Practical exam. Visit our website for more information. WINTER COURSE DATES:JUNE 10-14 : Coastal Skippers @ Sodwana BayJULY 29 – 2 AUG: Coastal Skippers @ Sodwana BayJUNE 8 & 22: Inland Skippers @ Pretoria shopJULY 20 : Inland Skippers @ Pretoria shopCoastal skippers: R6860 pp. (includes course materials, lectures, practical, SAMSA registration fees, 4nights tented accommodation, 4dinners/4breakfasts)Inland skippers: R2100 pp. (course materials, lectures, practical, SAMSA registration fees) Get certified this winter!  BOOK NOW? Visit Indian Ocean Skippers website… http://twobar.co.za/training-to-become-a-skipper/ Telephone: (012) 361 2617 Telephone: (012) 348 9078 Mobile: 079 116 5084 E-mail: info@twobar.co.za

Mar 15 2016
Off

Sodwana Bay INFORMATION

By Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay INFORMATION LINK Find – search – book! www.sodwanabayinformation.co.za Can’t find what you looking for in Sodwana Bay… Use our INFORMATION listing website to find all and everything!  

Mar 10 2016
Off

Sodwana Bay Diving Scene

By Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay Diving Scene & More… Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. Coordinates: 27°32′S 32°41′ESodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast. Proclaimed a national park in the 1950s, it is frequented by anglers and divers.[1] Sodwana is situated in the Maputaland Marine Reserve and the only scuba diving area along the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park (now renamed to Isimangaliso) coastline. Classified as one of the top dive sites in the world this 50 km reef complex boasts around 95 species of hard and soft coral, sponges, other invertebrates and around 1200 fish species. It attracts 35 000 scuba divers every year. Vast 700m deep valleys, submarine canyons, are strewn over a distance of 2 km. It was in one of these that on 27 November 2000 that the coelacanth was rediscovered. Although it is believed that in recent years fish species have declined significantly in this area of the South African coast, nothing could be further from the truth. Sailfish, King Mackereland all other pelagic species of game fish especially the Kingfish migrate south down the East coast of Africa and since the activities of Sea Pirates off the coast of North East Africa healthy populations of pelagic game fish again reach all the way South off the coast of South Africa which has again properly re-established Sodwana as a favored and popular sport fishing destination. Sailfish are again in abundance and present in large numbers since it seems that the sea pirates off Somalia have driven away the foreign illegal Far Eastern fishing commercial fishing trawlers. The bay is famous for visits by endangered marine megafaunas including Whale sharks, Great White Sharks, Hammerhead sharks, Blacktip sharks, Manta rays, Orange-spotted groupers, Potato cods, critically endangered Leatherback turtles,[2] Loggerhead sea turtles, and even Coelacanths, the ‘living fossil’ appear.[3] The discovery of presences of Coelacanths made the region world-famous. Whale watching targeting migratory or resident cetaceans is growing.[4] Bottlenose dolphins live here and have been observed to swim with whale sharks rather regularly.Humpback whales migrate here during winter to spring seasons while southern right whales and other species are less common due to respective recovery statuses that were severely damaged by illegal hunts by Soviet Union and Japan in 1960s to 70s. Orcas are also present in the bay waters. In the March 2011 issue of National Geographic, a short article titled Ancient Swimmers appeared, discussing the groundbreaking discovery of elusive coelacanths in the depths of Sodwana Bay and the surrounding area. A small section of the written article explains that: “Since this chance sighting, Latimeria chalumnae have been found in several pockets in and around the Indian Ocean. No one knows how many there are – maybe as few as 1,000 or as many as 10, 000. Because of the depth of their habitat, they have mainly been photographed by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Divers first documented the fish [in Sodwana Bay] in 2000; in January and February 2010, a specially trained team dived to take pictures of [another] small colony in Sodwana Bay, South Africa.” As a part of the continent of Africa, the land areas along the coasts are rich in terrestrial animals, too. the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was declared and various species such aslions,giraffes, elephants, hippos, rhinos are known to live here.