Kruger National Park | The rangers who saw It change, survive, thrive

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]What?

[00:00:02]>> Thank you, Sims, and a very good morning to our viewers once again. I must say the celebrations are palpable in the air.

[00:00:09]Webber has also been holding up quite nicely, and we're just looking forward to celebrating the milestones because, as you know, beyond this 100-year um celebration that we're commencing um over this weekend, we're also having important conversations about economic activity. It's about inclusion and meaningful transformation. So, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Mr. uh Minister Willie Oliphant actually joins us now to weigh in on that work, and I'd like to welcome you. A very hearty early good morning to you, Minister, and thank you for being here.

[00:00:38]>> Thank you for being here. I mean, it's always a pleasure to be in the Kruger National Park. I heard today that it's her first time in the Kruger National Park, so we'll have to take you around for a nice game drive.

[00:00:49]>> I am taking you up on that offer. Thank you so much for that. But But I mean, we're obviously looking at the activities. We're looking at what 100 years of work has entailed. Let's pause and reflect. Let's celebrate. And look back at how far we've come, what meaningful transformation has looked like for for the um Kruger National Park at large.

[00:01:08]>> 100 years ago, people said [snorts] that, "Guys, we must do something that in 100 years from now, people can still experiencing what we are."

[00:01:15]>> Yeah.

[00:01:16]>> And the Kruger National Park was formed on the 31st of May, 1926.

[00:01:22]When the southern and the northern parts were linked with the part in the Letaba, that central area.

[00:01:28]Those guys dreamed of a future for people like us 100 years later, so that we can still experience nature as they have experienced it at that's as that stage.

[00:01:40]They've managed over the last 100 years to combine three things very perfectly.

[00:01:45]Firstly, conservation.

[00:01:46]>> Mhm.

[00:01:47]>> Secondly, scientific research, and thirdly, tourism. And they've combined those three in such a balanced way. It's always very difficult if you put people in nature, to conserve that and and to make sure that it's preserved for generations to come because man are then going into that area.

[00:02:05]>> Yeah.

[00:02:06]>> But [snorts] the balance has been found here. You can't do conservation and research without the income that you get from tourism. And they've done it in such a way that that tourism footprint is just big enough to not interfere with nature. So, I I really think that we are walking in the footsteps of giants.

[00:02:23]They've they've given us this wonderful place. And we now, as a united people, have got the responsibility to take this forward so that in 100 years from now, I don't know whether they'll be able to watch this interview, but they can say, "Well, there was a minister and Lisl and they had a very lekker conversation about the Kruger National Park and it's still going to be the same."

[00:02:44]>> Yeah, we'll we'll be archived footage that they'll reference. And and I and I want to speak to that because the local community involvement and the often disconnects, um those sentiments have come through. Talk to us about what message do you have for the community upon that signing yesterday? And and the road that lies ahead implementation-wise.

[00:03:03]>> I have now said what were the three >> Yes.

[00:03:06]>> things that we achieved over the last 100 years. Going forward in the next 100 years, it will be those same three things. But we're adding another very important aspect. So, it will now be conservation, scientific research, tourism, and community.

[00:03:22]The The moment that you involve the whole of the community, you are benefiting the park.

[00:03:28]The community gets benefits. I always said that there's no way that somebody that goes to bed hungry tonight will have conservation on his mind. He does not care.

[00:03:39]And we must make sure that our people does not go to bed hungry and that they become part of what the Kruger can can offer them. If you look at all the opportunities, job opportunities, in this place, opportunities to start your own business, to get a game drive vehicle, or to be a tracker, or to be the next managing executive of the Kruger Park, or to be a pilot in the Kruger National Park. There's such a lot of possibilities. We've got to get the community involved because the moment that you've got them involved and they've bought in, I can promise you it's going to be That's going to be the success of the next 100 years.

[00:04:14]>> We also know that climate change plays a huge factor, and the are social realities. It's speaking about inclusion and job creation as well. So, we we also need to factor in what that reality is going to do for the communities at large. From government's perspective, what's the strategy there?

[00:04:30]>> Well, firstly, we saw what climate change is doing to the Kruger National Park. In the past, every 20 25 years we would have a flood. Well, it was severe, but now we're seeing those floods happening every three four years, and the severity of those floods are just devastating. The floods that we had earlier this year in the Kruger National Park were the floods that did the most damage that we know of. It's more than a billion rands of damage. So, climate change is a reality, firstly. Secondly, we now have to build back the Kruger National Park.

[00:05:04]We've got to fix bridges, roads, camps, rondavels, chalets. And I want to I want to take my hat off for the for the team of the Kruger National Park. They are doing such an excellent, amazing job. If you look at the bridge between Letaba and Mopani, I thought it's going to be a year before that bridge is finished. That bridge has been open now for 2 months already. It's it's amazing, the dedication with which these people are working. We've got to also make sure that we do our mitigation so that we lessen the burden of climate change. So, the communities surrounding the park must also be better prepared >> Yeah.

[00:05:40]>> for climate change and for the effects thereof, and also be helped more when it comes to the adaptation regarding climate change. When a occurrence like a flood happened?

[00:05:50]>> Yeah, you know the adage saying in South Africa, stronger together. And so, 100 years of lessons have been learned. What does 100 years from now look like for you? What what's that legacy or vision entail for you?

[00:06:02]>> I I really hope that in 100 years from now people will maybe they will be in a hovercraft or something. I don't know what they will be traveling. I would like them in whatever they're traveling to still stand down or park along the Sabie River and see a herd of elephant go through. And still at night make a fire and sit with their families, cuz that's what it's about, and listen to a lion roar or a hyena crying out there. I want them to experience nature as it was hundreds of years ago, as it was definitely 100 years ago. And but that again is involving people. We will not create that or get there if we're not going to educate our youth of today.

[00:06:41]I'm becoming an old man. I'm 54.

[00:06:44]If I'm lucky, I'll I'll have another 25 odd years on this land.

[00:06:48]But the younger generation in 50 years time from now, a person that's 4 years old is as old as I am.

[00:06:54]And and we've got to teach them. I've got a grandson, he's 1 years old.

[00:06:59]I'm bringing him to the Kruger Park very shortly for the first time. I'm going to install that love with him.

[00:07:05]>> All right, so that love is palpable. We really have connected to the offerings at the Kruger National Park and it's hard not to miss the humility, the authenticity as well.

[00:07:16]And just the work that's being done here. So, it's 100 years of celebrations. You know that official program also kicks a little off a little later on. The president himself will be here to address that as reflects on what transformations also look like. And then again, [music] painting the picture of the future as well.

[00:07:32]It's a wrap from us here at the Kruger National Park. Ministers offered us a game drive, so perhaps we're going to go and see the big five and some of the [music] other biodiversity ecosystems.

[00:07:40]But again, it's been an absolute pleasure. We're going to continue with all of these celebrations [music] on this side of the camera. From myself, Diesel Weasel, from the crew, everyone behind the scenes and in studio putting it all together, it has [music] been an absolute pleasure. That's how we wrap up this live edition on Saturday. Goodbye from us for now.