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July 2005 National Star Grading in the Kruger National Park During June 2005 both Willie Bromehead and Neels Van Heerden assessed and graded the Kruger National Park according to the set criteria laid out by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. After this assessment an extensive report was submitted to Joep Stevens the General Manager of Tourism Operations within SAN PARKS to assist in the progress to continue to upgrade the facilities and services within the caravan & camping sector of this national reserve. “Visiting 12 resorts in 13 days, covering just over 1000km at 35km per hour, assessing, evaluating, compiling reports on each camp site, physically looking in at every toilet, tap, basin, door, clothing hooks, electrical power points and the condition of various camp sites was quite a task” Willie and Neels added sounding out of breath, “Best of all was to still find the time and energy to appreciate the spectacular game viewing on offer…” was added. The general consensus between both Willie & Neels was that the Kruger Park needed some attention in various aspects, but was able to score various stars between the 12 camp sites located within the reserve. With five camps achieving “3 Stars”, six camps achieving “2 Stars” and Punda Maria receiving a “1 Star” rating provided SAN Parks the ability to improve and grow towards providing local and international tourists better visits to our national reserve. During our meeting at a coffee shop at the University of Pretoria, Neels and Willie provided insight of the vast improvements and positive impact this Star Grading System is currently having on the Caravan & Camping Sector within our Country. With resorts only now starting to understand the importance of providing a level of “Quality Assurance” to local and international tourists, the National Star Grading is set to extend its current 100 or so graded resorts well into the future. The Automobile Association has also shown interest in extending the “AA Quality Assured” solution deeper into the Caravan & Camping Sector. Neels van Heerden has actively been involved within this and provided AA the assistance to improve its knowledge towards the Caravan & Camping Sector. Other news on National Star Grading is that Willie and Dot Bromehead had graded over 80 other resorts and had been around the county more than three times already this year. Various trips covering resorts from Durban to Cape Town and back to Durban on one trip, then again from Durban down to East London and up through Beaufort West to Upington round Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Drakensberg and back to Durban. Another round trip covering Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, the Kruger Park, through Gauteng and back down to Durban all providing a level of grading to the caravan & camping industry. “As a Professional Camper” as Willie would joke saying “I probably have the most boring job in the world, but it beats an office job when compiling all these reports and paperwork that all goes with this title...” We wish to take this opportunity to thank our various sponsors, including Gypsey Caravans and BoboCampers.com for providing the vehicles that made the living conditions comfortable for both Willie and Neels within SAN Parks during this assessment. We wish to extended our thanks to all our supporting members within the CaravanParks.com Tourism Network (resorts, businesses and clubs) in providing us the monthly financial support to enable us to actively move across the country and personally assess and assist various resorts.
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Neels & Willie working in Kruger |
Rare sighting of Ground Hornbill |
In Shingwedzi |
Tame buck in Letaba |
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| At the Tropic of Capricorn |
Assessors in Berg-en-Dal |
Giving the AA some mileage |
In Berg-en-Dal |
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