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Thanda Private Game Reserve was honoured at the Grand Final World Travel Awards, held on 11 January 2012 in Doha, Qatar, with an esteemed award for ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ for a third successive year.
At an impressive gala ceremony, Thanda once again won the coveted award in this competitive category. Thanda has won twelve World Travel Awards since 2006 for its exceptional safari experience and luxurious five-star facilities. Winning this award again, ensures that Thanda stays the epitome of sophisticated world-class experiences.
The award is testament to the dedication that Thanda have committed over the years to ensure the highest levels of achievement, not only in terms of hospitality but also in social and corporate responsibility efforts. To be recognised as the ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ three years in a row is something that Thanda accepts with tremendous pride and it proves that all the effort to excel in luxury and exclusivity is being accomplished.
Marketing Director Pierre Delvaux says; "It is a tremendous honour to be here in Doha, Qatar with Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan Olofsson and his wife Christin and Thanda's Assistant GM Dulcie Oliver to accept the award for ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ for the third consecutive year.
The grand finale is the culmination of a year of global regional award events in search of the world’s finest hospitality products. This means that winning at this event is a huge privilege, which makes me very proud of Thanda's amazing staff who go the extra mile and make the difference every time!
Judging from the packed and diverse turnout of top hospitality and tourism brands from around the world at this prestigious gala dinner, the World Travel Awards continue to make their mark as one of the most sought after awards in the world.
I am delighted that Zululand in South Africa can feature amongst the best of the best in the world. Well done Team Thanda!"
Thanda Private Game Reserve is located in Hluhluwe Zululand, KwaZulu Natal in South Africa and remains the only safari lodge in the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Situated on 14,000-hectares of wild bush and rolling mountains, Thanda offers guests total privacy and exclusivity in an access-controlled environment where they can view all of the big five game as they occurred at the turn of the century.
Thanda Private Game Reserve would like to advise the travel trade that the tented camp is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment in order to provide guests with better facilities and services. This project will also include expanding the product offering by a further nine tents bringing the total to number of tents available to guests to fifteen, including Thanda Luxury Honeymoon tent.
Due to the degree of these new renovations Thanda management has made the decision to close the tented camp with immediate effect and will reopen it on 8 February 2012. Please note that all existing bookings in the system will be honoured and guests are being upgraded to the main lodge during the renovations.
Thanda’s five existing tents have all been refurbished, but the decision to close the tented camp was made to ensure that guests who would have been staying in the tents do not have an interrupted or unpleasant stay at Thanda, during the building of the nine new tents.
In addition to increasing the accommodation offering, Thanda is also expanding the tented camp by building a reception area, a curio shop, a new lounge, a new dining room, a 10x5 metre rim-flow pool, and a new boma. The existing sala will be converted in to a spa, which will also be run and managed by Africology.
These new facilities will ensure that guests staying at the tented camp will undoubtedly have the five-star experience that is synonymous with Thanda.
For further information contact the Thanda marketing office on 011 469 5082 or anita.vernes@thanda.co.za. To make a booking contact the Thanda reservation office on 035 573 1899 / 086 184 2632 or reservations@thanda.co.za.
Thanda Private Game Reserve is a supporter of World Rhino Day 2011 and has played an active role over the years in social responsibility as well as many successful conservation initiatives. Thanda is committed to the efforts of its associated wildlife organisations to raise awareness of the many conservation issues of KwaZulu-Natal. Thanda and Thanda Foundation are dedicated to educate and inform local communities to protect the wildlife legacy and the biodiversity contained in the area. Thanda is proud to be associated with and work alongside Wildlands Conservation Trust, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildlife Act, Space For Elephants and African Impact.
In recognition of World Rhino Day 2011 and the dire situation of the African rhino, Thanda is focusing on fighting the battle to preserve our precious wildlife heritage and is actively involved in the conservation efforts of Project Rhino. Thanda has been championing and supporting this initiative in multiple ways and is one of the founding members of Project Rhino. Project Rhino is an association of like-minded organisations allowing collective co-ordination of rhino conservation interventions, which are aimed at eliminating rhino poaching and securing the rhino population in KwaZulu-Natal.
The members of Project Rhino recognise that the work in conserving and protecting rhinos from poaching is symbolic of the threat faced by all wildlife, as they will all benefit from actions taken by Project Rhino.
Project Rhino will bring together organisations with a common vision and goal; identify synergies through an integrated, common approach, and collectively become a representative body which carries powerful leverage ability. Project Rhino outlines the need to prevent duplication of projects / or fund raising events, create a common vision, create credibility within the general public, educate the general public by producing generic releases for use by all members, educate rural communities, collaborate, support and promote each member and ensure cooperation, coordination and sharing of information
The objectives of Project Rhino include: Increased intelligence – information and informant networks |Increased surveillance (with appropriate technologies, aerial and GPS chips) | Increased field ranger competence (training) | Increased advocacy (legal aspects) | Increased communication sharing (central repository for information) | Increased public awareness and education.
As part of a recent game-release programme, Thanda introduced 100 nyala and 15 waterbuck onto the 11 000-hectare private reserve. Thanda is excited to have been granted permits for more rhino and recently acquired and released an undisclosed number of white rhino onto the land. Thanda ensures that it has the constant proactive vigilance of anti-poaching teams to protect the reserve’s wildlife from ruthless poaching operations.
Rhinos are part of the big five animals and are popularly marketed by game reserves throughout southern and eastern Africa but are sadly being viciously and illegally hunted for their horns. Rhino horn is commercially popular in the Asian market for its medicinal applications and uses, and is believed by some to have aphrodisiac properties. Thanda is dedicated to the plight of this magnificent creature and wants to see the rhino removed from the critically endangered species list before reserves can only market big four safari’s to visitors.
For more information and high res images please contact the Thanda Marketing office on 011 469 5082or e-mail anita.vernes@thanda.co.za.
At an impressive ceremony held at Soho Square in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Thanda won the award for ‘Africa's Leading Luxury Villa’. This is the second consecutive year that Thanda has won in this category. Thanda has won eleven World Travel Awards since 2006 for its exceptional safari experience and luxurious five-star facilities. This new award takes Thanda to another tier and epitomises the sophisticated features of the world-class experience on offer at Thanda.
Thanda Private Game Reserve is situated in the heart of Zululand and is the essence of the ultimate in luxury safari experiences with its world-renowned accommodation, excellent game-viewing opportunities and superb guest service. The Royal Private Villa is the premium choice of all Thanda’s accommodation offerings.
The Royal Private Villa was conceptualised for Thanda’s owner and founder, Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dan Olofsson and his wife Christin. The Royal Private Villa encompasses 1000m² of sheer luxury that offers a range of five-star facilities and services to guests. The Royal Private Villa is available on an exclusive-use basis and accommodates ten people in five spacious en-suite bedrooms, each with its own viewing deck looking out across the 14 000-hectare, access-controlled reserve. Guests are treated to the exclusive services of a private ranger and tracker, a chef and masseuse, and the villa has a private helipad for ultimate privacy, exclusivity and discretion for guests.
Thanda’s CEO, Pierre Delvaux, received the award on Friday night and commented, “Winning the 2011 WTA "Africa's Leading Luxury Villa" is testimony to Thanda's tireless mission to strive to achieve and deliver consistent world-class service in all of our hospitality products. This award enables Thanda Private Game Reserve to unequivocally say that it is not only an internationally acclaimed and award-winning lodge, but also Africa's leading and most luxurious exclusive private villa for the most discerning travelers who desire the very best lifestyle that money can buy. I know that owners Dan and Christin Olofsson of Malmo, Sweden, will be very proud of what is ultimately their South African home.”
The World Travel Awards, described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel and tourism industry, serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry.180,000 industry professionals from around the world participated in the voting process (which is scrupulously monitored and independently audited) for their preferred companies and organisations over the past four months and Thanda was nominated alongside some of the most respected names in the travel industry for the most sought-after prizes in the tourism world.
Thanda Private Game Reserve is currently one of only two game reserves in the world to hold Leading Hotels of the World status. Thanda’s five-star facilities include the opulent main lodge, the romantic tented camp, the luxurious honeymoon tent, the exclusive-use Royal Private Villa, the award-winning wellness centre and the cultural showcase Vula Zulu.
Thanda’s World Travel Awards History:
Winner of “Africa's Leading Luxury Villa”, “South Africa's Leading Luxury Villa” and “World’s Leading Luxury Lodge” in the 2010 World Travel Awards
Winner of “World’s Leading Luxury Lodge”, “Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge” and “South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge” in the 2009 World Travel Awards
Winner of “Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge” and “South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge” in the 2008 World Travel Awards
Winner of “Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge” in the 2007 World Travel Awards
Winner of “Leading Safari in South Africa” category in the 2006 World Travel Awards.
At a soil-breaking ceremony earlier today Siemens AG, Germany announced that they would commit to funding an entire school project in Mvezo, Eastern Cape. Through Siemens AG’s unprecedented commitment to a poor rural community, Thanda Foundation is proud to announce that as a result of the tireless efforts of his grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s wish for a high school at his birthplace, Mvezo will finally come true. The vision is to develop a world-class high school called Mandela School of Science and Technology, expanding it considerably to cover a budget of €10-million.
Over two years ago the Thanda Foundation signed a historic memorandum of agreement with the Mvezo Development Trust with the goal to seek funding for the fulfillment of Nelson Mandela’s dream. The initiative was spearheaded by Swedish entrepreneurs Dan and Christin Olofsson and Chief of the AbaThembu Tribe and member of Parliament Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
Inspired by a tale of an impoverished and neglected rural community told by Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela three years ago at his grandfather’s 90th birthday celebrations, the goal to raise funds to build a high school follows a path from Mvezo in South Africa’s Eastern Cape to Stockholm and Malmo in Sweden, where in October 2009 the first fundraising initiatives took place.
The journey then returned to Mvezo on 18 July 2010, at Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday celebrations. The event, attended by the President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma, saw the announcement by Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela that the objective to raise further funds for the school project would go ahead by auctioning or selling three life-sized bronze statues of Nelson Mandela. These statues, financed by Thanda Foundation and authenticated by Nelson Mandela himself, are exact replicas of the 6-metre statue of Nelson Mandela which stands in the centre court at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg. The replica statues are made by the same artist as the original, Kobus Hattingh.
The entire capital cost of the ‘High School Project’, which includes a library, an auditorium, boarding facilities and a sports center was, at the inception, expected to cost no more than R30-million.
Global CEO of Siemens, Peter Loscher bought into the vision of creating a unique and historic legacy project for Siemens that would fulfill Nelson Mandela, his grandson and his people’s dreams by funding what will be one of the most advanced and sophisticated schools in Africa.
Funds already raised for this project through Thanda Foundation include the significant contributions from the Swedish Postcode Lottery, the LBD of Sweden, the Olofsson family of Sweden and Daryl Ackerman of South Africa. The funds will be used to repair and upgrade the Mvezo Interpretive Centre and Mandela Museum. Any future funds raised from the sale of the Mandela statues will fund the AIDs prevention program, Star For Life in the Eastern Cape, as well as other projects identified by the Mvezo Community.
Dan Olofsson says; “Thanda Foundation and the Olofsson family are delighted and honored to be a part of this project and we commend Siemens for their vision and bold commitment to funding the entire project while mobilising all of their business and healthcare resources to turn this worthwhile dream into a reality. It shall live on for generations as a global legacy project, true to the dream and wish of Nelson Mandela”.
For more information please contact Pierre Delvaux, Thanda Foundation Trust Chairman
Mobile +27 83 4171155
Office: +2735 772 6076
On 18th July 2010, being the 92nd birthday of Nelson Mandela, Chairman of the Thanda Foundation Pierre Delvaux, attended birthday celebrations and the 67- minute tribute to Nelson Mandela’s 67 years in active political and community service, at his birthplace Mvezo in the Eastern Cape
Attended by the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma along with the Premier of the Eastern Cape, members of parliament, politicians, community leaders and international dignitaries, Nkosi Mandela hosted the event and led the celebrations to mark the birthday of his grandfather and world icon, Nelson Mandela.
Thousands of guests attended the official address and subsequent party, including the eating of three enormous cakes baked to celebrate the occasion.
The birthday celebration in Mvezo was the idea of Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela who wanted to focus attention on Mvezo, the birthplace of his grandfather and particularly the plight of his people who continue to live an impoverished life, without access to many of the basic services and amenities that many South Africans now enjoy.
At the event, which included several key note messages and tributes from leaders of admiration and respect for Nelson Mandela and his life contribution to the people of South Africa, a cheque of R3-million was handed over to President Jacob Zuma by Nkosi Mandela from funds raised in Sweden by the Thanda Foundation, as a motivation and pledge request to the President to match the funds for the establishment and construction of a High School in Mvezo.
The funds were raised as a result of a sponsored trip to Sweden in October 2009 arranged by the founder of the Thanda Foundation, Dan Olofsson of Sweden in order to raise funds for Mvezo. Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela explained to guests the background of the community / private sector partnership between Mvezo and Thanda and thanked Thanda for their efforts in assisting the community of Mvezo to get this project finally off the ground.
The establishment of a High School in Mvezo has been the personal quest of Nelson Mandela for several years. The Thanda Foundation intends to raise further funds by auctioning or selling of three-life size bronze statues authenticated by Nelson Mandela which are exact replicas of the 6-meter statue of Nelson Mandela erected at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The entire capital cost of the High School project, which includes a library, auditorium, boarding facilities and a sports centre, is expected to cost R30-million.
Thanda Private Game Reserve was awarded the status of ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ for the second consecutive year at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards, held at Grosvenor House in London on 07 November 2010.
With self nominations rising a phenomenal 50 % from 2009, and involving over 180,000 travel professionals from around the globe the World Travel Awards has become recognised globally - by both the trade and the consumer as the "Oscars of the travel industry”.
It is therefore tremendously gratifying that the unique benchmark for quality and service excellence striven towards by Thanda Private Game Reserve, has been recognised by global voters for a second year running.
Representing the owners of Thanda, Swedish Dan and Christin Olofsson, Thanda's Managing Director Pierre Delvaux graciously accepted the award as the ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ commenting, "It is enormously gratifying to know that Thanda can once again be selected among hundreds of the world's top class lodges and not only finish among the top eight finalists, but be able to win the same award two years in a row, particularly in such a challenging and highly competitive marketplace.
Essentially it boils down to consistent service delivery, fantastic game viewing in the wild, anticipating the needs of guests and wonderful staff exceeding expectation with the wow factor.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dan and Christin Olofsson for their belief in Thanda as well as our committed and enthusiastic staff and marketing team who always go the extra mile and who make the difference every single time."
Thanda Private Game Reserve is located in Hluhluwe Zululand, KwaZulu Natal in South Africa and remains the only safari lodge in the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Situated on 14,000-hectares of wild bush and rolling mountains, Thanda offers guests total privacy and exclusivity in an access-controlled environment where they can view all of the big five game as they occurred at the turn of the century.
Thanda Group CEO, Pierre Delvaux, and fourth daughter of His Majesty King Zwelithini Goodwill kaBhekuzulu, Princess Nandi Zulu recently represented Thanda Private Game Reserve at the Cannes Amend.ORG 2010 Luncheon, at the Cannes Film Festival.
The luncheon was hosted by socialite Ella Krasner, in aid of raising funds for children knocked over or injured as a result of motor car accidents in Africa. Amend is a non-profit organization based in New York City, which focuses on sustainable programmes to prevent accidents from affecting children in developing countries. Amend relies on donations, volunteers, various professional experts and celebrity ambassadors to help to spread the message of its programmes.
The Cannes Film Festival presented an ideal platform to position Thanda’s royal private villa as the perfect safari experience featuring a high security, access-controlled environment, privacy and exclusivity for celebrities and high-profile guests. The private reserve offers the big five safari, including the endangered black rhino and wild dog. High-profile guests can fly directly to the royal private villa by executive jet or helicopter.
Thanda was one of the few select sponsors of the luncheon, and offered a prize to Thanda Private Game Reserve which was auctioned at the event. The prize was auctioned for €13000 to a wealthy Bulgarian businessman and the proceeds will be going to the children sponsored by Amend.
Amend is currently not active in South Africa but has entered into talks with Dan Olofsson, Chairman and owner of Thanda Private Game Reserve, and Pierre Delvaux, CEO of Thanda Group and Managing Director of Thanda Private Game Reserve who met with Jeffrey Witte, Executive Director of Amend in order to discuss synergy in terms of a possible partnership in South Africa with the Thanda Foundation Trust and Star for Life programme.
Star for Life supports some 60,000 high school children in the Zululand region to lead an AIDS-free life by inspiring them to go for their dreams, to reduce teenage pregnancies and increase academic results by building their self esteem through a well planned and thought out programme that works. Essentially the Star for Life project is an HIV AIDS education, awareness and prevention programme.
Thanda Private Game Reserve is an exclusive big five game reserve situated on 14000-hectares in northern Zululand. Thanda offers three tiers of luxury accommodation: a tented camp, nine luxury villas at the main lodge and the sophisticated royal private villa which is ideal for families. Thanda is currently the only game reserve in the world to have membership with the Leading Hotels of the World, boasts an award-winning wellness centre and offers guests the cultural experience, Vula Zulu.
Star for Life, an AIDS-awareness and prevention programme founded in 2005 by Dan Olofsson, is currently offered at 62 schools in KwaZulu-Natal, and has brought inspiration and educational freedom to approximately 50 000 learners in the province.
In celebration of the programme’s fifth anniversary, and coinciding with the World Cup, guests of honour and students enrolled in the Star for Life programme will meet at Vukuzahke High School in Umlazi, Durban on 08 July to showcase the remarkable achievements the programme has attained to date.
The guests of honour at the event will include Dan Olofsson- founder of Star for Life and chairman of the board, Anders Lindblad- President of Volvo Southern Africa, which is a patron of Star for Life, and Glenn Stromberg- a well-known Swedish former footballer and television commentator. The guests will enjoy a morning of festivities interacting with learners at Vukuzahke High School.
In addition to its five year tenure, Star for Life has much to celebrate. An independent impact assessment evaluated the significant effects that the programme has introduced to KwaZulu-Natal learners and revealed that schools participating in the project noted a reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies, their learners showed better academic performances, there had been a marked increase in VCTs (voluntary testing and counseling), and that learners expressed a heightened sense of self esteem after their three-year enrollment in the programme. Star for Life has also recently launched its mobile clinic project in response to the demands from students for voluntary testing and counseling.
Thanda Private Game Reserve’s endangered African wild dog pack increased when a litter of 15 new pups was born. On 20 May the alpha female of the pack, Stitch gave birth to a litter of puppies in a den located on the newest section of land on the reserve.
Late last year, Thanda expanded the reserve to 14000-ha after dropping fences with the neighbouring Mduna Royal Reserve. This was a historic achievement and the new land allowed Thanda to increase its carrying capacity and introduce seven black rhino onto the reserve. The rhino adapted well to their relocation and in February this year, a calf was born on the new land. The new section of land has seen much of Thanda’s game over the past few months including lion, rhino, buffalo and now the wild dog entering this new territory. The newborn wild dog puppies remained in their den for the first four weeks after birth. It was decided that the den site would be closed off to game viewing due to the sensitivity of the newborn puppies, and to reduce any stress that might have been caused to Stitch.
Last week, with the puppies at five weeks old, Stitch moved her den site to one that is closer to the road, but still in the same drainage line as the previous den. Soon after their relocation, the puppies were spotted for the first time by Wildlife Africa Conservation Team (Wildlife ACT), although the pups had been heard for a few days already. The pups have been quite shy and are staying in the shelter of their den and the surrounding bushes and shrubs, keeping out of the cold and wind. The elated rangers have managed to get some pictures of the litter, which are available on request.
Wildlife ACT is a passionate, hands-on team that provides conservation-minded volunteers and students with the opportunity to be part of important endangered wildlife conservation volunteer work in Africa. The research and studies conducted by Wildlife ACT is carried out within Zululand, on Thanda.
As part of the expansion of Thanda’s land, the reserve management has identified the need to ensure the sustainability of wildlife in the area, and help to assist with the development of the local communities. These needs culminated in the initiation of a research centre, in conjunction with Space for Elephants Foundation.
Thanda Foundation, in partnership with the Space for Elephants Foundation opened a R2.75-million research facility at the end of 2009, Thanda Research Centre. The centre focuses on conducting scientific research programs on the reserve. This includes, in partnership with Wildlife ACT, the monitoring of the black rhino as well as other endangered species such as wild dog, all of the predators and the big five. Wildlife ACT has partnered with Thanda on game monitoring programmes.
For further information please contact:
Email: dee-ann@thanda.co.za
Tel: +2711 469 5082
In April 2006, four adult dogs (two females from Venetia and two males from Imfolozi) were released onto Thanda’s land after bonding in a boma on Thanda for a few months. After being released the beta male left the pack to join two Imfolozi females on the land adjacent to Thanda. The dogs had a successful mating season and a litter was born late 2006, with four puppies surviving. In December 2006 the remaining male was killed by three lions.
In February 2007 a new male was introduced to Thanda from Madikwe and he was successfully accepted by the adult two females. The dogs founded a den site on the hill close to the main lodge, and have often returned to this site. One of the adult females was killed by lions, along with some of the puppies, leaving a pack of one adult male and four yearlings. In 2008 Stitch birthed another litter, and unfortunately all eight puppies were killed by three lionesses after two weeks.
In 2009, Stitch again gave birth to a litter of puppies bringing the pack composition to one male, two females and eight puppies. In September the dogs moved locations onto the new land and founded a new den site, where the latest litter was born. Thanda now has one adult male, two adult females, four yearlings (two male, two female) and 15 puppies.
For further information please contact:
Email: dee-ann@thanda.co.za
Tel: +2711 469 5082
It has been four weeks since the release of seven black rhino onto the Thanda area of the consolidated Thanda Mduna Royal Reserve. The rhino have settled into their new home and respective areas on the reserve and there have been no major incidents. The animals have been sighted a few times, with the assistance of telemetry since the release, and they are doing well with no recorded loss of condition.
During the first week after release, the seven rhino were very active and moved around the reserve covering a lot of ground in their attempt to find suitable areas to claim as their territory.
The two younger animals that were among the released rhino, a young bull and a young cow, have been seen in close proximity to each other for many days now. With the steady rainfall that has covered Thanda lately, the guides are hoping there is some romance in the air for the young rhino.
Over the past four weeks, the guides have had two exciting rhino sightings with guests. The animals are still quite shy and skittish and seem to prefer to remain in the thick bush until they become more habituated.
Black rhinos travel alone except while breeding or raising offspring. Juveniles remain with the mother until they are completely weaned just before a new baby is born.
The tale of how the Rhinoceros got his horn:
The rhinoceros was given his name because of the horn on his nose, but he did not always have this horn. He was once known as the simoneos, or flat-nosed-one, and he would snuffle his way along the ground eating the sweet grasses of the African savannah and letting the pretty birds sit on his back and eat the fat ticks behind his ears.
One day the simoneos was having a dust bath when the boa constrictor, Bo, came slithering along the path to visit him. Bo told him of the trouble in the animal kingdom. The king of all animals, Leo the lion had eaten a hyena which had drunk the poisoned waters of the pool of sowe. He was very ill and nothing could help him.
The simoneos was certain that there must be something that will help the king as he was still young and strong. Bo assured him that there was only one cure - tea made from the leaves of the bulewo plant. That plant only grows when the rains fall. And there had been no rain for months.
As he slept, Simoneos dreamt a strange dream. All the birds who sat behind his ears and ate the ticks whispered, "We can help if you can help us!".
When he woke the old and wise Strix, the shriek-owl came forward and told Simoneos that for many seasons he had let the birds rest behind his ears and eat the ticks behind them. The birds want to thank him by making him a hero in the animal kingdom.
The birds settled on his spade-like nose and Simoneos flung them right up into the air where they could not reach by simply flying. More and more disappeared like tiny ants into the sky as the strong nose and neck of Simoneos sent the birds higher than they had ever gone before. A whirring noise like the winds in the north broke the silence as the birds were flapping their wings in one great dance in the sky. Huge dark clouds hung over the Savannah. Then the rains started.
The plants began to sprout and Bo squeezed some of the fresh leaves from the saplings and gave them to Simoneos to make a tea for the king. The miracle tea had cured the king and he sat up to speak to all those present. Simoneos told his story and mentioned his good friends, Bo, Strix and all the birds, and how they had all helped.
The king wanted to reward him and gave him a huge diamond. He put it onto his spade-like nose to carry it home but the diamond just stuck on the end there, like a unicorn's horn as if by magic. He found he could use it for all kinds of useful things because it was so hard, and the pretty birds could sit on it too. He was given a new name - Rhinoceros, horn on your nose. And that is how the Rhinoceros got his horn.
So, if you ever see a rhino charging, you must get right out of his way. He may be trying to save the King!
The introduction of the Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre, aims to create a sustainable environment in which wildlife and ecology are balanced and protected, through the conservation and management of biodiversity in and around protected areas in attempts to benefit the local people of the KwaZulu-Natal region.
Thanda Private Game Reserve has reached a milestone in social and environmental upliftment, through the formation of a unique partnership with Zulu Kingdom and Space for Elephants (SEF). The Zululand based, Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre’s long-term objectives include the bolstering of eco-tourism, conservation, support of local communities and research opportunities. The research centre aims to attain leadership status and international research standards in wildlife management practices, through consolidating the skills and experience of three committed parties with a view to uplifting and benefiting local communities.
The purpose of the centre is to provide research regarding the sustainability of resources. In order to create a more sustainable environment, the centre aims to achieve several objectives including the process of removing fences between human areas and conservation regions. Thanda originally constituted 5000-hectares of land, which has expanded to include 8000-hectares.The Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre will assist in increasing the land to 14 000 hectares in the near future. The removal of fences will require consolidation with stakeholders in order to gain stakeholder co-operation, as well as updated information been communicated in order to inform management, research, tourism and local communities about progress and development opportunities.
The research centre will utilise the latest scientific research in order to facilitate local development, achieved through training volunteers, tour guides and wildlife managers at a local wildlife training centre. Furthermore the training will provide local people with knowledge pertaining to ecological principles, management practices and biodiversity concepts. Local communities and the general public will be educated regarding the conservation of wildlife, local culture and ancient indigenous knowledge.
The research centre will include several main fields of research: the compilation of a biodiversity database, long-term monitoring program to provide management with accurate scientific information regarding how the system is functioning, ecological management monitoring, long-term monitoring of endangered and keystone animal species as well as fundamental research regarding the inner workings behind ecosystem functioning.
The opening of the Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre and its efforts to uplift the local KwaZulu-Natal community and wildlife conservation have high standards to meet following Thanda’s previous accomplishments with social awareness and upliftment programmes. Through hard work and dedication Thanda intends to successfully operate the centre and effectively add the success of the centre to Thanda’s social investment portfolio.
For further information on Thanda Private Game Reserve contact Southern Spoor Marketing reservations on 011 704 3115 or visit www.thanda.com
Keynotes and information: www.zulukingdom.co.za www.space4elephants.org www.thanda.com
Thanda, South Africa’s leading luxury private game reserve, has extended its extraordinary social responsibility commitments to include the SEF Foundation Research Centre. The centre aims to create a sustainable environment in which wildlife and ecology are balanced and protected, benefiting the local people of KwaZulu-Natal.
Thanda Private Game Reserve’s unwavering commitment to social responsibility has resulted in Thanda reaching a milestone in social and environmental upliftment through the formation of a unique partnership with Zulu Kingdom and Space for Elephants (SEF). The Zululand based Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre’s dedicated long-term objectives include the bolstering of eco-tourism, conservation, support of local communities and research opportunities. Thanda’s headship spirit aims to attain leadership status and international research standards in wildlife management practices through combining the skills and experience of three committed partners.
Thanda prides itself in the KwaZulu-Natal regions sustainability potential and therefore focuses on the provision of research regarding the sustainability of resources. In order to create a more sustainable environment the centre aims to satisfy several objectives including the process of removing fences between human areas and conservation regions. Thanda’s positivism stems from the steady growth of land, originally 5000-hectares, which has expanded to include 8000-hectares currently. The Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre will assist in increasing the land to 14 000 hectares in the near future.
Focusing on the local inhabitants of KwaZulu-Natal, the research centre will assist local development through training volunteers, tour guides and wildlife managers at a local wildlife training centre. Extending local focus the centre will provide locals with knowledge pertaining to ecological principles, management practices, biodiversity concepts, the conservation of wildlife, local culture and ancient indigenous knowledge.
Thanda’s dedication to the upliftment of the local Kwa-Zulu community and efforts to improve wildlife conservation has continued to grow, showing remarkable progress in their social responsibility projects, making the success of the Thanda SEF Foundation Research Centre imminent.
Thanda Private Game Reserve in northern Zululand, South Africa, has been deemed the World’s Leading Luxury Lodge at the World Travel Awards 2009 Grand Final in London. The Grand Final culminates the Grand Tour which sees regional winners from Dubai, Africa, Riviera Mavra and Portugal vying for the ultimate travel accolade: to be the world’s best in their respective categories. Thanda’s trophy takes pride of place alongside silverware from awards past: South Africa’s Leading Safari (2006, 2008, 2009) and Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge (2007, 2008, 2009). Marketing Director Anita Vernes was extremely proud to represent one of the shortlisted South African properties at the crème-de-la-crème of awards ceremonies for the travel industry and commented, “The award is testament to the dedication we have committed over the years to ensure the highest levels of achievement, not only in terms of hospitality but also in our social and corporate responsibility efforts. To be recognised as the World’s Leading Luxury Lodge is something we accept with tremendous pride and proves our efforts to excel in luxury and exclusivity.”
The accolade concludes a significant year of landmarks for Thanda Private Game Reserve. The news comes in the wake of the reserve’s milestone agreement to adjoin with His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s land to form the Mduna Royal Reserve, totaling 14000-hectares, and the relocation of the endangered black rhino to the expanded land. Vernes commented further on the timing of the award, in the lead-up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, “This award will serve us incredibly well as it proves that South African hospitality ranks with the best in the world. It will also assist us in promoting South Africa’s most luxurious soccer packages, soon to be on offer from Thanda.”
Thanda Private Game Reserve is currently the only private game reserve in the world to be a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, and the first private reserve in KwaZulu-Natal to reintroduce a breeding pack of wild dog. The Star for Life program, an anti-HIV/AIDS Thanda Foundation initiative, has reached children in over 40 schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Luxurious facilities at Thanda include: an opulent main lodge, non-electrified tented camp, exclusive-use royal suite, award-winning wellness centre and Zulu showcase, Vula Zulu.
For further details, please contact Thanda Marketing & Reservations:
Tel: +2711 469 5082
Email: Victoria.smith@thanda.co.za
www.thanda.com
