The Kruger National Park (KNP)'s managing executive, Abe Sibiya presented tour guides from the local communities with four open safari vehicles (OSV) on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
The vehicles are meant to assist previously disadvantaged communities to enter into the OSV business and are donated by VUSWA Fleet. The project is part of the KNP's broader strategy of economic empowerment and social responsibility programmes, which focuses on communities around the Park.
After selections, prospective tour guides were trained to become professional guides. As a start, the tour guides will operate from three of the gates i.e. Phabeni, Kruger and Numbi during the park's normal gate operating times and SANParks will assist the project beneficiaries with marketing of this service.
VUSWA has made two more vehicles available to the new OSV operators, should there be a need. This project could extend to other areas around the KNP if interested community members from other parts of the park are identified.
