GROENKLOOF – “One of the proudest feelings I have ever experienced was when I started on July 1, 1990 as a tourism official in Kruger National Park (KNP), and I could officially wear my South African National Parks (SANParks) uniform! It was 25 years ago,” Mr Joep Stevens, the general manager of strategic tourism services at SANParks.
He remembers his dream as a youngster to become a ranger in the KNP.
His parents were not too happy about it, as the salary was not to attractive at the time. He eventually ended up studying in the field of commerce and banking. The bank Stevens worked for, asked him to relieve a bank clerk who was working at the bank’s offices in Skukuza.
“That was it! I never wanted to leave again. I approached KNP management and was happy when they were keen to appoint me into the tourism department, where I started at the bottom.”
Life was good in Kruger and Stevens worked hard and became head of tourism in February 1996. He stayed in this position until he was transferred to the corporate offices in Pretoria on March 1, 2003, as general manager of tourism operations.
“Working in the KNP was great, but it was quite complex to work there. You were always at work and had to be ready for the call of duty.” Stevens added that he managed the Kruger, while living in Skukuza, from 1992 to 1995. “We received the Camp of the Year Award, the Yvonne Knobel Trophy, for Skukuza. This was the first and only time that this camp ever won this trophy,” he told Lowvelder.
In 1992 the KNP experienced some of the worst droughts ever, and he remembered the veld fires and the injuries experienced by the firefighters. “I assisted in bringing the seriously injured to Skukuza’s medical facilities. The pain and anguish on their faces will remain with me forever! I also assisted in fighting fires in the camp’s ablution blocks, at Lower Sabie’s main shop and reception area, and also at the Pretoriuskop restaurant.”
But there is one incident, he will also never forget. “On February 7, 2000 floods destroyed my riverside home. The southern part of the park was crippled by it and it took months and months to get it back to operating normally.”
The KNP has a very special place in his heart and Stevens told Lowvelder that he has a very deep connection with it. He collected memorabilia for many years.
For Stevens, now 55, there is no good or a bad time to visit Kruger. It is always special. He and his colleagues at the SANParks head office just celebrated his long years of service, but is also looking forward to the next 10 years, before he will officially go on pension.
