Getaway bags a Kudu

Getaway national sales manager Lani Rheeder receives the Kudu Award from Minister of Water and the Environment Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica.

The magazine received the accolade in the Environmental Media Contribution to Conservation category at the fifth annual Kudu Awards, announced at the end of June.

The awards recognise stakeholders for their contribution and are designed "to enhance equitable and sustainable relationships with external communities with a particular caring interest in the national parks of our country and conservation of our natural heritage in general".

Getaway's publisher, Jacqueline Lahoud, said she was delighted the magazine had been recognised. “We do a tremendous amount to raise awareness of the 23 national parks and to promote conservation and wildlife, and it is wonderful for the brand to be acknowledged in this way," she said.

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica, and SANParks chief executive, Dr David Mabunda, presented the awards at a gala "green tie" evening at Gallagher Estate.

Record number of entries

Dr Mabunda said a record number of entries had been received and the event had seen good interest from members of the public in the last few years, resulting in R200 000 in prizes from First National Bank.

"This shows that there is a lot of passion for our parks from our patrons and all have a need to be recognised as the best in conservation of our biodiversity. It is for this reason we need to celebrate the achievements by paying tribute to those who worked effortless in putting conservation in the forefront of our society's focus," he said.