SANParks.org Forums

Here is an opportunity to donate binoculars to the game rangers and other field staff working in our National Parks!

Forumites can now donate new or used binoculars.

The donated binoculars will be channelled by the Virtual Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers to rangers and other field staff needing binoculars.

Binoculars can be delivered to the following SANParks Honorary Rangers:

In Kruger National Park (Malelane): Ecojunkie
In Gauteng: Imberbe
In the Western Cape: Dinkybird

Contact us if you want to post it. We do not do pick ups.

Basic rules:

1. Binoculars will not be donated to individuals as their private property, but will be given to SANParks to manage as part of their inventory. We may try and ensure that a specific individual has the use of a binocular, but this cannot be guaranteed.

2. We do accept second hand binoculars which are in a good working order. We cannot repair broken binoculars.

3. All donated binoculars will be screened by the HR's. A list of binoculars and donors will be kept, as well as to which park or section they were donated.

4. Binoculars which are not suitable (broken) will be scrapped. This will take place after inspection by two HR's. A list of scrapped binoculars will be kept.

5. For practical reasons we will tend to donate a binocular in the general region it was donated. This is just a general approach, not a rule.

6. The Virtual Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers will take no responsibility for damage to, loss of, or theft of such binoculars.

Thank you to GemmaT who donated our first binoculars in KNP.

Any particular power, size, etc being more preferable, Imberbe? We'll be bringing down a few pairs that we'd rather drop off for continued good use by the Game Rangers. We haven't bought them yet, however, and will make sure ours will be suitable for the field.

There are many excelent options available, but I find a light weight but sturdy 8x42 an ideal candidate when working in the bush.

10x42 or similar is also quite nice.

More than a 10x magnification tend to become unstable and give a blurred image when used under less than ideal circumstance.

Too big and heavy and they can become very cumbersome when in the bush. Too small and they tend to be very limited in ability.

But having said that, if someone has a 10x50 or similar to donate, do not hesitate. It will be given to someone doing his / her work from a vehicle or similar.

With binoculars I find that quality is extremely important. A good quality make is often more important than the exact specifications. It does not need to be overly expensive though.

What about collecting over a mini meet?

Jen those tins?

Sanparks should be ashamed of having to beg for what should be part of the standard equipment for a ranger.
This is my personal opinion of course.

Got them..... tea? You let me know when and I'll be there!!

SANParks are not begging Micetta

It is a case of very generous members of these forums who would like to make a difference and donate their used/new binocs. The HRs are providing a well managed channel for this. To these wonderful members, we say a huge thank you! You are most certainly helping make a difference And your donations will be very well received, and used.

OK, Sanparks is not begging! But why do the rangers not have the right equipment, that is needed for their task, which is certainly not always an easy one?

The reality is that SANParks has a limited income, limited support from government and at the same time huge personnel and infrastructure expenses. Some things do get left behind in the process.

At the same time SANParks has plans to address this and increase income in various ways. A strategical move by SANParks is to increase funding via donors. They recently appointed a SANParks fundraising section and at the same time increased the importance of the role of the SANParks Honorary Rangers as an official tool to generate support. Here is a good example.

Just as an interesting side note. The majority of funding for nature conservation in Africa to the North of us, is often done through donors. This income frequently out pace the income generated via tourism and government funding which tend to be almost non existing.

But yes, this specific project is started because so many Forumites have approached us over the years with the need to contribute in this positive and tangiable way. We promised that we would make it possible, and we now want to deliver!

I'd like some clarification please; the term 'game ranger' is somewhat ambiguous. Are we talking about guides, rangers, anti-poaching personnel or whom?

Yes, indeed.

We will consider any full time SANParks personnel who work in the bush / on the sea / counter poaching, etc. The important factor is that they should be able to use these binoculars in the line of their work. Rangers, field rangers, trails guides, scientific personnel, wildlife services, etc.