#Salute Garden Route Rangers

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Eugenia Mkhatshwa is a Senior Section Ranger in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park.

She tells us about her role as a senior ranger in a demanding park.

Rangers that patrol the Tsitsikamma coastline, including areas recently rezoned to allow local communities to fish in a Marine Protected Area (MPA), and police the forest areas too, report to Mkhatshwa.

Q: How did you become a ranger?

A: Growing up in the Eastern Cape between the borders of East London and King Williams Town, I naturally wanted to become a forester. After tertiary training, I joined the Department of Forestry as a forest conservator in 1998. I was one of the people transferred from the department to South African National Parks (SANParks).

Q: Your favourite place in the park?

A: I absolutely love going to the Viewpoint (part of the multi-day Dolphin Hiking Trail) to take a deep breath when I feel overwhelmed. Seeing the combination of forest, fynbos and ocean makes protecting the mountain-to-ocean catchment that is Tsitsikamma worthwhile.

A: Any advice to future rangers?

Q: Passion is what will sustain you, so it's important to have an unshakeable love for nature. Then it's crucial to be able to listen and be patient, especially for young women. You'll start out feeling small and then grow into your role which, by the way, you have to carve out for yourself in a male-dominated world. You'll need layers upon layers of tolerance, patience, and preparedness to put in hours of work that you may not necessarily see the outcomes of.

Dominque du Toit is a Section Ranger in Goudveld, an old mining town in the Knysna forest.

Back in 1876 gold was discovered along the Karatara River by James Hooper. In 1887, more discoveries were made in the nearby Millwood area. In those days Millwood had hotels, a church, a shop, a surgery, a bank, school and a post office.

Today Goudveld is an activity hub attracting more than 80 000 visitors. Some of its activities include the Dalene Matthee Memorial & Big Tree, mountain bike routes including the Homtini Trail and Drupkelders ("overhanging cliffs that drip water") and the beautiful picnic spot, Jubilee Creek.

Q: How did you become a ranger?

A: When I was younger, I was always involved in camping, Brownies, Girl Guides and hiking clubs and I somehow suspected I'd end up working in nature. I wasn't sure how, but I took baby steps after matric to study towards a diploma at the Cape Town Technikon.

I then went to work for Forestry in the Eastern Cape and then for Timbavati for another 4 to 6 years. Then I moved to the Southern Cape to work for the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), then over to SANParks where I've been working for 16 years now. I've worked in both marine and forest areas.

Dominque du Toit

Liesl Wagner is a field ranger in Windmeulnek, part of the Wilderness section of the park.

She was one of the rangers at the forefront of the recent fires. The fires affected the area and although there were no major losses on hiking trail huts, the park lost an ablution and lapa facility at nearby Platbos. She is also part of the team rebuilding the area after the fires and says the workload has almost doubled as a result of the fires.

Q: How did you become a ranger?

A: I've been working for SANParks for 13 years. I began as a general worker for about two years and then became a field ranger. What inspired me was my love for nature, but my father had worked for SANParks before. I'd watch my father get up to work early in the morning and that is heart-warming.

Q: What is your favourite place in the park?

A: Windmeulnek has the best views of the Outeniqua Mountains! Tracking spoor is often fascinating as there are large mammals in the area.

Q: How have things changed since you started your job?

A: As a young supervisor, I have learnt over the years that people may change, but having an approach to dealing with people is always better. It's also important to exhaust the carrot approach before using the stick. So I've found having an open mind, listening with an intention to support and not defend, can go a long way in building relationships.

Liesl Wagner