SANParks Honorary Rangers aims to raise more than a million for conservation

The KZN Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR) is working to raise a targeted R1.5 million from this year’s Comrades Marathon Association’s Amabeadibeadi Race4Charity campaign.

Last year, the Comrades Marathon community of runners and supporters, helped raise over R1.5 million for the SANParks Honorary Rangers through the Comrades Race4Charity Drive, funding critical conservation support across South Africa’s national parks.

Following the severe flooding in Kruger National Park earlier this year, this iconic park has seen extensive damage to roads, bridges, tourist infrastructure and operational facilities and activities. Several K9 unit kennels were damaged, placing additional strain on the teams that rely on highly trained dogs to track poachers, locate contraband wildlife products and support ranger patrols across the park. These canine units are widely regarded as one of the most effective tools in protecting endangered species.

This year, the funds raised from the SHR Comrades Marathon Race4Charity and Amabeadibeadi campaign will continue to provide vital support for the various anti-poaching and conservation efforts in Kruger National Park and other parks managed by South African National Parks (SANParks).

Last year, funds raised by runners through Race4Charity helped to renovate and upgrade anti-poaching facilities, kennels for K9 units and training of new K9 anti-poaching dogs, with 2 dogs - a Bloodhound called Yoris and a Bloodhound Cross named Khargi - purchased for tracking in the Kruger National Park.

Wildlife monitoring and protection equipment was purchased for Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape.

In the Western Cape, the K9 unit at Table Mountain National Park was renovated and upgraded, while in the Richtersveld National Park, security cameras were installed to protect endangered succulents threatened by poaching.

Finally, funds were also donated to the organisation’s Embrace National Project which provides support for rangers at the frontline of conservation, through trauma and stress management programmes and life skills training.

In 2026, Comrades supporters and runners can get involved in several ways:

·Runners already registered for the Comrades Marathon on 14 June 2026 can sign up for Race4Charity and select SANParks Honorary Rangers as their fundraising charity of choice, then encourage friends, family and supporters to sponsor their run in support of SANParks Honorary Rangers.

·Supporters can sponsor runners directly via the Race4Charity website (https://charity.comrades.com/events/comrades-marathon-2026).

·Other ways to help are to buy Comrades Toyota Win-A-Car Competition tickets to stand a chance to win a Toyota Corolla Cross, or purchase Amabeadibeadi merchandise from volunteer members of the SHR. Competition tickets sold by the SHR can be purchased here.

“Every contribution helps to protect South Africa’s National Parks,” says KZN Region’s Committee Chairperson, Gavin Abel.

For more information about the SANParks Honorary Rangers, visit https://www.sanparksvolunteers.org/ or about joining the SHR’s Race4Charity team, email  Comrades@sanparksvolunteers.org.

SANParks Honorary Rangers’ Comrades Marathon Race4Charity Fundraiser a Massive Win for Conservation

The SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR) have demonstrated how the legendary spirit of the Comrades Marathon can be harnessed to protect South Africa’s natural heritage. Through the Comrades Marathon Association’s AmaBeadiBeadi charity initiative, and with the incredible support of Race4Charity runners and donors, the SHR has raised vital funds that will go directly into projects safeguarding South Africa National Parks (SANParks).

As an official charity of the Comrades Association’s AmaBeadiBeadi charity drive, members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, KwaZulu-Natal Region (l-r) Gavin Abel, John Gale and Brenda Huntley of the SANParks Honorary Rangers.

An incredible amount of R1 588 165 was raised, most of which will be invested directly from the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the SHR into critical SANParks conservation, ranger support and anti-poaching initiatives in national parks across the country. 

Funds raised by the SANParks Honorary Rangers are allocated to procuring or supporting priority conservation needs that have been identified by SANParks through a wish list system. 

The funds raised from the 2025 Race4Charity campaign will be allocated as follows:

•               Kruger National Park: Renovation and upgrade of anti-poaching facilities and kennelling for K9 anti-poaching dogs, and the training of two new dogs for K9 units. This will assist in strengthening anti-poaching measures in Kruger National Park.

•               Mountain Zebra National Park: Procurement of wildlife monitoring, research and protection equipment, including 3 cheetah collars, 1 lion collar, and 3 camera traps.

•               Richtersveld National Park: Installation of new security cameras to strengthen protection measures for endangered succulents, which are vulnerable to poaching.

•               Table Mountain National Park: Assistance with the renovation and upgrade of dog kennels at the K9 unit.

•               Project Embrace: Support for rangers and their families at the frontline of conservation through trauma and stress management programmes and life skills training.

Speaking on the value of the initiative, following the handover from the Comrades Marathon Association on Friday 22 August, Ian Catt Treasurer of the KwaZulu-Natal Region of SANParks Honorary Rangers and Chairman of the SHR Comrades organising committee, said, “The Comrades Marathon is not only a race of endurance, but is also a race of generosity in many ways. Every runner who chose to run for SHR, every person who donated, and the Comrades Marathon Association itself, have helped us take a significant step forward in protecting our wildlife and supporting our rangers and the onerous tasks of protecting our conservation area. These projects will have a direct and lasting impact on conservation.”

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark the 99th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon, a milestone that SHR is proud to be part of. “We are deeply grateful to the Comrades organisers for giving us this platform, to the athletes who carried our cause along the route, and to every runner and supporter who donated,” added Catt. “Together, we are ensuring that the parks, people, and wildlife of South Africa continue to thrive for generations to come.”

For more information, email comrades@sanparksvolunteers.org or visit www.sanparksvolunteers.org.

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Conservation to Benefit from SANParks Honorary Rangers’ Comrades Marathon Fundraising

Close to R1 million was raised for the SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR), one of the Comrades Marathon Association's (CMA) six official AmaBeadiBeadi charities in 2024. 

A large portion of the net proceeds of this drive has gone to much-needed support for South African National Parks’ (SANParks) K9 anti-poaching units in the Table Mountain and Kruger National Parks, and support for SANParks rangers through “Project Embrace”.

Members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers in action at their Comrades water point in 2024. Photo: Carolien du Plessis.

This SANParks Honorary Rangers’ AmaBeadiBeadi charity drive enables runners and supporters to contribute directly to the conservation of South Africa's national parks, in what the organisation calls “a race to save our natural heritage”.

“The Comrades AmaBeadiBeadi Race4Charity drive has enabled us to contribute significantly to our K9 national project which supports the SANParks K9 anti-poaching units, and to our Embrace national project, which provides trauma counselling and support for field rangers and their families,” explains Ian Catt, Treasurer KwaZulu-Natal Region of SANParks Honorary Rangers and Chairman of the SHR Comrades organising committee.

“Poaching in our national parks remains a major conservation challenge in South Africa, and the SANParks K9 Unit is considered a game changer for anti-poaching initiatives."

“The support offered through Project Embrace supports field rangers whose demanding and often dangerous duties can lead to burnout and stress. This programme helps to promote ranger well-being and equips them to safeguard lives and wildlife effectively.”

Going forward, the SANParks Honorary Rangers is hoping that their 2025 CMA Amabeadibeadi Race4Charity drive will beat their 2024 target by exceeding R1 million.

Runners passionate about wildlife and nature conservation can enhance their Comrades experience by selecting the SANParks Honorary Rangers as their preferred charity through the Race4Charity platform. By doing so, they contribute to vital conservation projects within South Africa’s national parks.

To get involved, runners can register for the Race4Charity platform and select the SANParks Honorary Rangers as their chosen charity. This allows them to raise funds for conservation while participating in the marathon. It may also allow for a better seeding, should they raise more than R6000.

Supporters can contribute to the cause by donating to runners supporting the SANParks Honorary Rangers or donating directly to the organization. 

“It does not matter how small the donations are,” says Catt. “Every little bit helps.”

The 2025 Comrades Marathon will take place on June 8, 2025. "Our members across the country are ready to support runners who join our cause, and we look forward to encouraging all the runners as they make their way through our watering ‘hole’ on race day,” says Catt.

For more information, email comrades@sanparksvolunteers.org or visit www.sanparksvolunteers.org. 

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