South African National Parks (SANParks)

General Information

The Kudu Awards is an initiative that aims to reward stakeholders for their contributions and efforts in making South African National Parks the custodian of choice for protected areas.

A select number of persons and organisations who have made significant contributions to conservation will receive a Kudu Award in the form of a bronze sculpture of a Kudu head. The award is a thing of pride, just as the Kudu itself is often feted for having a proud and majestic bearing.

The Kudu Awards is fundamental to the practice of recognising, acknowledging and praising the people who have, over the years, given financial and other resources to SANParks and other conservation agencies, while also recognising those people that have made it possible for conservation agencies to operate in a conducive and enabling environment.

Internal staff members will be bestowed with "top achievers" awards, known as the Chief Executive Awards. This national award recognises their dedication and selfless efforts towards acheiving the goals of the organisation from across 22 National Parks under SANParks management. The Chief Executive Awards are meant to encourage staff to do their work with 'pride and joy' and to always view this organisation as their personal business.

The Kudu Awards is an annual event that launched in June 2005, and is one of the highlights of the social calendar in conservation circles.