The Ranch Conservancy, situated 25 kilometers south of Polokwane in South Africa, spans 1,000 hectares and provides facilities for sports, exhibitions, conservation, accommodation, and conferencing. [2]
A 12-hole par 3 – Executive Golf Course was officially opened in May, 2010 by the Premier of Limpopo Province, Mr. Cassel Mathale.[3]
History
The Shearer family established The Ranch in May 1960 initially as a stopover for people travelling between Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and South Africa. As the establishment became better known, it developed into a leisure and conference resort, now known as The Ranch Resort.
On May 22, 2010 the Shearer family, owners of The Ranch Resort, celebrated 50 years in hospitality at a special function where The Premier of Limpopo Province, Mr Cassel Mathale, officially opened The Ranch Resort 12-hole, par-3 Executive Golf Course and Academy.[4] VIP guests included the South African Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ms. Maite Nkoana Mashabane who gave the keynote address, and Minister of Health Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi.[5]
Tourism
The Ranch Resort's location goes through Polokwane and the Limpopo Province because it is centrally located within the province. Limpopo has a variety of tourism attractions, including mountains, forests, the Kruger National Park, private game reserves, and historical heritage sites such as the nearby Makapansgat Valley World Heritage Site. The Ranch Resort has its own visitor attractions, including equestrian safaris, wildlife drives, lion tours, golf, eco-tourism, and sports activities.
Conservation
The Ranch Resort stands in a 1,000-hectare (3.9sqmi) nature conservancy, consisting of grasslands, and bushveld and is home to lions, giraffe, zebra, warthog, kudu, impala, wildebeest, and over 200 bird species, among other animals. Active in wildlife rehabilitation since the 1960s (when organised conservation was in its infancy) The Ranch Resort continually offers shelter for orphaned or injured wildlife that cannot be released into the wild. Providing a safe haven for lions and other Big 5 animals from Zimbabwe which were under threat at a time of political and social instability.[6][7]
Previous generations of The Ranch Resort lion prides have starred in movies including The Gods Must Be Crazy, King Solomon's Mines, Incident at Victoria Falls, The Lion Child (1993 film), Pride. The current lions and their forebears have appeared in a total of over 400 international movies, documentaries, and commercials.[8] Resident animal trainer and handler Vivian "Viv" Bristow has extensive movie credits.[9][10]
Eco-tourism
The Ranch Resort is licensed to allow close contact with its animals. Under the supervision of specialist rangers, visitors can walk with the lions and watch cubs at play or being bottle-fed. Horseback safaris have become a mainstay of animal-contact eco-tourism at this venue, offering visitors close-up encounters with giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala, kudu, and wildebeest. There are over 200 species of birds on the property.[11]
Executive golf course and academy
The Ranch Resort Executive Golf Course
In 2003 it was estimated that the economic impact of golf and golf-related spending in the province amounted to R 219 million per annum.[12] To capitalise on the growing demand for executive golf facilities, The Ranch Resort developed a 12-hole par 3 executive golf course and academy.[13] The Golf Course development was designed to harmonise with the natural bushveld surroundings. The resident golf pro is Sean Pappas, one of the three Pappas brothers and five-time Sunshine Tour event winner.
The Limpopo Province Premier, The Honourable Cassel Mathale performed the official opening on 22 May 2010 as part of The Ranch Resort's celebrations of 50 years in hospitality. Mr. Mathale said, "Our province is home to some of the best luxurious wildlife golf estate resorts in the country and the African continent as a whole. It is on this note that we are correctly regarded as a tourist province in the country. We are counting on the Ranch Hotel and other organisations to join hands with the government in the development of the game of golf."[14]
Accommodation
Situated at The Ranch Resort is Protea Hotel The Ranch, a four-star hotel with over 100 en suite and air-conditioned rooms, presidential and executive suites, self-catering chalets, and an outdoor experience tented camp option for eco-tourism and team-building set in the natural bush.[15]
The hotel offers deluxe facilities including fine dining. It was granted the Professional Management Review magazine (PMR) Golden Arrow in 2009 in the Executive Hotel category.[16]
Conferences
The Ranch Resort has facilities for large and compact conferences and is host to local government, eco-tourism, conservation, and commercial conferences. It was granted the Professional Management Review magazine (PMR) 2009 Golden Arrow award for excellence in convention/conference centres.[17]
Weddings
The Ranch Resort has its own non-denominational chapel, set in a Rose Garden as a wedding venue for traditional or themed weddings.
The Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium
The Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium is an annual sports skydiving and parachuting event held at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort.[18]
The event attracts sport, competition, professional, and military skydivers and parachutists from across Southern Africa and features informative and educational seminars and presentations. Certain presentations are open to the public and the event encourages public participation through tandem introductory skydiving.[19][20]
Organised by professional skydivers Mike Rumble and Graham Field, the event is sanctioned by the Parachute Association of South Africa and is regarded as South Africa's Premier Sports Skydiving event.[21][22]
The event generates significant exposure through newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio.[23]
2011
In 2011 The Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium ran from 9 to 12 August. Coinciding with National Women's Day, Miss Limpopo Kholofelo Madiba, was trained to skydive at the event and completed 5 Accelerated Freefall skydives.
The event received representation from 21 different sport skydiving operations and military parachuting units from across Southern Africa.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) saw The Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium as an ideal opportunity to enhance cooperation and learning opportunities, promoting military interest in sport skydiving and the inter-operability with the Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA), whilst learning and sharing ideas by participating at events and with skydiving clubs outside of the military.
78 members of the public experienced a tandem introductory skydive at the event.
Two turbine Atlas Angels flew a total of 90 loads to 12 000ft over the five days of the event.[24]
2012
Making use of two turbine Atlas Angels aircraft the 2012 Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium ran from 5 to 9 August, and once again coincided with National Women's Day.
An all female South African Skydiving Hybrid formation was successfully completed at the event on National Women's Day.[25]
The 2012 event also raised awareness and funds as part of the African Conservation Trust's SkyDive for Rhinos 2012 campaign.[26]
'Father of FreeFly' Olav Zipser attended the event and came on board as an International Ambassador for the SkyDive for Rhinos campaign.
The Sport Skydivers Association Formation Skydiving, Artistic Events, and Canopy Piloting committees provided coaches and load organising, and hosted skills camps, seminars, and presentations at the event.[28][29]
Government recognition
The Ranch Resort's role in attracting eco-tourism to the Province has been given recognition by the Limpopo Provincial government and the government of South Africa. On 22 May 2010, South African Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, accompanied by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, gave the keynote address at the resort's 50th-anniversary celebrations, during which she paid tribute to its many developments which have contributed to tourism growth. The Minister said "I have been part of this journey in so many ways, and I am really honoured to launch this 50th Anniversary year. I remember the elephants and the lions coming from Zimbabwe to live at The Ranch Resort … the opening of the bush camp … the development of the Ranch Conservancy and the introduction of 23 species of wild animals... construction of the new conference venues. And now, this evening, we have all been privileged to be present at the birth of the Executive Golf Course and Academy."[30]
The self-contained hotel complex was selected for its remoteness, as there are no communities nearby, and because of its proximity to Polokwane International Airport 31.4km away.
The Ranch Resort was not a facility for infected patients. Medical screening was performed prior to departure and four South Africans who were showing signs of coronavirus were left behind to mitigate risk. Only South Africans who tested negative were repatriated.[39][40][41][42][43]
Test results cleared all the South Africans, including the flight crew, pilots, hotel staff, police, and soldiers involved in the humanitarian mission who, as a precautionary measure, all remained under observation and in quarantine for a 14-day period.[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa declared the Ranch Resort coronavirus-free and a 'green zone' in his appreciation and send off speech delivered at The Ranch Resort on 29 March 2020.[51][52]
The Ranch Resort is 200 kilometres (120mi) north of Pretoria, the Republic of South Africa's capital city, and 24.5 kilometres (15.2mi) south of Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo Province. It is situated between the South African National Highway N1 and the R101 – with entrances to The Ranch Resort from both roads. It has its own airstrip.
Private airstrip
The Ranch Resort has its own private airstrip which runs parallel to the golf course and close to the main buildings. It is a grass/bush strip running North East/South West. It is 1.2km long and does not have any runway lights.
Polokwane, also known as Pietersburg, is a city and the capital of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is South Africa's largest urban centre north of Gauteng. It was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo.
Bela-Bela - also known by its original name Warmbaths, Afrikaans: Warmbad- is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Deriving its name from the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built.
Polokwane International Airport, is an airport serving the city of Polokwane in the South African province of Limpopo. The airport is located 5 km north of the city. It is not to be confused with the nearby Pietersburg Civil Aerodrome.
The Limpopo Provincial Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of Limpopo.
Phaswana Cleopus Sello Moloto is a South African politician and diplomat from Limpopo. He was the second Premier of Limpopo from April 2004 until March 2009. He resigned after defecting from the African National Congress (ANC) to the Congress of the People (COPE).
Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane, formerly known as Maite Mohale, is a South African politician who served as the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. She was Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform from 2018 to 2019, and previously served as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2009 to 2018. Nkoana-Mashabane is also a former member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).
Sean Critton Pappas was a professional golfer from South Africa.
Cassel Mathale is a South African politician who was the third Premier of Limpopo between March 2009 and July 2013. He is currently the Deputy Minister of Police in the South African government and before that was Deputy Minister of Small Business Development from February 2018 to May 2019.
Pinky Sharon Kekana is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Minister in the Presidency. She was first appointed to the national executive in February 2018 when President Cyril Ramaphosa named her as Deputy Minister of Communications, an office she held until she was appointed to her current position in August 2021.
This article lists major evacuations conducted by several countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Masefako Clarah Dikgale is a South African politician who was a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2019 to 2023. Prior to serving in the National Assembly, she served as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from Limpopo from 2009 to 2019. Dikgale is a member of the African National Congress.
Thembisile Nkadimeng is a South African politician for the African National Congress. She is the current Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in office since March 2023. She had previously served as Deputy Minister Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2021 to 2023.
Mall of the North, is a super regional shopping mall situated in Bendor Park, Polokwane in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It has a mix of shops, restaurants and a (Ster-Kinekor) cinema complex.
Matodzi Mirriam Ramadwa is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, she was elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in 2009. In 2013, she was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sports, Arts and Culture. Ramada was elected as the speaker of the provincial legislature in 2014. In 2015, she resigned as speaker. Ramadwa was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in 2019.
Thabo Andrew Mokone is a South African politician and businessman. As a member of the African National Congress, he was elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in 2019. He was appointed Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism shortly after his election. In October 2022, Mokone became MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Namane Dickson Masemola is a South African politician who has been a Delegate to the National Council of Provinces since October 2022. Between 2009 and 2022, he was a Member of the Provincial Legislature in the Limpopo provincial government, representing the African National Congress (ANC), and held a variety of positions in the Limpopo Executive Council.
The Executive Council of Limpopo is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of Limpopo. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature by the Premier of Limpopo, an office held since July 2013 by Stan Mathabatha.
Molapi Soviet Lekganyane is a South African politician from Limpopo province. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), he was Member of the Limpopo Executive Council for Local Government and Housing from 2009 to 2012 under Premier Cassel Mathale. He served two terms as Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Limpopo, from 2011 to 2013 under Mathale and from 2018 to 2022 under Stan Mathabatha. He was formerly the Provincial Secretary of the South African Communist Party in Limpopo from 2008 to 2011 and in 2022 he was elected to a five-year term on the ANC's National Executive Committee.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
