SKUKUZA – Fans of the Kruger National Park (KNP) will be able to access the park free as day visitors for the whole of next week.
Almost all SANParks will offer free entry for day visitors as part of the annual South African National Parks Week.
This campaign under the established theme “Know Your National Parks” will allow locals with valid identity documents an opportunity to spend a day in a national park of their choice free of charge.
The free-entrance campaign will start on Monday, September 14 until that Friday, but some parks might add the weekend until Sunday, September 20. The week-long campaign will be applicable to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders in Table Mountain National Park and Namaqua National Park in the Northern Cape.
According to SANParks acting head of communications, Mr Reynold Thakhuli, the objective of the week is to cultivate a culture of pride in the country’s natural, cultural and historical heritage. “When people start to take pride in the national parks, then we believe that they will start to understand the importance of conservation,” he added.
The idea of a national parks focus week is a world-wide campaign and was conceived in in South Africa in 2006, after realising that the vast majority of South Africans have never visited any of the national parks.
Day visitors must make sure to carry their official RSA identity documents. People under the age of 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity. It should be noted that the free access to the parks will not include accommodation and any commercial activities in the park such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks.
All of the parks will host activities during the week which will be aimed at education.
“We are focused on involving young people and communities, to cultivate knowledge of the importance of conservation and an appreciation for the country’s natural heritage,” Thakhuli added.
Kruger will host two seminars for traditional leaders from the surrounding communities bordering the park and also strategic media executives for the purpose of exposing them to the tourism products that exist in the park.
The Garden Route National Park will launch the week in Knysna on September 14 which will focus on conservation initiatives, activities in the forestry and estuarine areas and business opportunities in the park.
Karoo National Park outside Beaufort West in the Western Cape will host two groups from the local community to a special programme every day. This will kick off with an entertaining presentation about the search and recapture of Sylvester, the lion which went on a walkabout from the park for 24 days.
The annual SANParks week has been made possible with support from First National Bank (FNB) since inception 10 years ago.
“In recent years, awareness of environmental issues and the impact we have on our environment has increased greatly. At FNB we recognise the immediate and potential threats posed by global warming, rhino poaching and other environmental issues, and have taken steps to minimise our impact on our surroundings” says Mr Danny Zandamela, CEO of FNB Public Sector Banking.
