SKUKUZA – The South African National ParkS (SANParks) has expressed its satisfaction with the succes of National Parks Week.-
SANParks also confirmed that this year’s event launched at Tsitsikamma in the Garden Route National Park on September 8 saw an increase of 85,9% resulting in a total number of 53 251 day visitors to various national parks during this time.-
According to SANParks acting head of communications, Reynold Thakhuli, the national parks attracted 28 640 visitors in 2013 and the figures show that they have once again beaten their own record.-
“SANParks started this campaign to encourage all South Africans, especially those from communities around the parks, to share in what it envisions to be ‘the pride and joy of all South Africans and the world’,” he said. –
Thakuli added that since its inception in 2006, the week has seen an influx of 172 076 day visitors in all participating parks. –
“The increase this year can be attributed to the SANParks programmes designed to connect with the broader South African society and living its vision of connecting to society.” –
“These numbers are encouraging and tell us that more people are taking advantage of this free week.
We especially want our young people to take advantage of this opportunity because this heritage will be under their protection in the near future,” said Thakhuli.-
All of the parks managed by SANParks, excluding Namaqua and Boulders at Table Mountain National Park, participated in the initiative to give the public an understanding of the role that SANParks plays as custodian of the country’s natural heritage. –
“The survival of the South African national parks system and our natural and cultural heritage lies in the people of South Africa and 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,” concluded Thakhuli.
