Enjoy nature firsthand at SANParks

Today marks the second day of the SANParks week. The 13th edition of National Parks Week under the theme ‘Know Your National Parks’ kicked off yesterday. The SANParks week will run until September 15.

Locals with valid SA IDs can enjoy a day at any of the parks, free of charge.

SANParks chief executive Fundisile Mketeni urged locals to make the most of the opportunity, which for the first time this year includes a weekend.

“The objective is to cultivate a culture of pride in our environment. This is going to be a free, mahala, week. We want to make our parks accessible to our communities,” he said. SANParks also hosts a staff cohesion programme where eight regions compete in a soccer and netball league, as well as in a choir festival.

Read: Public to gain free access in the Sanparks during the National Parks Weeks

This year, the Cape Region won the soccer league, with Kruger National Park being runners-up. Kruger National Park was victorious in the netball league, while the Frontier Region’s choir, Ubhejani, won the choir festival. The open week applies to all national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders, the Table Mountain Cable Way in Table Mountain National Park and the Namaqua National Park.

Children under 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity.

Five general rules to remember :
1. You must stay in your vehicles at all times, unless in designated areas. When taking pictures visitors are urged to remain in their cars while doing so.
2. The maximum speed limit is between 50 km/h and 40 km/h on gravel roads.
3. You may not drink and drive.
4. You may not feed the animals.
5. Littering is strictly prohibited