An elephant at the Kruger National Park near Punda Maria in Limpopo on 25 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
The 17th annual South African National Parks (SANParks) Week kicks off next Sunday until 18 September.
“During the week, all South African citizens are allowed to enter most national parks for free for a day visit,” said SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli.
“The week is aimed at linking the South African national parks system to the communities and to showcase the best of our country’s national parks.
“In partnership with TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and FNB, the week is meant to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage, protected by the national parks system which is the basis for the established theme ‘Know Your National Parks’.
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“It’s important for South Africans to visit and know the importance of national parks,” said Thakhuli.
This year, SANParks will open the week in Augrabies Falls National Park.
The feature element of this campaign is the free access granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official identity documents.
Young people under the age of 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity.
The free access to the parks does not include accommodation and commercial activities, such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks.
Kruger, Addo Elephant, Augrabies, Agulhas, Table Mountain and Richtersveld Transfrontier Park will only have free access until Friday, 16 September.
Namaqua National Park and Boulders Penguin Colony and the Cableway in Table Mountain National Park are not included in the free access.
“Every year SANParks aims to increase the number of citizens that are granted free access to national parks during this time,” Thakhuli said.
“Since we started the programme in 2006, 619 252 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks.
READ MORE: Addo Elephant Park: Home to the world’s most ‘chilled’ elephants
“We want to see these numbers grow, especially after the last two years which halted travel around the world.”
SANParks encouraged all South Africans and especially the youth to diarise these dates and plan a visit to a national park nearby.
“The survival of the South African national parks system and our natural and cultural heritage lies in the people of South Africa,” Thakhuli said.
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