Durban - South Africans can visit South African National Park (SANParks) for free during SANPark week from September 12 to 18.
The 17th annual SANParks Week is an initiative of the SANParks in partnership with TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and First National Bank.
SANParks’ Reynold Thakhuli says SANParks Week is aimed at linking the South African national parks system to the communities and to showcase the best of the country’s national parks.
During the week all South African citizens are allowed to enter most national parks for free for a day visit.
“The week in partnership with TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and FNB 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’,” he said.
According to Thakhuli, free access will be granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official Identity Documents.
Those under the age of 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity.
“The free access to the parks will not include accommodation and commercial activities in the park such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks, etc and Kruger, Addo Elephant, Augrabies, Agulhas, Table Mountain and |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park will only have free access until Friday 16 September,” he said.
Namaqua National Park and Boulders Penguin Colony and the Cableway in Table Mountain National Park are not included in the free access.
Thakhuli says every year SANParks aims to increase the number of citizens that are granted free access to national parks during this time since the programme started in 2006.
“Some 619 252 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks, and we want to see these numbers grow, especially after the last two years which halted travel around the world.”