SANparks announces dates for Free Access Week - 2019/20/21

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SANparks announces dates for Free Access Week - 2019/20/21

Post by Lisbeth »

If you're a traveller working on a tight budget who wants to see more of our beautiful country - then you need to diarise the upcoming SA National Parks Free Access week.

The 14th annual SA National Parks Week will take place from 8 to 15 September 2019 grants free access to most of the 21 national parks for day visitor.

And best of all it includes weekend access during this time.

Parks excluded from the free week are Namaqua National Park and Boulders Penguin Colony (although locals already get a reduced rate) and the Table Mountain Cableway in Table Mountain National Park.

It should be noted that free access to parks does not in include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities

The inaugural South African National Parks Week took place in 2006 and was aimed at linking the South African national parks system to the global national movement and to also showcase the best of South Africa’s national parks.

"We are proud to once again celebrate this week with our partners, Total South Africa and FNB. This year SANParks is pleased to announce that it has extended SA National Parks Week to include weekends, heeding the request from South Africans who don't have time to visit national parks during the week."

NB: It will take place between 10 and 14th September 2018. Visitors must bring along your green bar-coded SA ID book or SA ID Card to gain free entry.

1. The Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is not only one of the world's most renown wildlife spots, but it also happens to be a place where South Africans of all walks of life can appreciate our natural heritage - if ever you needed to sum up what's unique and proudly South Africa about our country, Kruger pretty much hits the spot. Be warned, a free week is not enough if it's your first time. You will be back, Kruger is just that exceptional.

2. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Rolling red dunes and wide open skies: there’s no better place in the world to experience the absolute immensity of the Kalahari Desert than in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The reserve is an amalgamation of what was once South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park. It covers a whopping 3.6 million ha, making it one of the very few conservation areas of this magnitude left in the world.



3. Table Mountain National Park
Visit Cape Point and spend the day exploring the most south-westerly point in Africa. Picnic at Buffels Bay or search the rock pools near Bordjiesrif. Don’t forget to take your photograph at the Cape Point sign and upload it on Instagram. Be a tourist for a day and take a Sho’t Left for free.

4. The West Coast National Park
This is close to West Coast haven of Langebaan. It also happens to be flower season, so make the most of the Postberg section of the Park, which is only open during August and September annually. Have something to eat at Geelbek Restaurant and then experience the carpets of wild flowers, breathe in the smell and take home the memories.

5. Bontebok National Park
The smallest of South Africa's National Parks is located just outside Swellendam. This gem of a park allows hikers the joy of walking without risk, birding is at a premium and for the intrepid brace yourself for a dip in the Breede River. Take the family and make a day of it.


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Re: SANparks announces 2019 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by Lisbeth »

On Your Marks, Get Set...Two Weeks To Go To South African National Parks Week

27 August 2019

South African National Parks (SANParks) in partnership with First National Bank (FNB) and Total South Africa is pleased to announce that the 14th South African National Parks Week kicks off in less than two weeks.

The campaign held from 8 to 15 September 2019 gives locals with a valid identity document an opportunity to spend a day at a national park of their choice free of charge. For the first time ever, a weekend is included in the free access. Namaqua National Park and Boulders Section of Table Mountain National Park will not be included in the free access. Certain Parks will also have quotas in place over the weekend.

According to Fundisile Mketeni, SANParks CEO, “SANParks is striving to provide all South Africans with equal opportunities and in line with our vision of ‘a world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society’, we want to inspire people to take pride in and to enjoy their national parks while spending time in nature and to start to understand the importance of conservation.”

Dr Simphiwe Madikizela, Provincial Head for Gauteng: FNB Public Sector Banking, says: “Domestic tourism remains central to economic growth and job creation, especially in local communities where the parks are located. For more than a decade, our partnership with SANParks on this campaign has put our national parks on a pedestal to encourage South Africans to explore South Africa’s natural environment. Our involvement in this campaign is primarily anchored in our belief that, when conserved, our national parks will have a long-lasting economic impact on the country.”

“It is indeed astounding to see South African National Parks Week growing from strength to strength and Total South Africa is proud to be a partner of this campaign since its inception in 2006 says Sunil Gandhi, General Manager: Strategy Total South Africa. “Total views environmental conservation as a key priority and we are committed to preserving the natural environment for future generations.” I would like to encourage all South African citizens to come out in their numbers to experience our country’s natural heritage in its abundance added Sunil Gandhi.

Mketeni concludes by emphasising that SANParks is committed to raising awareness about the importance of environmental education and the need to sustain the beauty of our national parks. “SANParks encourages all South Africans to visit a national park near them during the free week. The survival of the National Parks system and our natural and cultural heritage lies with the people of South Africa.”

Discover all there is to do and see in our national parks if you join us online for SA National Parks Week. We will be presenting a different theme each day, where we will explore the different experiences on offer in our parks. Visit our website at www.sanparks.org/about/events/parks_week/ for more information and follow #SANationalParksWeek and #LiveYourWild on social media, to join in the fun.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications

Media Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
General Manager: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org


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Re: SANparks announces 2019 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by Lisbeth »

SA's most and least visited National Parks

2019-09-18 04:45

South African National Park (SANParks) saw 113 032 visitors to the parks during South African National Parks Week from 8 September to 15 September 2019.

This was a 52.6% increase from last year’s 74 086. This campaign under the established theme ‘Know Your National Parks’ allowed locals with valid identity documents an opportunity to spend a day at a national park of their choice free of charge. According to SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni the objective of the week is to give all South Africans a chance to enjoy and experience the beauty and majesty of our breath-taking National Parks.

“We had an increase of just over 52% this year from last year’s 74086 visitors. It was good to see smaller parks such as West Coast and Bontebok National Park had an increase in their numbers compared to previous years. SA National Parks Week aims to create a culture of pride in all South Africans in their relationship with 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”.

- The Cape region (Agulhas, Bontebok, Table Mountain, Tankwa and West Coast National Parks) has had 123 471 day visitors with 23509 visiting this year.

- The Frontier Region (Addo, Camdeboo, Garden Route, Karoo, and Mountain Zebra National Parks) has had 125 226 day visitors since 2006 with 30657 visiting this year.

- The Arid Region (Augrabies, Kgalagadi, Mokala and Richtersveld National Parks) has had 253 55 day visitors with 6 007 in 2019.

- The Northern Region (Mapungubwe National Park & World Heritage Site, Marakele and Golden Gate Highlands National Parks) has welcomed 40054 day visitors in total with 7 318 this year.

- The iconic Kruger National Park had 455 41 day visitors this year with a total of 237 287 since the inception of SA National Parks Week.
These were the most and least visited parks during this week:

Most



- Kruger
- Table Mountain
- West Coast
- Garden Route
- Addo
- Augrabies

Least



- Mount Zebra
- Agulhas
- Kgalagadi
- Tankwa
- Richtersvlei

The feature element of this campaign is the free access granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official Identity Documents. Since its inception in 2006, National Parks Week has seen an influx of 551 393 day visitors in all participating parks.

“These numbers are encouraging and tell us that more people are taking advantage of this free week at our national Parks,” said Mketeni. 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. Each park hosted activities during the week which were 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”, said Mketeni. The annual SA National Parks Week has been made possible with support from First National Bank (FNB) and Total South Africa. “Without our sponsors this week would not have materialised and South Africans would not be able to visit our parks free of charge”.

“The survival of the South African national parks system and our natural and cultural heritage lies in the people of South Africa,” concludes Mketeni.


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Re: SANparks announces 2019 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by Richprins »

Media Release: SANParks Announces Free Access Week Dates For 2020

01 September 2020

South African National Parks (SANParks), together with Total South Africa and FNB will be hosting the 15th annual SA National Parks Week from 16 to 20 November 2020.

SANParks Chief Executive Officer, Fundisile Mketeni said, "SANParks has postponed the free access week which is traditionally held in September, to November due to the COVID-19 alert level 2 regulations which restrict the number of persons allowed within public spaces. Additionally, we have implemented extra visitor management procedures in the parks to manage visitor volumes in line with regulations to further mitigate the risk of the spread of coronavirus at this time."

SA National Parks Week is an annual campaign that gives all South African citizens the opportunity to enter most of the parks managed by SANParks for free, with the exclusion of Namaqua National Park and Boulders section at Table Mountain National Park. Free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities.

Every year SANParks aims to increase the number of citizens that are granted free access to national parks during this time. Since we started the programme in 2006, some 551 393 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks, and we want to see these numbers grow.

Mketeni said, "The week in partnership with Total South Africa and FNB is meant to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa's natural, cultural and historical heritage and a deeper appreciation of biodiversity. It is important for South Africans to visit and know the importance of national parks."

Mketeni highlights the growing need for national parks to be relevant, particularly to young people and communities living adjacent to parks. "Through our Socio-Economic Transformation programmes and our Expanded Public Works Programme, we work closely with communities living adjacent to national parks in order to be more inclusive so we can tackle issues of wildlife crime with their help, afford them more access to parks for cultural use, inform young people about the different career options that parks have to offer and create job opportunities. SANParks hopes to strengthen and enable those communities to reap the benefits of the national parks."

Visit a national park this year for free during SA National Parks Week, to see what it has to offer and do your part by getting to know your national parks.

Visit the website for more information: www.sanparks.org/about/events/parks_week/.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications

Media enquiries:
Reynold "Rey" Thakhuli
Acting Head Of Communications, SANParks
Cell: 073 373 4999; Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

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Media Release: SANParks Free Access Week just a few days away

04 November 2020

South African National Park (SANParks) is again opening its doors for free from Monday, 16 November until Friday, 20 November 2020 as part of the 15th annual South African National Parks Week. As an added bonus parks in the Cape Region i.e. Agulhas-, Bontebok-, Table Mountain-, Tankwa Karoo- and West Coast National Park will be extending South African National Parks Week until Sunday, 22 November 2020. This campaign will allow locals with valid identity documents an opportunity to spend a day at a national park of their choice free of charge.

The week-long campaign will be applicable to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders Penguin Colony and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Table Mountain National Park, and Namaqua National Park.

SANParks in partnership with First National Bank (FNB) and Total South Africa is proud to host the 15th South African National Parks Week which kicks off in less than two weeks. It is important for South Africans to visit and know the importance of national parks. They act as spaces to practice sustainable conservation, as spaces that preserve and celebrate our culture and heritage, and we now see national parks playing the critical role of empowering communities living adjacent to parks through job creation and we continue to explore ways of creating business opportunities particularly for small business owners.
What to do in our Cape Region Parks:

Agulhas National Park - Come and explore the Southern Most Tip of Africa boasting magnificent views, and take a walk along the shore to view a graveyard of shipwrecks along the Agulhas coastline.
Bontebok National Park - One of the smallest parks managed by SANParks offers you sightings of a countless Bontebok roaming around, canoeing along the Breede River Dam, and endless hiking trails to explore and embrace what nature has to offer.
Tankwa Karoo National Park - Experience the quietness and most scenic 4x4 routes this park has to offer.
Table Mountain National Park - Enjoy a braai at one of our many braai spots such as Tokai Forest, Newlands, Silvermine and Oudekraal, and indulge in the essence of the Cape of Goodhope and the many activities it has to offer.
West Coast National Park - Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldana Bay, and only 2 hour's drive from Cape Town's City Centre, one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, the focal point of West Coast National Park.

Visit a national park this year for free during SA National Parks Week, to see what it has to offer and do your part by getting to know your national parks, celebrate your rich heritage offering and experience first-hand the iconic beauty and plethora of natural flora and fauna.

NB: All South Africans who enter over the age of 18 years must produce SA ID or SA drivers licence to enter for free during South African National Parks Week. We do accept electronic copies of ID. Due to COVID-19, all the parks will be operating under capacity constraints, and a first come - first serve basis principle will apply.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks)

Enquiries:
Lauren Howard-Clayton
Regional Communications Manager: Cape Region
Tel: 021 659 1700; Cell: 071 115 5843
Email: Lauren.Clayton@sanparks.org


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

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Media Release: Quota System To Be Implemented During South African National Parks Week 2020

13 November 2020

South African National Parks (SANParks), in partnership with First National Bank (FNB) and Total South Africa, is hosting the 15th annual SA National Parks Week from 16 to 20 November 2020. The public should note that some National Parks will implement daily quotas at the gates throughout the week.

These are namely:

Augrabies Falls National Park
Bontebok National Park.
Kruger National Park
Table Mountain National Park

Namaqua National Park and the Boulders section of Table Mountain National Park will not be offering free access during the week.

Quota limits per park are as follows:

https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=58128


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

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Media Release: SA National Parks Week Postponed to November 2021

07 September 2021

South African National Parks (SANParks), together with Total Energies and FNB will be hosting the 16th annual SA National Parks Week in November 2021.

SANParks' General Manager: Media, PR and Stakeholder Relations, Rey Thakhuli said, "SANParks is postponing the free access week which is traditionally held in September, to November due to concerns regarding the number of COVID-19 cases across the country. The safety of both guests and staff is of utmost priority and we, therefore, have to ensure that we are in a position to effectively implement the COVID-19 visitor management procedures in all our parks at all times."

SA National Parks Week is an annual week-long campaign that provides all South African citizens with the opportunity to visit national parks for free.

"The exact dates will be announced shortly. Visit a national park this year for free during SA National Parks Week, to see what it has to offer and do your part by getting to know your national parks #SANationalParksWeek and #LiveYourWild", concluded Thakhuli.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks)

Media enquiries:
Reynold "Rey" Thakhuli
GM: Media, PR and Stakeholder Relations
Cell: 073 373 4999; Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by RogerFraser »

Good news O** a bit selfish but as I had to go next week for work I am relieved I am not there the same week as free access :o0ps: 0'


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by Lisbeth »

It's not selfish, it's common good sense lol


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Re: SANparks announces 2019/2020 dates for Free Access Week - and it includes weekend access

Post by RogerFraser »

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