SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

Information and Discussions on Management Issues in SANParks
graham
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by graham »

You can't blame Sanparks for obeying the law, no matter how ridiculous it is. @#$

I wonder if putting a "TAXI" sign on the roof would allow a family of 4 to travel together? O**


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Peter Betts
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Peter Betts »

Flutterby wrote: Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:35 am It's ridiculous that self-drive vehicles are still restricted to 70% occupancy when taxis are at 100%!! 0*\ So you can travel with a bunch of strangers in a fully-loaded taxi but a family of 4 can't be in one car. :evil:
..Ja Govt is not Well


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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Klipspringer »

https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=58090

Media Release: SANParks Accommodation Opens 14 August to Intra-provincial Residents
04 August 2020

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced that accommodation in the majority of parks will be open as from 14 August 2020 and Guided Overland Safari Vehicles (OSVs) will be permitted as soon as the regulations pertaining to their operations are gazetted.

In addition, other parks are scheduled to open their accommodation as follows:

Addo, Camdeboo, and Karoo National Parks - 17 August 2020
Mountain Zebra National Park - 20 August 2020
This comes after the announcement made by Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane's on the response measures and directions for Alert Level 3 Lockdown as it pertains to the tourism industry. As per the Minister's announcement, overnight accommodation is only permissible for residents of the various provinces that the respective National Parks are located in. Interprovincial visitors will be prohibited entry into the parks.

SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni said "we are in the process of ensuring that the opening of our national parks for accommodation is done under the strictest health protocols to safeguard both our staff and guests… accommodation will not run at full capacity as we will employ a phased-in approach to opening. Therefore our loyal guests can expect limited availability of accommodation in some parks at these beginning stages of our reopening, with a gradual increase in availability in the next few weeks".

Mketeni said that SANParks has implemented additional visitor management procedures in line with regulations and to further mitigate the risk of the spread of coronavirus. Overnight guests will be required to provide proof of residence (municipal account or similar legally accepted form of verification of primary residence) at the time of booking accommodation and again when checking in. "No more than two people will be allowed per accommodation unit except for parents and children)."

Tour operators will be allowed to conduct guided tours in OSVs once regulations pertaining to their operations are gazetted; all OSV operators need to be registered with SANParks before they are permitted to enter the parks. Self-drive guests are still restricted to a 70% vehicle capacity as per the Department of Transport's regulations and the quota system still applies for day visitors.

The opening of visitor activities and tourist attractions in the parks will be in keeping with restrictions and aligned with the opening dates set out. As more information is gazetted SANParks will amend the protocols and inform guests.

"We look forward to welcoming all our loyal guests but we appeal to our colleagues, tourists and their friends and families’ to travel responsibly. Enjoy the parks and please make sure you follow all health and safety protocols," concluded Mketeni.

Bookings can be made online, telephonically or via email at reservations@sanparks.org or 012 428 9111 or www.sanparks.org/bookings/.

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

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


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Richprins
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Richprins »

No more than two people will be allowed per accommodation unit except for parents and children)."

:shock: O-/


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Lisbeth
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Lisbeth »

And if they live in the same household -O- They do forget a lot of details when they make the rules O/

They could have done this two weeks ago!
Tour operators will be allowed to conduct guided tours in OSVs once regulations pertaining to their operations are gazetted;
and also this! Every single day for those people is money lost 0= The people governing the country is living in a world of their own and forget about how it is to live outside the silver castle of the privileged :O^ They have forgotten so many things concerning the poorer part of the population and not only, that some even have had to be brought to court in order to make them do something about it. Too busy collecting the golden eggs of the tender goose??


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Richprins
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Richprins »

except for parents and children

lol


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: SANParks responds to COVID 19 pandemic as it hits closer to home

Post by Klipspringer »

And camping has been removed from the online booking for the September, October, November and December -O-


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Re: SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

Post by Klipspringer »

Rules for OSVs issued by the minister:

https://www.polity.org.za/article/covid ... 2020-08-07


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RogerFraser
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Re: SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

Post by RogerFraser »

Media Release: Covid-19 Directions for OSV Operators Announced
07 August 2020


https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id ... aiCFwEFNz4

The Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has published the amended Risk-Adjusted Strategy for Tourism Facilities, Services and Products to include the regulations for Guided Tour Operators which includes Overland Safari Vehicle (OSV) Operators.

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that OSVs will be permitted to operate in National Parks as from 7 August 2020. All OSVs need to be registered with SANParks before they will be permitted to enter the parks. All OSV Operators intending to visit the National Parks are advised to pre-book day visits in advance to avoid being turned away when daily gate quotas are exceeded.

To operate in SANParks, permits are required for OSV operators and due to the lockdown, no permits have been renewed or issued since the expiry of the previously issued permits being 31 March 2020. SANParks is introducing a two-phase approach to re-permitting:

- Phase One: Issue of Temporary Permits: Valid from the issue date to 31 October 2020.

- Phase Two: Issue of Annual Permits: From 1 November 2020.

In the intervening period, SANParks will issue temporary permits to all OSVs provided the said operator is in possession of the required licenses and accreditations. OSVs will be required to carry the temporary permit onboard every vehicle at all times.

The Minister’s amendments state that all tour operators and OSVs will need to keep records, with the full names, ID numbers and cellphone numbers, of all guests who partake in their guided tours. These records must be available to the minister if required.

The amendments include regulations concerning sanitisation, masks and social distancing. OSVs must:

- not allow a person to the tour if that person is not wearing a cloth mask or homemade item that covers the nose and mouth or another appropriate item to cover the nose and mouth;

-1.that every person involved in the tour wears a mask at all times except when eating or drinking;

-2. sanitise persons involved in the tour before they enter a tour vehicle, rail or boat;

-3. frequently sanitise guests during their tour or provide guests or persons involved in the tour with sanitisers for frequent use;

-4. ensure that during guided activities that require walking, a social distance of one and a half metres is maintained at all times amongst persons involved in the tour;

-5. ensure that the loading capacity of guided tour vehicles and other modes of public transport complies with the Directions issued by the Minister of
-6. Transport in respect of the loading capacity of public transport vehicles;

-7. ensure that the door handles, window handles, armrests and handrails of all vehicles, rail or boat are sanitised after every load;

-8. ensure that windows on both sides of the tour vehicles, where applicable, are kept 5 cm open on both sides;

-9. ensure that all snacks and drinks provided during the tour are pre-packed and distributed following strict hygiene and sanitising measures.

-10. Disposable bottles, containers, cups and utensils should be utilised during tours;

-11. ensure the safe handling and disposal of waste.

-12. The opening of visitor activities and tourist attractions in the parks will be in keeping with restrictions and aligned with the opening dates set out.

As more information is gazetted SANParks will amend the protocols accordingly and inform guests.

In order to apply for a temporary permit to operate an OSV in the Kruger National Park, please send an email to KNP.OSV@sanparks.org with the subject line: OSV TEMPORARY PERMIT APPLICATION. Any queries should be directed to email KNP.OSV@sanparks.org or 013 735 4104/5 during office hours (Mondays to Fridays).

Accommodation bookings can be made online, telephonically or via email at reservations@sanparks.org or 012 428 9111 or www.sanparks.org/bookings.

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

Media enquiries:
Reynold "Rey" Thakhuli
SANParks Acting Head of Communications
Cell: 073 373 4999 or email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=58091


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RogerFraser
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Re: SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

Post by RogerFraser »

This is the one that prove the minister has never been near an osv :
ensure that windows on both sides of the tour vehicles, where applicable, are kept 5 cm open on both sides;
lol =O: =O:


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