What you should know about Table Mountain and West Coast's new gate system and reduced rates for Saffas

[Lisbeth]

2018-08-29 09:07 - Gabi Zietsman

If the queues at West Coast and Table Mountain National Parks were taking the fun out of a nature visit, South African National Parks (SANParks) is introducing a new gate technology to help ease entrance congestion.

From 1 November, the parks authority will roll out the new system where visitors can buy digital tickets online prior to their arrival at the gate. These digital tickets will then be scanned at the gate for quick access.

SEE: Free entry: Get planning for the country-wide SANParks Week in September

Tour operators will have their own online portal where they can organise their tickets, which means they will no longer have to make physical purchases at the SANParks offices.

The new gates coincide with the introduction of new reduced rates for South African citizens and other southern African residents for Table Mountain National Park, which was announced last year. Previously, this park was exempt from the nationwide differential conservation fees when it was implemented in 2004.

“The only reason why differential Conservation Fees were not implemented was due to the complexity of processing visitors at the two high volume access points, namely Cape Point and Boulders,” says Hapiloe Selle, managing executive for tourism development and marketing at SANParks.

When buying the new online ticket, visitors will have to indicate their citizenship or residence status and upon entry, South African residents will be required to produce their identity document or card, driver’s license or residence permit to confirm the reduced rates.

“This initiative further aims to increase accessibility to South Africans, more especially the sectors of society that do not traditionally visit national parks,” concluded Sello.


The rates for Table Mountain National Park is as follow:

Cape Point:

International: R303
SADC: R152
SA: R76
Boulders Beach:

International: R152
SADC: R76
SA: R39

[Lisbeth]

Every time I see the prices for foreigners I jump. Do they think that we are all rich The Cape Point ticket is ridiculous