SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

[Richprins]

SANParks announces changes to hospitality and tourism services for lockdown adjusted level 4
Following the announcement made on Sunday June 27 by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country will move to adjusted level 4 with effect from Monday June 28 and the subsequent gazetting of the amended regulations, SANParks informed guests of key changes to its hospitality and tourism services in its national parks.
2 days ago
Linzetta Calitz


After having announced changes to its reservations policy for the period between June 28 and July 11 on Tuesday, SANParks received new information regarding an amendment to the regulations for accommodation facilities’ capacity.

Due to the amended regulations permitting 100% occupancy at accommodation establishments, SANParks is again taking accommodation bookings for the period June 30 to July 11.



Seeing as Gauteng residents are not allowed to travel out of their province for leisure purposes, though, parkgoers from this province will not be allowed into parks during this time.

SANParks’ acting chief executive officer, Dr Luthando Dziba, said,“SANParks, in complying with government regulations, has made amendments particularly for travellers to our national parks from Gauteng.”

The rules for clients from Gauteng with existing reservations are as follows:

There will not be a blanket cancellation of bookings for guests residing in Gauteng. Instead, those holding current reservations valid for the period June 28 to July 11 will be contacted directly via telephone and email to establish whether their bookings should be postponed or cancelled.
Guests are encouraged to contact reservations on 012 428 9111 or 082 233 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org if they are unsure about their current reservation.
Where cancellation is the only option, cancellation fees will not be charged and clients will be provided with the option to claim a full refund or for their deposit to be kept on credit-on-hold for use on future reservations.
Gauteng residents currently in occupation of SANParks accommodation facilities will be permitted to remain in the parks for the duration of their reserved stay as the regulations permit a once-off trip to return to their places of residence to persons who were outside the province when the regulations came into force.



Persons from any other provinces will still be permitted to enter the parks if they have an existing booking.

Speaking for the Kruger National Park, Isaac Phaahla said that guests travelling through Gauteng to get to the park will be allowed entry.

As far as the rest of the country’s SANParks are concerned, all gatherings at beaches and picnic sites within the national parks are prohibited.

The dining facilities and restaurants within the national parks will operate on the basis of off-site consumption and therefore no sit-down dining will be allowed.

Dziba said that while SANParks understands the inconvenience and the frustration this may create, reservations and park teams on the ground are on hand to assist in adherence to the law.



Dziba concluded and said the spread of Covid-19 has affected all South Africans and in order to minimise the spread everyone has to make sacrifices.

He urged guests to the national parks to appreciate that the regulations and SANParks’ protocols, as inconvenient as they may seem, are towards a greater and common good.

https://lowvelder.co.za/735293/sanparks ... UK0NKbx3pk

[Richprins]

We were at Afsaal picnic site yesterday and all was normal.

[PJL]

We were at Afsaal picnic site yesterday and all was normal.

Excellent! I presume you can’t hire skottels at the moment though?

[Richprins]

Yes you can, and takeaways! Shop also open.

[Lisbeth]

A whole province paying for the stupidity of the few

For the rest, there seems to be a more relaxed handling of the problems due to the Covid

[Peter Betts]

A whole province paying for the stupidity of the few

For the rest, there seems to be a more relaxed handling of the problems due to the Covid

The whole country is in Lockdown not just one of nine provinces. There is Stupitity in all provinces including Europe where this NEW variant is far worse and smashing the population there too. Gauteng is the smallest province geographically but far more populated than the rest so it stands to reason and like all the Other countries including Europe this new one spreads very easily through the whole area eventually>> like the Scottish fans arriving in England 3 weeks ago for Football and also Misbehaved far worse than Gauteng residents and now Scotland just out of a 14 month lock down is back there again after a 4 week break.

We will safely go to Kruger end Aug and for Sept as we are self sufficient at our camping trailer trailer >> Shower there too

[Richprins]

A copy from a facebook post:

Kingsley Merschel Rothschild
·
To anyone looking to get COVID PCR tests done for onward travel - below is a list of private laboratories in and around the Park.
We struggled with the doctor in Skukuza - then results got lost and was submitted to us late, and their price is more than double (around US$100) that of the private labs below.
We used Ampath in Komatipoort and they were very helpful and efficient. We had our results within 24h and did not have to pay an arm and a leg... Please share!
Ampath Komatipoort - 013 793 7400
Lancet Malelane - 013 790 0025
Ampath Hazyview - 013 737 6325
Lancet Hazyview - 013 737 6309
Ampath Phalaborwa - 015 293 3950
Lancet Phalaborwa - 015 781 6238
Ampath Hoedspruit - 015 793 0848

[Richprins]

Media Release: SANParks Prepares For International Cancellations

26 November 2021

Following pronouncements made by several governments to impose travel restrictions in and out of South Africa in response to the newly discovered COVID-19 variant B.1.1.5.2.9; South African National Parks (SANParks) is bracing itself for mass booking amendments from residents of various countries across the world.

This is according to SANParks, Managing Executive Tourism Development and Marketing, Hapiloe Sello who said these unfortunate developments call for a proactive approach to minimise adverse impacts on clients. "We have decided that booked clients from the countries that have introduced travel bans to South Africa will not be charged fees or penalties for amendments and postponements for a 12 month period from the date of 26 November 2021 until such time as the travel bans are lifted. Affected clients are welcome to contact our reservation offices to postpone their reservations to later dates. We encourage guests to opt for SANParks to retain their deposit payments until they are certain about their travel plans and to only consider cancellations and refunds as a last resort."

She said cancellations due to other reasons outside of travel bans will continue to be subjected to the standard cancellation terms and conditions. "We want to assure our visitors, particularly local travellers that our national parks remain open and quite likely amongst the safest destinations to travel to."

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

Media enquiries:
Reynold "Rey" Thakhuli
SANParks General Manager: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations
Tel: 012 426 5203 cell: 073 373 4999 or email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

[Richprins]

Border posts reopen in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Posted by Anita Froneman on 4 August 2022

South Africans can once again cross the Botswanan borders within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. As of Monday, 1 August the following border posts have been re-opened, SANParks announced:

Twee Rivieren (RSA) 07h30 – 16h00
Mata Mata 08h00 – 16h30

The following regulations apply:

Guest must overnight a minimum of two nights anywhere in the Park when entering from one country and exiting into another country.
Guests entering at Twee Rivieren must clear Customs and Immigration at Twee Rivieren before proceeding to Mata Mata.
When entering Mata Mata, South African Customs and Immigration must be cleared at Twee Rivieren.
Day visitors from Mata Mata must show their passports to the Namibian Customs officials.

Note: Sendelingsdrift border post in |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park remains closed until further notice.

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/b ... tier-park/