SANParks free access week coming soon

All South Africans in Mpumalanga have an opportunity to visit the world-renowned Kruger National Park during Free Access Week. South African National Parks (SANParks), together with Total South Africa and FNB, will be hosting the 15th annual SA National Parks Week, from 16-20 November 2020. The Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. The park was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, and covers nearly two million hectares. The Kruger National Park is unrivaled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

“SANParks postponed the free access week, which is traditionally held in September, to November, due to the COVID-19 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 the virus during this time.” SANParks chief executive officer, Fundisile Mketeni, said. SA National Parks Week is an annual campaign that gives all 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. It should be noted that the 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 locals that are granted free access to national parks during this time. Since the programme’s inception in 2006, 551 393 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks. SANParks has highlighted the growing need for national parks to be relevant, particularly to young people and communities living adjacent to parks.