Photo: SANParks
Access South Africa’s National Parks for free this week
South African National Parks, in partnership with FNB and Total South Africa, will be hosting its 14th annual SA National Parks, until 15 September.
Photo: SANParks
The first SA National Parks Week took place in 2006, with the goal of showcasing the best of South Africa’s National and fueling the global movement around national parks.
Citizens will enjoy free access to most of the 21 national parks throughout South Africa, excluding the Namaqua National Park, Boulders Penguin Colony and Table Mountain Cableway in Table Mountain National Park.
SA National Parks Week theme: Live Your Wild
The launch of the SA National Parks week was held on Sunday 8 September at the Bontebok National Park in Swellendam, one of five National Parks in the Cape Region, including Tankwa Karoo, Table Mountain, West Coast and Agulhas.
The keynote address was given byFundisile Mkateni, SANParks Chief Executive Officer, who said:
“The aim of SA National Parks Week is to help cultivate a culture of pride in South Africa’s heritage.
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Other speakers at the event included Hapiloe Sello from ME Tourism Development & Marketing, as well as FNB National Sales Head – Public Sector Banking, Nick Montso; and GM Strategy Total South Africa, Sunil Ghandi.
Every day this week will be focused on a specific theme. The themes are as follows:
- Monday 9 September – Adventure Monday
- Tuesday 10 September – Travel Tuesday
- Wednesday 11 September – Go Wild Wednesday
- Thursday 12 September – Throwback Thursday
- Friday 13 September – Flora Friday
- Saturday 14 September – Kids in Parks
- Sunday 15 September – Family Sunday
SANParks describe Adventure Monday as an opportunity “to look at all the fun and adventurous activities available in our national parks.”
Free visits are extended to weekends for the first time since the SA National Parks Week was launched 14 years ago. The themes for this weekend is fitting: Kids in Parks on Saturday and Family Sunday.
Also read – New 3D relief map of Africa unveiled at Agulhas National Park [photos]
The importance of National Parks
Since the programme’s inception in 2006, more than 438 000 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks. SANParks Chief Executive Officer, Fundisile Mketeni explains:
“It’s 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.”
Watch: Science lab launch in Railton township
Also read – 19 Pictures of South Africa’s National Parks that will make you want to visit immediately
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