If you have always wanted to visit Cape Town’s national parks but have been put off by the admission charges, then take advantage of SANParks Week, in which South Africans can visit their national parks free of charge.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has opened up its parks between 12 and 16 September 2011 to mark Heritage Month and bring national parks closer to the people.
“Environmental education and protection is the responsibility of everyone, not just a privileged few. If we are to create a sense of ownership of the natural heritage of South Africa in all South Africans, then all South Africans must be able to have access to such,” says SANParks General Manager: Media Relations, Reynold Thakhuli.
“We especially want our young people to take advantage of this opportunity because this heritage will be under their protection in the near future.”
The theme for this year is “Know Your National Parks” and the objective is to create an awareness and instil a sense of pride in the country’s natural, cultural and historical heritage, as well as educate the public about the importance of biodiversity and nature.
Table Mountain National Park includes Silvermine and Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point), which will be free of entry charges for this week if you have a valid identity book. However, Boulders is not included in SANParks Week, due to concerns that it is not able to handle large numbers of people.
Table Mountain National Park is an important environmental, economic and social asset and the City of Cape Town enjoys a strong working relationship with SANParks, working together on a number of initiatives, including visitor safety, environmental education, biodiversity management, emerging economic opportunities and marine and coastal issues.
The five national parks in the region (Table Mountain, Agulhas, Bontebok, Tankwa and West Coast National Parks) have numerous activities planned for the week, including educational tours and soccer tournaments. They are also planning braais and “mega picnics” for Heritage Day on 24 September.
Plans for SANParks Week nationally include career guidance exhibitions; hiking trails; photography competitions; exhibitions on various activities around the parks; game drives; evening boma braais; story telling sessions; sports activities, give-aways, pensioners’ days, and wild walks for schoolchildren.
The free entry does not include commercial activities once inside the park, such as guided walks or safaris.
For more information, visit SANParks or Table Mountain National Park.
