Explore the beauty of the Cape during SANParks’ free access week

South African National Parks Week, now in its 15th year, offers all South Africans free access to all-day visits at selected national parks, provided they are carrying their official ID.

CAPE TOWN, November 17 (ANA) – It’s that time of the year again, when SANParks invites people to come and explore the beauty that the Cape has to offer at absolutely no charge.

South African National Parks Week, now in its 15th year, offers all South Africans free access to all-day visits at selected national parks, provided they are carrying their official ID.

The free access week will run from November 16 to 20.

The initiative aims to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage as protected by the national parks system.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, SANParks decided to postpone the week, which is traditionally held in September, to November.

Since the inception of the programme in 2006, some 551,393 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks, said SANParks.

“As the country is still on alert level 1 of the lockdown, we would like to remind the public that a gate quota system will apply in all our national parks throughout the focus week,” said SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni.

SANParks has reminded citizens that children under the age of 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity, and that the free access to the parks does not include accommodation or any commercial activities in the park, such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks.

The week-long campaign will be applicable to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of the Boulders Penguin Colony, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Table Mountain National Park, and Namaqua National Park.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher