National Parks Week 2015

The annual South African National Parks (SANParks) Week (14 – 18 September 2015) gives all South Africans the opportunity to explore their local national park for free. You will need your South African ID as proof of citizenship.

This year’s theme for the SANParks Week is “Know Your National Parks”. The objective of the week is to cultivate a culture of pride in our relationship with the country’s natural, cultural and historical heritage.

“When people start to take pride in the national parks, then we believe they will start to understand the importance of conservation”, said Acting Head of Communications, Reynold Thakuli.

National Parks in the Western Cape

Grab the opportunity that SANParks Week provides to get out and explore your province with the parks closest to you:

• Addo Elephant National Park
• Agulhas National Park
• Bontebok National Park
• Garden Route National Park
• Karoo National Park
• Table Mountain National Park
• Tankwa Karoo National Park
• West Coast National Park

Some of the parks will be extending the week to include the weekend. For individual park dates please visit the SANParks website.

Please note that free access to the parks does not include:

• accommodation,
• any commercial activities in the park such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks,
• access to certain parks in the province, namely Namaqua National Park, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (both within Table Mountain National Park).

What you can see and do in some of the National Parks

• The Garden Route National Park (GRNP) will launch the week in Knysna on 14 September which will focus on conservation initiatives, activities in the forestry and estuarine areas and business opportunities in the Park.

• Karoo National Park outside Beaufort West in the Western Cape will host 2 groups from the local community to a special programme every day.  This will kick off with an entertaining presentation about the search and recapture of Sylvester the lion which went on a walkabout away from the park for 24 days.

• It is currently flower season and the West Coast National Park is in full bloom! Head to the Postberg section of the park as soon as you can because this section is only open during August and September every year. Have something to eat at Geelbek Restaurant and then head off to experience the spectacular colourful carpets of wild flowers. The Seeberg Lookout Point, Mooimaak (by bicycle only) and Postberg are only some of the must see sites the park has to offer.
  
  Note: To save time in the queue at the gates, be sure to download the gate registration form and complete it before arriving.Use both the R27 and Langebaan gates as this will ease congestion at the gates. Head to the park early in the morning, especially if travelling on a weekend or sunny day as these are the more popular days for visitors.

• Take a drive through the Bontebok National Park, just outside Swellendam. Park and spot some game; unwind alongside the Breede River, or take a walk through hills of Aloe, one of many scenic hiking trails.

For more information, you can visit the SANParks website or contact Tarcia Hendricks through email: tarcia.hendricks@sanparks.org  

For individual park dates please see below, or visit the SANParks website

With Heritage Day (24 September 2015) falling on a Thursday it will be tempting to take a long weekend. Enjoy CapeNature’s free entrance offered at  provincial nature reserves during Access Week from 21 to 27 September 2015.

Visit the CapeNature website for more information.