Minister Dion George Kickstarts 2024 South African National Parks Week in Marakele National Park, Limpopo
08 September 2024, at Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi, Limpopo, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George launched the beginning of South Africa’s 19th National Parks Week. The week commences on 09 September 2022 and ends on 15 September. On the dates of 13 to 15 September only selected parks will still provide free entry to South African day visitors.
Every year SANParks aims to increase the number of citizens that are granted free access to national parks during this time. Since the start of the programme, some 785 621 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks. The objective is to see these numbers grow year on year.
The free access to the parks does not include accommodation or any commercial activities in the park. Table Mountain National Park free access excludes Boulders Beach and the Table Mountain Cableway. Kruger, Addo Elephant, Augrabies Falls, and West Coast National Parks will only have free access until Friday 13 September 2024.
The central feature elements of the National Parks Week campaign is free access granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official identity documents. Young persons under the age of 16 will be allowed free access without proof of identity.
The 2024 SA National Parks Week launch was a celebratory event also attended by the Acting Premier of Limpopo, Basikopo Makamu and Limpopo Acting MEC of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya. In attendance was included the District Mayor of Waterberg District Municipality, Councillor Jack Maeko and Executive Mayor of Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Councillor Tokkie Swanepoel. Chairperson of SANParks Board, Ms Pam Yako, management and staff of SANParks as well as representative from a broad array of stakeholders in the community were also all in attendance.
Sponsors of the event were led by FNB represented by the CEO of Public Sector Banking, Mr Sipho Silinda, and Total Energies represented by the MD and CEO, Mr Olagoke Alukho. The initiation of South African National Parks Week in 2006 was based on a drive to make our national parks more accessible to communities across the country. This was particularly of importance for many who had never had an opportunity to visit the national parks.
With this year’s theme being “Own Your National Park”, we intend for this week of 09 to 15 September 2024 to encourage greater visitor numbers to the national parks throughout the rest of the year. One of the critical lessons emerging from the past Covid 19 pandemic era is that the domestic market is critical for the success of institutions like SANParks whose income stream is largely tourism. With National Parks Week the intention is therefore to promote domestic market exposure which should ensure there is greater appreciation, and even a sense of greater ownership, about visiting and enjoying the offering across all national parks.
Whilst SANParks dutifully serves as custodian of these national treasurers, its rightful owners remain all South Africans who all year round should be encouraged to visit their national parks.
Visit the SANParks website on www.sanparks.org/about/events/parks_week for more information and follow #SANationalParksWeek and #LiveYourWild on social media, to join in the fun and discover all there is to do and see in our national parks.
Issued by: South African National Parks (SANParks)
JP Louw: SANParks Head of Communications and Spokesperson: Cell: 072 772 9424 or email: jp.louw@sanparks.org
Media Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli: SANParks General Manager: PR, Media and Stakeholder Relations. Tel: 012 426 5203, Cell: 073 373 4999 or Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org
