The annual SA National Parks Week campaign kicks off next month from Saturday 16 September until Sunday 24 September. For the first time since its inception, the free entry week to most national parks has been extended to nine days to include two weekends. This includes Camdeboo National Park.
SANParks is once again proud to celebrate the campaign with our partners Total Energies and FNB.
Since 2006, National Parks Week, under the theme ‘Know Your National Parks’, has seen an influx of over 691 418 day visitors in all participating parks.
SANParks Chief Executive Officer, Hapiloe Sello says the idea of a national parks focus week is a world-wide campaign.
“The week was established in a bid to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage, protected by the national parks system. It is also in line with theSANParks vision statement of ‘A Sustainable National Park System Connecting Society’.”
Free day entry to Camdeboo allows visitors to explore the Park in its entirety.
They may choose to participate in one of the many walking trails; undertake the 4×4 trails; or spend time at one of the picnic sites, along the banks of the Nqweba Dam or at the bird hide.
Day visitors may also visit the world-famous Valley of Desolation or enjoy a leisurely self-drive through the Park for bird and game viewing, making the most of its sights and sounds along the way.
The campaign grants free access to most of the 21 national parks for day visitors, especially people from the local communities. It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other paid-for tourist activities. Some of the parks will be extending the week to include the two weekends.
For individual park dates and participating parks please: Click Here
SA National Parks Week has proved to be a successful campaign in terms of education and awareness of conservation issues.
“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,” says Sello.
Other parks in the region which are also participating in the campaign include Karoo (outside Beaufort West) and Mountain Zebra National Parks (near Cradock), which will also welcome day visitors at no cost from 16 to 24 September. Addo Elephant National Park, outside Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, will only have free entry from the Monday to Friday.
