AFTER two months of confinement Addo Elephant National Park opened its gates last Monday for self-drive day visitors only.
South African National Parks CEO Fundisile Mketeni said, “We appreciate that the public is keen to engage with nature and the excitement as shown by enquiries from our loyal visitors is encouraging. We are obligated to ensure that the opening of our national parks for self-drive excursions is done under the strictest health protocols to safeguard both our staff and guests.”
Hides and picnic spots at all parks remain closed. This means that no braai will be allowed at picnic sites during this period. Ablutions will be open in camps, at gates and at some picnic spots.
A limited number of shops and petrol stations will open in some parks during the course of the week and will be operated in accordance with relevant Level 3 lockdown regulations.
Mketeni said everything as we knew it has been fundamentally changed by Covid-19. “Therefore we are requesting guests to adhere to all official alert Level 3 regulations when inside the parks including wearing masks, keeping social distance, and following transport capacity directives.
“We also implore guests not to deposit their litter inside the bins within the parks but to leave with as much of it as hygienically possible.”
Book prior to arrival
As a result, SANParks are limiting face-to-face contact between staff and guests by encouraging online and telephonic day visit bookings and full payment of conservation fees prior to arrival where possible.
- Bookings can be made at 012 428 9111 or www.sanparks.org and in the case of Wild Card members, guests have to ensure that their membership is valid prior to arrival.
