A busy season for Camdeboo National Park

The Camdeboo National Park just outside Graaff-Reinet saw a total of 4 591 day visitors over the festive season from 15 December to 8 January. "We hosted 556 overnight guests which were predominantly made up of campers using the Nqweba campsite near the offices on the Middleburg road," says park manager Brent Whittington. He said the highest number of visitors (1 898) came from Gauteng, with the Eastern Cape in second place with 1 440.

The highest number of foreign visitors to the park were from Germany, at 212, with 118 from the Netherlands and 33 from France.

Opening of Piekniekbos

"The roll-out of opening Piekniekbos seemed to be a great success," Whittington said. "With continuous prayer, timeous communication through Graaff-Reinet Advertiser, stakeholder engagements and communication through our Park Forum and social media platforms, it was clear that the community wanted to have access to Piekniekbos and the surrounding area over the festive period, but also that SANParks would not tolerate poor or negligent and reckless behaviour."

Knowing that refuse management would be the biggest challenge, Camdeboo management secured assistance in emptying the dustbins through ISU Rommel. Despite concerns about unattended fires in nondesignated areas, criticism of the use of Piekniekbos as apposed to the Boat Club where an annual boating permit is required - and access to certain amenities, he said the incentive was a great success.

"SANParks would like to commend the community on their assistance and willingness to adhere to the rules and regulations and on respecting the staff performing their duties.

The area was very well utilised on Christmas Day and the New Year's weekend and very little resistance was experienced. On behalf of the Camdeboo National

Park, thank you to everyone who took their rubbish with them, who respected everyone's personal space and for their contribution in making this easier than what was envisaged."

Whittington said that the Park Management Plan will be finalised in the first quarter of this year and they hope to then give attention to the existing trails before embarking on new trails for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. "We remain positive for the conclusion of paperwork for the Valley of Desolation's universal access walkway as well as some potential repairs to Winterhoek, Valley water supply and maintenance throughout the park," he said.