Sanparks open under strict rules
THE province’s nature lovers were left idling at home waiting for the go-ahead while the rest of the country are set to queue to get their bush fix, now that national parks have opened.
SA National Parks (Sanparks) announced yesterday that visitors would be welcomed from tomorrow
Fundisile Mketeni, chief executive, said it used the week to prepare for the expected inpouring of guests to its nationwide parks.
“After two months of confinement, the public is keen to reconnect 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.”
As a result, Mketeni said face-to-face contact between staff and guests would be limited by encouraging online and telephonic day-visit bookings and full payment of conservation fees prior to arrival where possible.
However, Namaqua National Park, Boulders and Cape Point in Table Mountain National Park would remain closed for the meantime while the majority of gates to Kruger National Park would be open with the exception of Pafuri and Numbi.
“Gate quotas for Kruger have been revised to approximately one third of what they were prior to Covid-19. Three time slots for arrival will be introduced and booked day visitors must arrive at the gate within that time span. Slot one is from 6am to 8am, slot two from 8am to 10am and the third slot from 10am onwards.”
Hides and picnic spots at all parks would remain closed; braaing at picnic sites will also not be allowed during this period. Ablution facilities will be open in camps, at gates and at some picnic spots.
There would also be a limited number of shops and petrol stations open in some parks during the course of the week and will be operated in accordance with relevant level 3 lockdown regulations.
Mketeni said the national lockdown regulations relating to movement between provinces must be observed within the parks.
“This means inter-provincial travel within parks that stretch between two provinces is not permitted. Guests must exit into the province from which they entered the park.
“Everything as we knew it has been changed by Covdi-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.”
Musa Nmtambo from KZN’S Ezemvelo Wildlife yesterday said he could not comment on the opening of parks as state of readiness assessments and logistic details were being finalised.
“We wouldn’t want to divulge any information that could change or be construed as fake news and cause confusion,” Mthambo said, adding an official statement would be released later today.