Embracing South Africa’s Natural and Cultural Heritage: National Parks Week

South Africa celebrates National Parks Week from 16 to 24 September 2023, inviting citizens to explore the country’s natural wonders and cultural heritage. The South African National Parks (SANParks) has introduced this initiative to grant free access to national parks, especially to communities that rarely get the opportunity to appreciate these conservation areas.

Minister’s Advocacy for National Parks

Ms. Barbara Creecy, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, emphasizes the importance of national parks and passionately advocates for the elderly who have spent their lives next to national parks without ever experiencing what lies beyond the fence, to visit these remarkable sites.

Free Entry Requirements

To qualify for free entry, South Africans must carry their identity documents, and children under 16 are exempt from this requirement. Since 2006, over 619,292 South Africans have participated in National Parks Week, discovering the natural beauty and diversity of their country’s protected areas.

Inspiration for Provincial Conservation Authorities

National Parks Week has inspired provincial conservation authorities such as the Limpopo Tourism Agency and North West Tourism and Parks Board to host “Mahala Week,” where selected game reserves offer free access.

Importance of Conservation and Biodiversity Protection

Conservation and biodiversity protection are vital for South Africa’s commitment to expanding the conservation estate to meet international objectives and ensure the sustainable preservation of the natural world for future generations. Popularizing national and provincial parks is crucial in this regard.

Kruger National Park

This year’s National Parks Week campaign kicks off in the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s first and largest national park, spanning 19,458 square kilometers. Kruger is the sixth-largest park in Africa and is home to the iconic Big Five, a diverse range of wildlife, plants, unique landscapes, and biomes.

Revenue Generation for SANParks

Revenue generated from tourism offerings and other activities is essential for SANParks, as tourism significantly contributes to the country’s GDP and job creation. Partnerships between government, communities, and the private sector play a key role in achieving this goal.

Infrastructure Projects

The National Department of Tourism supports several infrastructure projects in national parks, such as the installation of a solar PV array at the Kruger National Park’s Skukuza main camp. This system has an installed capacity of 844.8kWp and supplies approximately one-fourth of the daytime electricity demand for the camp and administrative operations.

Cooperation Between Departments and Institutions

Cooperation between government departments and institutions contributes to the rethinking and rebuilding of protected area financing and management. These partnerships have the potential to ensure the future sustainability of nature-based tourism and its employment opportunities.

Support for SMMEs

SANParks spent over R550 million procuring services from Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) last year, and R273 million was spent on 863 SMMEs through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), creating 5,364 full-time equivalent work opportunities in communities where formal employment is scarce.

Connecting with Nature

During National Parks Week, South Africans are encouraged to connect with nature and appreciate the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. As the late President Nelson Mandela once said, “I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses. We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment.”