A visit to a game park is probably one of the best ways to refresh an exhausted mind and recharge tired joints and muscle. It’s also an opportunity to get in touch with the amazing secrets of mother nature and learn the secrets of the fauna and flora that inhabit these spaces.
The SA National Parks Week which runs from 16 to 24 September offers SA citizens an opportunity to access the country’s national parks free of charge. During the week all South African citizens are allowed to enter national parks for free for a day visit.
SA National Parks chief executive officer Hapiloe Sello said the SA National Parks week is aimed at linking the the organisation’s system to communities and to showcase the best of the country’s national parks.
“The role of communities in our efforts to protect our parks is of vital importance. Our communities should be at the forefront of conservation and SA National Parks Week gives these communities an opportunity to freely access Parks they might not have been exposed to, and to gain a greater understanding of the importance of conservation,” Sello said.
SANParks recently embarked on the SANParks Vision 2040 which it says is in part “about cultivating a collective sense of community, healing, and inspiration that resonates with all South Africans. SANParks Vision 2040 is about looking to the future and reimaging the way we do conservation.
“We want all citizens, particularly those living adjacent to national parks, to become champions for conservation and biodiversity and one of the ways do this is to offer free access to and exposure to the importance of national parks,” Sello said.
“This week is also an opportunity to showcase national parks as affordable local holiday destinations that offer unique experiences for families and individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and communities to enjoy.”
The free access to the parks does not include accommodation or any commercial activities in the park.
SANParks started the campaign in 2006 to encourage all South Africans, especially those from communities around the parks, to share in what it believes to be the pride and joy of all.
“The survival of the national parks system and our natural and cultural heritage truly lies in the people of South Africa, and SA National Parks Week provides us with the opportunity to establish a real multi-cultural visitor profile and assist in the development of a deep sense of national pride,” Sello said. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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