News

Knysna Ziplines opens to visitors on Friday, the 18th of September 2020.

The ziplines were given a thumbs up to proceed with construction in 2017 but were disrupted by the 2017 Knysna fires. Work restarted in late 2018 and was completed just before COVID-19 related lockdown (March 2020). Now the Garden Route’s longest and highest zipline is ready for those scouting for an exhilarating expedition.

The zipline is located at the Kranshoek gorge, with scenic views of the ocean, fynbos and indigenous forests.

Speaking at the project launch on the 15th of September 2020, the General Manager of the Garden Route National Park, Vuyiswa Thabethe, said “the zipline product aims to boost tourism and socio-economic benefits to the local and regional area, in keeping with SANParks’ vision of ‘a sustainable national parks system, connecting society”.

The zipline kicks off with experienced adventure guides, who are highly trained in safety procedures, sourced from other SA Forest Adventures sites. These guides will train and mentor new staff hired from the neighbouring Kranshoek, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas, with about 15 jobs to be created altogether for local community members. Material and products used in the project were sourced locally in South Africa apart from the specially imported recycled plastic material used for the lines and specialised zipline equipment. Plastic cables greatly reduce noise pollution, an important aspect of operating within the tranquil environment of a national park.

Managing Director of SA Forest Adventures, Clinton Lerm, said the zipline is 2.2 kilometres in length and will start operating with four lines, increasing to six lines by the end of the year.

Park Manager for Knysna, Megan Taplin, added that “we are very excited to add environmental friendly adventure products which will attract more visitors to our park and complement the existing popular hiking and mountain bike trails.” The zipline product is expected to double the number of local and international visitors to Knysna. In the last three financial years, 99, 456 visitors were recorded in the Knysna section of the GRNP.

An operational environmental assessment was completed prior to the start of the project and construction activities monitored by environmental consultants. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) process was not triggered by the project and its location. Indigenous plants removed as a result of the construction of the platforms were replanted elsewhere in the park or used for rehabilitation.

Media Enquiries

Nandi Mgwadlamba
Regional Communications Manager, SANParks
Contact: 078 702 9663, [email protected]