News

The South African National Parks outlined numerous interventions in place and underway at its 21 functional national parks in preparation for the 2024 festive season. Its report focused primarily on safety and security interventions, infrastructure refurbishments to date and activities visitors can undertake at the national parks based across seven of South Africa’s nine provinces.

While varying across national parks and regions due to unique circumstances, all safety and security measures are based on the use of technology, K9, aerial support, and a partnership model that includes provincial and local authorities, civil society formations, and communities. An approach which has proven highly effective in the recent past through joint planning and operations, sharing of intelligence and strengthening of each other’s capacity. Success stories recorded include awareness-raising campaigns and community mobilisations, arrests and stringent convictions.  Various interventions will be conducted during the festive season such as safety campaigns, intense routine patrols, fire safety awareness, water saving and safety initiatives, aerial support (air services) and emergency centre service activations.

SANParks also boasted about progress made following an additional infrastructure allocation of R700 million from DFFE in 2023/2024 which increased the available budget for the 2023/2024 to 2025/2026 to R 1.1 billion. In this regard, significant work has commenced and some have even been completed in national parks like Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant National Park and West Coast National Park. With specific reference to Kruger National Park, reference was made to developments like refurbished Skukuza Rest Camp Rondavels, the Wild Fig Guesthouse, as well as, the implementation of a cashless payment system.

SANParks made an appeal to visitors to be patient whenever affected by infrastructure refurbishments at its national parks.

In regard to safety and security interventions, Kruger National Park (KNP) will implement numerous actions through various joint operations with the Cross-Border Management Authority, SA National Defence Force, SA Police Service and Mbombela Traffic.  Victim Support Programs are already in place and KNP is working closely with strategic partners like the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation, Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism and Bushbuck Ridge Municipality’s Tourism and Safety Forum.

KNP will run a communication campaign through various media platforms focusing on what visitors can experience, rules to follow to enjoy their safari and what to do in times of emergencies.

SANParks also announced the introduction of the Table Mountain National Park Volunteer Safety Services (VSS) which is a partnership with interested and affected civil society organisations to improve response to crime. It will operate as a coordinated, collaborative and accountable mechanism that ensures civil society’s contributions are embedded in the national park’s overall safety and security strategy and approach. It will assist SANParks with a framework for the further and ongoing establishment, governance and operation of joint efforts with civil society in promoting both visitor and park user safety in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

This effort is intended to streamline innovation and organise the mobilisation of resources and expertise in support of crime prevention. Victim support and organising trauma counselling will also be central to VSS.

TMNP also received a commitment of R1.94 million for the training of 25 new SEAM recruits to boost the fight against environmental crime and threats to visitors whilst SANParks Honorary Rangers committed over R600 000 for the selection process of the new recruits.

SANParks also appealed to visitors to take necessary measures which are intended to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. These include visiting their website (www.sanparks.org) for specific requirements of the national park you wish to visit, doing early bookings online,  where hiking is allowed, doing it in groups of four or more, making sure that your phone is fully charged, and carry a fully charged power bank along on your hikes, carry sufficient water and other supplies whilst wearing appropriate gear and to always be vigilant, especially when visiting known crime hotspots.