National Parks Week… It reminds me of the time when I still co-owned a few guesthouses and our staff had the opportunity to sail on the Knysna Lagoon and visit iconic Featherbed Nature Reserve. Something our guests would do on a regular basis, but they had not yet experienced. The conversations over breakfast subsequently changed, as there was now a shared experience.
Or the time we went to hike along the rugged coastline of Tsitsikamma National Park, also within the Garden Route section of South African National Parks (SANParks). I would go there with international visitors, accompanying them as their guide on their Garden Route tour. But that particular time, during National Parks Week, I visited with a friend and her son. We hiked, we climbed to the look out point on the other side of the suspension bridge over the Storms River, and simply had a wonderful day out!
Here’s what this year’s National Parks Week will bring:
Celebrate National Parks Week 2024 in the Garden Route National Park
With September being South Africa’s Tourism Month and Heritage Month, South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that the 2024 edition of National Parks Week will take place from September 9 to 13.
South African National Parks Week is a week when South African citizens are granted free access to most of the 21 national parks under the management of South African National Parks.
While SANParks also said that it will kickstart 19th annual SA National Parks Week on September 8, 2024 during a celebratory event at Marakele National Park (part of the Waterberg Biosphere in Limpopo), the Garden Route National Park will host a variety of events too.
“National Parks Week has seen an influx of day visitors in all participating parks since its inception in 2006. SANParks also uses this time to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage as protected and preserved by the national parks system,” said the national parks authority.
SANParks also added that national parks week has proved to be a successful campaign that provides education and awareness about South Africa’s inclusive approach to conservation.
Though park week provides free access to national parks, it does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities.
“While offering an opportunity to experience South Africa’s rich natural and cultural heritage, attention is also drawn to the sustainable development practices made possible through partnerships with key role players like communities living adjacent to national parks, business, scientists and tourists,” said SANParks.
Events and activities taking place in the Garden Route vary from visits to the Forest Legends Museum at Diepwalle, guided Forest & Fynbos hikes at Kranschhoek, interactive Seahorse feeding in Knysna and discounted activities to Featherbed Nature Reserve and Knysna Ziplines.
Sources: SANParks / Visit Knysna
Let us know in the comments below how you have enjoyed National Parks Week?
