Tourist season is fast approaching, and South Africa is preparing for an influx of visitors to its iconic landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant cities.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has implemented a range of measures to ensure a safe and enjoyable festive season for all.
JP Louw, SANParks’ head of communications, highlighted the extensive readiness plan across the organization’s 21 national parks, spanning seven provinces.
“Safety and security are top priorities, with a combination of technology, K9 units, aerial support, and partnerships with provincial and local authorities, civil society, and communities,” he said.
Louw also noted significant infrastructure improvements and upgrades worth R1.1 billion.
He added that visitors to renowned parks like Kruger, Addo Elephant, and West Coast National Park are already seeing the results. Nature enthusiasts will find plenty of activities this season.
At At Bontebok National Park, guests can enjoy birding, fishing, and hiking, with entry fees ranging from R58 to R186 for adults and R29 to R93 for children.
Agulhas National Park, located at the southernmost tip of Africa, offers whale watching and historic landmarks, with fees of R58 to R242 for adults and R29 to R121 for children.
Table Mountain National Park, with its tented camps and activities like paragliding and snorkeling, charges varying fees across its sites, including Cape Point and Boulders Beach.
Tankwa Karoo National Park, renowned for stargazing and 4x4 trails, costs R58 to R242 for adults and R29 to R121 for children.
West Coast National Park, known for its seasonal wildflowers and birdlife, has rates ranging from R78 to R128 for adults and R39 to R64 for children.
Cape Town’s Blue Flag beaches, including Clifton 4th, Camps Bay, Muizenberg, and Fish Hoek, are ready to welcome visitors from December 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
These internationally recognised beaches ensure pristine conditions, tested water quality, and enhanced safety. Lifeguards will be stationed at all beaches, with over 600 additional personnel on hand for the season. Educational campaigns focusing on water safety and drowning prevention will be rolled out, ensuring a safe beach experience.
Families can also cool off at one of Cape Town’s public swimming pools, with 10 facilities already operational, including Long Street, Atlantis, Blue Downs, Kuils River Resort, Elsies River, Parow North, Muizenberg, Retreat, Newlands, and Zandvlei Caravan Park.
Additional pools will reopen as follows: 6-15 December: Athlone, Hanover Park, Parow Valley, Bellville Central, Emthonjeni, Delft, Mnandi, Eastridge, Lentegeur, Langa, Kensington, Observatory, Sea Point, Monwabisi Resort, Morningstar, Bonteheuwel, and Trafalgar.
16-31 December: Manenberg, Goodwood, Bellville South, Strand, Khayelitsha, Westridge, Browns Farm, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht, and Wynberg.
For those seeking more adventure, Bergiver Resort in the Cape Winelands offers a perfect getaway for campers and families, with 15 spacious chalets and 182 campsites.
The resort features a 3.5m deep swimming pool, splash pool for toddlers, a waterslide, jungle gym, volleyball net, and roller skating rink. Activities include birdwatching, fishing, and tubing down the river.
In nearby Klapmuts, the Farm Yard Park offers three swimming pools, 90 braai sites, and seven roofed gazebos for hire. It also features a trampoline park, animal farmyard, and a Supertube slide for just R2.50 per slide (with a minimum of 50 bands required to start).
Wiesenhof Adventure Park, also in Klapmuts, features over 70 built braais, 6 swimming pools, 8 waterslides, a climbing wall, and kid-friendly play areas. Other attractions include air mountain climbing, an aerial obstacle course, and a pump track with bikes, scooters, and skateboards.
Duck Express tractor rides and a takeaway restaurant add to the experience.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za