SANParks announced its national parks will remain open after President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country back into Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown on Monday, December 28.
News that national parks will remain open was positively received by the public, but many questions were still left unanswered, especially in hotspot regions like the Garden Route District in the Western Cape.
SANParks Garden Route has released more information to clarify how operations will work in the following areas.
Tsitsikamma
The park will remain open as it is access controlled, but will operate under strict regulations. These include:
- The beach is closed off and NO SWIMMING will be allowed, only in the rock pools and the swimming pool meant for guests as this is NOT a public swimming pool.
- Snorkelling is allowed, however, not at the sandy beach area until further notice.
- The Groot River estuary will be closed to the public and only research, monitoring and fishing will be allowed as this specific water body resides within an open access area.
- Nature’s Valley is open but as it will be very difficult to manage the crowds going to the estuary as they will gain access in different areas, the entire Groot river estuary is closed.
- All other concessionaire activities (business) are allowed as they are controlled and each concessionaire has signed an agreement on the adherence of the Covid-19 Protocols.
Wilderness
Wilderness park will also remain open but will operate under strict regulations, this includes:
- Swartvlei and Pine Lake Marina only Business Operators are allowed (Concessionaires). The picnic areas, the lagoon and estuary are closed to the public.
- Camping at Ebb & Flow is permitted, but the Lagoon and Tarentaal day visitor areas will be closed to the public.
- Touw river open for the concessionaires (Eden Adventures / Fairy Knowe Backpackers / River Safaris)
- Big Tree at Woodville will be open to the public.
- Half Collard will be open, but operate with a quota system of a maximum of 100 pax at one time.
- Island Lake – closed.
- No swimming will be allowed in the Touw River.
Knysna
Knysna Water bodies, including the lagoon, are closed for the public but can be used by concessionaires as this is a business and can be controlled.
- Swimming and other individual activities are closed. This is because the open access areas are and difficult to control.
- NO recreational fishing from boats only fishing along the shoreline is permitted.
- No other recreational activities are allowed.
Knysna estuary
- All water-based activities are allowed through a concessionaire.
- Shoreline fishing, bait collection is also permitted.
- No other activities will be permitted on the estuary.
Island lake
- No boating activities are allowed.
- Angling will be permitted from the beach and/or rocks if one is in possession of a valid permit and within the curfew and wearing a mask, and social distancing.
Further updates will be provided by SANParks once more information are made available.
Picture: SANParks Garden Route
