South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the lifting of the travel bans as well as accommodation occupancy limitations. However, these changes imply a “new normal” which is governed by strict health and safety protocols that need to be efficiently observed to keep employees and guests safe.
SANParks made an announcement earlier in the month that they intend to reopen their hospitality operations gradually to ensure optimum readiness to accommodate guests in compliance with new regulations and protocols.
In addition to compliance obligations, several other factors have led to the phased reopening of hospitality facilities – chiefly that of the continuing refurbishment of accommodation facilities in some parks. The period of the lockdown provided an opportunity to undertake much-needed refurbishments and as with all of South Africa, reopening plans were based on a widely held assumption that tourism facilities would be allowed reopen toward mid-September; hence most refurbishment plans were geared for completion around this period.
Speaking of the impact of maintenance work on reopening tourism facilities; the CEO of SANParks, Mr Fundisile Mketeni said: ‘We have some logistical challenges with regard to our readiness to resume full operations in some parks. In addition to planned maintenance work, it has emerged that the bulk of units that were unoccupied during the lockdown were damaged mainly by primates, squirrels and bats, however, we are moving with speed to repair them.’
Providing further detail to the logistical challenges to resuming full operations, Mketeni stated that the recall of staff and their induction on new protocols could only be undertaken over a period of days – further adding to the delays. He emphasised that the induction is in the interests of the health and safety of both guests and staff.
‘We had an option of staying closed for all business until we were 100% ready, however with the understanding that our loyal guests are yearning to spend time in nature, the compromise was to introduce a phased reopening of our guest facilities. In this manner, some people would have the privilege of visiting our parks while unfortunately several would be disappointed due to the above-stated reasons,’ said Mketeni.
In the last week, operational teams have worked hard to regularise our ability to function optimally and SANParks would like to announce that:
- The Head Office Reservation Call Centre in Pretoria is now operating at full capacity.
- The online booking system has been stabilised and all technical disruptions resolved.
- The accommodation in the majority of our parks is now fully operational with the exception of Kruger National Park which is the most impacted by continuing maintenance work, will open in a multi-phased approach between August and December 2020.
Most of the Kruger camps have reopened and are fully operational, however, Skukuza and Lower Sabie will be operating at minimum capacity until October 1 and December 15 respectively. Biyamiti, Maroela and Orpen remain closed and their estimated reopening dates are as follows;
- Biyamiti: October 15 2020
- Maroela: November 1 2020
- Orpen: November 7 2020
The bulk of guests with affected bookings have been contacted and this will continue until the end of September 2020. These guests are being offered alternative accommodation in other camps within Kruger or assisted in postponing their bookings. Guests who wish to make queries about their bookings are invited to send emails to a dedicated address: [email protected].
‘We are aware that trips were planned and paid for a long time ago and others are family traditions, however, due to the real challenges that we face, we urge for patience and tolerance from all guests,’ Mketeni concluded.
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