By Simon Nare
The South African National Parks has announced its readiness to host visitors at its seven parks across the country with an emphasis on security measures and excursions in the upcoming festive season.
It said that due to unique circumstances according to regions, all safety and security measures were technology based, with the use of dogs, aerial support and a partnership model that included provincial and local authorities, civil society formations and communities.
Unveiling its state of readiness for the festive season in Cape Town on Monday, SANParks said that various interventions would be conducted.
It said joint operations have proven successful over the years, especially due to information sharing.
“Whilst variant 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…
“(The) approach 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,” it said.
The interventions will include safety campaigns, intense routine patrols, fire safety awareness, water saving initiatives, aerial support and emergency centreservice activations.
SANParks said at the Kruger National Park (KNP) joint operations would be conducted by the Cross-Border Management Authority, SA National DefenceForce, SA Police Service and Mbombela Traffic.
“Victim support programmes are already in place and Kruger National Park 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,” it said.
Further, it announced the introduction of the Table Mountain National Park Volunteer Safety Services which was a partnership with interested and affected civil society organisations to improve response to crime in the park.
It said the project would operate as a coordinated, collaborative and accountable mechanism that ensuredcivil society’s contributions were 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,” it said.
While there has been a decrease in crime in the park, SANParks wants these numbers to drop further.
Official crime statistics for the park decreased from 16 and 32 respectively in October and November 2023 to 6 in July 2024 and 3 in August 2024.
SANParks also announced that there has been progress in the allocation of additional infrastructure to the tune of R700 million. Significant work had started in various parks and some of these projects have already been completed.
Completed projects were at KNP, Addo Elephant National Park and West Coast National Park.
At KNP, developments included the refurbished Skukuza Rest Camp Rondavels, the Wild Fig Guesthouse as well implementation of a cashless payment system.
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