SanParks: Access for KNP day visitors during 2021 festive season

Source: Entropy1963 via Wikimedia Commons

Day visitors are reminded that daily quotas will once again apply at the entrance gates and there are three time slots for pre-bookings to be made prior arrival; which they can choose from as follows:

• Time slot 1: 5.30am to 7.30am
• Time slot 2: 7.30am to 9:30am
• Time slot 3: 9.30am onwards

"For busy periods such as the festive season, we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect, as well as our visitors’ expectations. The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and to prevent unnecessary waiting periods at gates. The Day Visitor Quota for the Park is a management tool to prevent overcrowding the roads and facilities; it is applied throughout the year although we mostly reach carrying capacity during long weekends and school holidays resulting in us having to turn visitors away," says Ike Phaahla, KNP’s GM: communications and marketing.

Pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate but must ensure that they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore will not receive preference and could be turned away. These bookings can be changed as well through SanParks reservations offices if need be.

"It is also important to continue to obey the current Covid-19 protocols of wearing of masks in public, social distancing adherence and sanitising our hands as screening will continue to be done at entrance gates. The park has made plans for increased visibility of both traffic officials and visitor management personnel to monitor speeding, after-hours travelling and general behaviour on the roads.

Alcohol consumption by day visitors is strictly prohibited at all leisure sites such as swimming pools and picnic spots. Proper searches will be conducted by security at all main gates to ensure that no contents of any toxic substance are taken into the park. Management is urging visitors to cooperate with officials who will be on duty and to report unbecoming behaviour to the gate officials or call the emergency call centre number on the entry permits”, advised Phaahla.

Visitors are also urged to help keep the park clean by disposing of their litter at designated areas, not alighting from vehicles on undesignated areas, not speed, and adhere to all rules and regulations as stipulated on the gate permit. Visitors are also urged to be courteous and cooperative at sightings to avoid inconveniencing other road users. Guests are advised to plan their trips carefully, allowing sufficient time to enjoy the bush and to get to their destination.
Gate operating hours will be from 5.30am to 6.30pm around December and January.

Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

• Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of day visitor quota per gate via SanParks Reservations offices on 012 428 9111 and online at www.sanparks.org.

• Day visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R48 per adult and R24 per child.

• Day Visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay conservation fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the Park. The Conservation Fee for SA residents as well as Zimbabwe and Mocambique nationals (passport required to prove this) is R110 per adult and R55 per child (between ages 2–11). For nationals of Eswatini and other SADC countries the conservation fees are R220 per adult and R110 per child. For all other guests the standard conservation fees of R440 for adults and R220 for children applies.

• Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild.

• Guests using Wild Card need to also produce their ID and valid Wild Card Membership Confirmation Letter.

• The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.

• All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission (by producing a South African driver’s license, identity document or passport); please ensure you are in possession of one of these documents and have them ready.

• Gate quotas will be strictly applied and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry if quotas are full.