SanParks is warning visitors to comply with road closures in the Kruger National Park (KNP) after incidents of tourists removing “no entry” signs, driving on closed roads and becoming stranded, requiring emergency searches by rangers and other essential teams.
While SanParks says people’s lives remain the priority in emergencies, visitors who deliberately open closed roads and subsequently require assistance may be fined under the relevant regulations and held accountable for costs incurred during search-and-rescue operations.
The practice is also a contravention of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No. 57 of 2003 and can encourage other visitors to drive through illegally reopened roads, putting tourists and SanParks staff at risk.
Closed roads add pressure to park resources
SanParks says the incidents are placing additional pressure on park resources and increasing costs associated with search-and-rescue operations.
Apart from the operational impact of fuel, road repairs, deployment of rangers and air services resources away from the conservation mandate, tourists driving on closed roads continue to worsen already damaged road infrastructure, increase maintenance costs and delay the reopening of roads after wet weather.
In a typical missing tourist incident where the location of the tourists is unknown, a minimum of four ranger vehicles and eight rangers are deployed to search until the tourists are located. SanParks says this significantly increases operational costs and places additional pressure on already limited resources.
Stranded tourists can trigger missing-person searches
The incidents can also cause concern among staff at camps expecting guests to arrive, as well as their family members. Guests may subsequently be reported missing if they fail to arrive at their booked camp or contact others.
Limited network coverage in the park can make it difficult for guests or staff to contact anyone for assistance if visitors become stranded on some roads.
Once a tourist is reported missing, the Mission Area Joint Operation Centre (MAJOC) begins a search by checking information from the camera detection system and informing ranger sections. Based on the findings, SanParks may also deploy an aircraft to help locate the missing guests.
SanParks is therefore urging visitors to respect road closures and “no entry” signs to avoid putting themselves, park staff and other visitors at risk, while also reducing the operational and conservation resources required to respond to preventable incidents.
