THABAZIMBI – South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the official opening of the 2010 South African National Parks Week will take place on Monday, 13 September 2010 at Regorogile Sports ground.
The week-long campaign giving free access to the Marakele National Park will take place from 13-17 September 2010 and will be applicable to all the national parks managed by SANParks, with the exception of Boulders in Table Mountain National Park.
The objective of SA National Parks Week is to cultivate a sense of understanding and pride in South Africans, of their natural, cultural and historical heritage which is the basis for the established theme “Know Your National Parks”. SA National Parks Week is in its fifth year and has proved to be a successful campaign in terms of environmental education and awareness of conservation issues.
The feature element of this campaign is the free access granted to all South African day visitors carrying their official Identity Documents. It must be noted that the free access to the parks will not include any commercial activities in the park such as guided safaris in vehicles or guided walks, as well as accommodation.
“Environmental education and protection is the responsibility of everyone, not just a privileged few. If we are to create a sense of ownership of the natural heritage of South Africa in all South Africans, then all South Africans must be able to have access to such,” said Dr Mabunda, Chief Executive of SANParks
“We especially want our young people to take advantage of this opportunity because this heritage will be under their protection in the near future,” added Dr Mabunda.
The program for the official opening of the Marakele National Parks week on Monday 13 September will start at 17:OO for 17:30 at Regorogile sports for all (sports centre) with the slogan: “Taking the Park to the people campaign”. At the opening there will be a live performance by the Spiral Jazz Banda as well as a live broadcast by Radio Mafisa.
