SA National Parks Week draws more than 4000 visitors to the GRNP

A total of 4, 383 South Africans visited the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) during SA National Parks Week 2015, a campaign sponsored by FNB and Total SA.  1619 visited Knysna (approximately 350 were brought in by the Featherbed Company via a cruise in the Knysna estuary which is also in the GRNP), 1567 Wilderness and 1197 Tsitsikamma.

Ebb & Flow Concert
Ebb & Flow Concert

Acting General Manager for the Garden Route National Park, Johan de Klerk says this is an increase from last year by at least 346 visitors. ‘It is encouraging to see so many local visitors responded to our call’ says de Klerk. The SA Week campaign in the Garden kicked off on the 14th of September 2015 via an information session organized for locals in Harkerville, Knysna.

Potjiekos at Rondevlei
Potjiekos at Rondevlei

In Tsitsikamma, Segway tours were provided to local community members who would otherwise not be able to afford them. Learners from Coldstream, Woodlands and Stormsriver Primary were taken on a guided Cultural Heritage walk down the old Stormsriver Pass.

A visit to the Knysna Seahorse Complex
A visit to the Knysna Seahorse Complex

In  Wilderness, an orchestra in the Park and a potjiekos competition drew the attention of most visitors.

The Knysna Seahorse Complex
The Knysna Seahorse Complex

In all 3 Parks, daily hikes and educational talks were scheduled.

Domestic tourists contributed a total of R24,3 billion to the South African economy in 2013. In addition, direct tourism contribution to GDP was R93 billion or 3%  (2012, Statistics SA, 2012).

The GRNP is encouraged by recent figures and also global ecotourism trends that are on an upward trajectory. To keep the momentum, the GRNP is planning an open day for cyclists (November 2015, Knysna), a self-drive route in the forest areas (Knysna), a fun day (Tsitsikamma), carol by candlelight in the forest (Wilderness).

For more on the Garden Route National Park, visit: SANParks or follow us on social media

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