Over 4,900 people visited the Garden Route National Park during this year’s SA National Parks Week, this is in excess of 1,500 more people than the previous year (2015).
The SA National Parks Week campaign in the Garden Route progressed for 7 days to allow neighbouring communities to have free access into the Garden Route National Park.
The week long campaign which is financed by FNB and Total SA kicked off with a launch of a cycling route suitable for the whole family (a- 7,5 km long route) in the middle of the forest in Goudveld, a few kilometers from the town on Knysna. Stakeholders and guests were treated to a high tea in the forest (Goudveld) as part of an information session emphasizing the significance of protecting ecosystems.
If nature was not protected in the Garden Route, tourism would not be as progressive.
Communities in Tsitsikamma on Saturday (17th September 2016) , came out to enjoy the last free access day of the week through planned soccer and rugby tournaments at the SANParks sportsfield, Storms River Village. So says Bulelwa Msengi, Area Manager of the Tsitsikamma ‘we are excited about the +600 people who came out to celebrate and learn more about nature despite rainy weather.
This is an indication more free access days must be planned outside campaign week to foster the relationship with the community.
This will be over and above existing outreach campaigns implemented by our People & Conservation Office.
We are more excited about young kids who could be tomorrow’s champions for the protection of the environment.’
See video of WOF drill and kids on the Sportsfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkuWt52Vj0E&feature=youtu.be
March to the Sportsfield, Storms River Village, Tsitsikamma: https://youtu.be/1bkdI92Xuk0
For more information on the GRNP: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/
