The Garden Route National Park (GRNP) is ready to welcome visitors to its picturesque three (3) sections (Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma).
All three sections have indigenous forest, fynbos areas as well as water bodies. The GRNP co-manages 2 beach areas with Municipalities and other authorities (Wilderness and Natures Valley).
‘Measures are in place to ensure visitors enjoy their stay in the Park these holidays’ according to Paddy Gordon, Park Manager for the Garden Route National Park.
In Tsitsikamma
A number of interventions were designed to speed up access at the main gate. Work is underway to create a third lane to allow traffic to move a lot faster at the entrance gate of the Storms River Rest Camp in Tsitsikamma. Area Manager for the Tsitsikamma section, Bulelwa Msengi confirmed extra staff will be assisting at the gate as of the week of the 12th December 2017 especially with the filling of indemnity forms. ‘Visitors can also obtain indemnity forms from the website but must be careful to download the one for the Garden Route National Park.’
Rangers are expected to patrol the camp and in addition, conduct spot checks on permits. Visitors must check they have stickers after registration at the gate. Day visitors will be provided with red stickers and overnighters with yellow ones.
The official Park hours for summer are 07:00am – 19:00. Visitors planning to visit the Cattle Baron restaurant inside the Storms River Rest camp must ensure they make the necessary reservations with the restaurant as no visitors will be allowed to enter the Park after 7pm without such an arrangement.
The construction of the main gate project is expected to be completed in 2018. SANParks appointed a new contractor to complete the construction work at the gate after the original hired company could not complete the task due to unforseen circumstances.
The project began in 2016 as part of a +R19 million project to upgrade infrastructure in the Storms River Rest Camp and also includes the visitor node development around the Big Tree.
Numbers to contact for the Tsitsikamma reception– 042 281 1607
Forest- 044 531-6792
Fun adventurous, nature-based activities in Tsitsikamma include: water activities and forest excursions.
Numbers to contact for the Tsitsikamma reception– 042 281 1607
Forest- 044 531-6792
Fun adventurous, nature-based activities in Tsitsikamma include: water activities and forest excursions.
Earlier this month about Harkerville (Knysna)
The largest part of the Garden Route National Park affected by the recent Knysna fires (June) is in the Harkerville section, making up a portion of the Knysna forests and fynbos areas. Harkerville is an activity hub for nature and is known for its blue duiker population. Zoned off areas for tourism include hiking and world-famous cycling routes. All cycling routes are open and hiking routes except the 2-day Harkerville Coastal hiking route.
Status of activities in Harkerville: https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=57338
