update (18 August 2020): South African National Parks (SANParks) opens Kruger National Park (KNP) for interprovincial travel from today!
Following the announcement by the Minister of Tourism that intra-provincial travel will now be open to residents of South Africa, South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Kruger National Park (KNP) will partially open some of its camps for accommodation as from 14 August 2020. Travellers are only permitted to overnight in their province of residence e.g. if they are from Limpopo, their booking must be for Kruger National Park Rest Camps located in Limpopo.
The following rest camps and accommodation facilities in Kruger National Park are in the Limpopo:
Pafuri Border Camp, Punda Maria Rest Camp, Sirheni Bushveld Camp, Shingwedzi Rest Camp, Bateleur Bushveld Camp, Mopani Rest Camp, Shipandani Overnight Hide, Tsendze Rustic Camp, Boulders Bush Lodge, Shimuwini Bushveld Camp, Sable Overnight Hide, Letaba Rest Camp and Olifants Rest Camp.
(Please note that Punda Maria Rest Camp, Shingwedzi Rest Camp and Letaba Rest Camp will reopen few days later on 20 August 2020).
The following rest camps and accommodation facilities in Kruger National Park are in the Mpumalanga:
Balule Rest Camp, Roodewal Bush Lodge, Satara Rest Camp, Tamboti Tented Camp, Talamati Bushveld Camp, Skukuza Rest Camp, Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Malelane Rest Camp, Biyamiti Bushveld Camp, Lower Sabie Rest Camp and Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp.
(Please note that Satara Rest Camp Skukuza Rest Camp will reopen a few days later and Pretoriuskop Rest Camp will reopen on 17 August 2020).
The guidelines to adhere to during the intra-provincial overnight stay in Kruger National Park are as follows:
- Maintain social distancing by at least 2m at all times.
- Limitations on vehicle capacity and number of occupants will be firmly enforced upon entry at gates. The restriction is that occupants may not exceed more than 70% of capacity and we request visitors to adhere so they are not turned back at the gates.
- Guests visiting Kruger National Park must wear masks in the public areas as this is compulsory in South Africa; the driver of the vehicle must also ensure all passengers travelling with them adhere to this.
update (11 August 2020): South African National Parks (SANParks) reminds overnight guests planing to stay in Kruger National Park to book accommodation in their respective provinces otherwise they risk being turned back from the park. North of the Olifants Rest Camp cater only for Limpopo residents and south of the Olifants Rest Camp for Mpumalanga.
update (07 August 2020): South Africa's Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has published the amended Risk-Adjusted Strategy for Tourism Facilities, Services and Products to include the regulations for Guided Tour Operators which includes Overland Safari Vehicle (OSV) Operators. [more]
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that accommodation facilities in the majority of its 19 National Parks, including Kruger National Park, will be open for intra-provincial leisure travellers as from 14 August 2020. In addition, Addo Elephant National Park, Camdeboo National Park, and Karoo National Park will reopen accommodation facilities in 17 August 2020, while Mountain Zebra National Park is set to reopen its cottages, chalets and the camping ground on 20 August 2020.
According to SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni, the reopening of the National Parks for accommodation is done under the strictest health protocols to safeguard both staff and guests. Accommodation in the National Parks will initially not run at full capacity as SANParks will employ a phased-in approach to opening. Travellers can therefore expect limited availability of accommodation in some National Parks in the beginning stages of the reopening, with a gradual increase in availability in the next few weeks.
SANParks has implemented additional visitor management procedures in line with regulations and to further mitigate the risk of the spread of coronavirus. Overnight guests will be required to provide proof of residence (municipal account or similar legally accepted form of verification of primary residence) at the time of booking accommodation and again when checking in. No more than two people will be allowed per accommodation unit except for parents and children.
Tour operators will be allowed to conduct guided tours in Guided Overland Safari Vehicles (OSVs) [Open Safari Vehicle?] once regulations pertaining to their operations are gazetted by the Government of South Africa; all OSV operators need to be registered with SANParks before they are permitted to enter the parks.
The opening of visitor activities and tourist attractions in the National Parks will be in keeping with restrictions and aligned with the opening dates set out. As more information is gazetted SANParks will amend the protocols and inform guests. We'll keep you posted!
