Spring has sprung (at last) in the Cape, and across South Africa – which celebrates Heritage Month in September – you can visit dozens of South African National Parks and CapeNature reserves for free this month!
SA National Parks Week is held from September 9-13, 2024, and during this week you can enjoy free day access to most of the 21 national parks under the management of South African National Parks.
Close to Cape Town that includes the ever-popular West Coast National Park – just 90 minutes drive from the city – where you can enjoy the blooming of spring flowers, or train your binoculars on one of Africa’s birding hotspots in the Langebaan lagoon. Prefer your wildlife a little bigger? There’s wonderful whale-watching on the Atlantic beaches here too.
The Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park is included too, so take the opportunity to visit the historic lighthouse, or take a picnic to Buffelsbaai…just watch out for the resident baboons. Entry to Boulders Beach, however, is not included… to visit the penguins you’ll still need to pay up.
Perhaps more exciting than National Parks Week is the 10th annual CapeNature Access Week, which likewise offers free day entry to all 24 CapeNature reserves! Access Week runs from September 21 – 27: that includes both the September 24 public holiday and the school holidays!
Participating nature reserves range from the West Coast to the Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route and Klein Karoo, and include:
West Coast: Bird Island, Cederberg, Rocherpan.
Winelands: Limietberg (excluding Tweede Tol Picnic Area), Hottentots Holland, Jonkershoek, Vrolijkheid.
Overberg: Kogelberg, De Mond, De Hoop, Marloth, Grootvadersbosch, Walker Bay, Geelkrans, Stony Point.
Garden Route: Robberg, Keurbooms River, Goukamma, Outeniqua.
Karoo: Swartberg, Gamkaberg, Anysberg.
Remember that free access for National Parks Week and CapeNature Access Week applies to the daily entry/conservation fee only, and does not include accommodation or activities.
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