SANParks and the COVID 19 pandemic

[Richprins]

Lots of pics!



IN PHOTOS: First day Kruger National Park sightings
Visitors were happy to once again explore the wonders of the Kruger when it reopened on Monday.
5 hours ago


Mario Paul, tour guide and photographer at Wild Photo Africa, said it was a great experience and a wonderful day.

They arrived at 05:00 at the Malelane Gate, where there were already 10 cars ahead of them. “Apparently, the first guy was already there by about 23:00 the previous day,” Paul said.

He added that the process went smoothly and without hiccups. “It was a bit slow, but that’s understandable. There is a lot more paperwork that needs to be done and temperatures have to be taken.

“Our primary mission was to go out and do some birding. We encountered about 111 bird species on the day and also some good mammal sightings.”

Paul had a few chats with fellow nature lovers and mentioned that one woman said she hadn’t seen much, but just to be out and about and experience nature again was good enough for her.



Here are some photographs Paul took during the day:



Debbie Nel from CD Tours which she runs with her husband, also said it was an all-round positive experience.

They entered at the Malelane Gate as well, and although it went a bit slow, she commended the staff for how they handled their tasks.

See some of Nel’s photographs below:





https://lowvelder.co.za/625717/in-photo ... sightings/

[Mel]

Until earlier today I wasn't aware that even the people living in the province where a certain park is located are also only allowed day visits.
Or does that only apply to the KTP? Why can't they stay over night yet? Wouldn't that create more revenue? Or do the rules of level 3 prevent staying over night yet? Sorry, I lost a bit track of what is allowed and what is not.

[Peter Betts]

Mel its all Parks ..People arent allowed to stay overnight ..They are only allowed 2 per car and enter and leave the same day ..Going to KTP as a day visitor is a waste of time ...You arenrt allowed to stay over for obvious reasons ..the comings and goings of tourists and staff ..sure way to get the virus onto surfaces ..Think City sized camps like Skukuza...Camping is a no No because of shared ablutions which is why I am trying to cancel my Sept booking ..3 weeks at Shingwedzi but nobody answers at Head Office ...half staff compliment it seems ..There will be now Restaurants open in Parks so bring your own Sandwiches and only a few toilets at SOME picnic spots will be open

[Klipspringer]

This is how exactly the procedures work (from FB SANParks - Kruger National Park)

Kruger Daily Pic
12 Std.
Back Home Again!

Today my wife and I did a day trip to Kruger. For those of you who live in other provinces or abroad and are wondering how it all works, here goes ...

I had pre-booked the 8-10 slot for Malelane Gate, mainly to guarantee getting in. Also downloaded and pre-filled in both the Gate Registration & Indemnity Form plus the Driver & Passenger Details form which has a lot of health questions. I also printed out my Wild Card letter so nobody would touch my actual wildcard. Donned with masks, we left Nelspruit just before 7 am, paid the toll with my credit card and made a mental note to myself to pay cash in future, placed in an envelope. The attendant at the toll kiosk was not wearing a mask. At this point you may wonder if I am a bit paranoid about picking up the virus and the answer is yes. Both my wife and I are in the vulnerable category, plus we have two in our family who have/had Covid-19, the “had one” having passed away on Monday despite living like a hermit since lockdown. My wife and I have also lived like hermits, but you Krugerholics know the lure of Kruger!

We arrived at 8 am with only one car in front of us at the gate before the bridge. At that point our temperature was taken and you, the tourist, have to write down your temperature in the space provided on the Driver & Passenger Details form. The expectation is that you should bring your own pen, which we hadn’t, so we had to use one supplied by Sanparks, but not before our hands and pen were sanitised. We were also asked a few health questions that were already answered on the Driver & Passenger Details form.

Then on to the office. Before entering, one’s hands are sanitised. Then the smell of the thatch and one knows one is home! There are foot markings where one lines up outside the office, but that was not necessary as I was the only customer in the office. I was not asked to supply our ID books because the office attendant said that the Wild Card letter sufficed. I did not understand that. Otherwise the process in the office was as normal.

We brought our own rubbish bag, as was suggested online, handed the gate attendant the permit, which was handed back and sanitised by ourselves! The normal questions about firearms and liquor were asked, boot and cooler bag checked, and then we were in!!! The whole process took about 15 minutes.

At this point, let me say that I first went to Kruger 55 years ago and our family have made an annual trip from Durban for the last 30 years. Then last May, having lived all our lives in Durban, my wife and I decided to “emigrate” to Nelspruit and retire there just to be closer to Kruger Park, the goal being to spend one week every month in the park until we kick the bucket. Things were going to plan until our last trip which ended a couple of days before lockdown.

So, despite us being in Kruger not that long ago, entering today seemed surreal. Almost like we had served our time in jail and were allowed to go back home. I looked at Kruger with new eyes. I also vowed that, at least today, it would not matter if the sightings were poor, that just being there to smell the bush, see the familiar koppies, relive memories of times past would be heaven. And just as well I took that vow because we hardly saw a thing, but that did not matter. Apparently we missed a leopard by 5 seconds, but that seemed normal. Has happened too many times before! Yes, the first animal we saw was the ubiquitous impala, but this time with a new appreciation, never to be taken for granted ever again.

Up the H3 with a toilet stop at Afsaal. One could but basic food items there, but the shop was closed and all the seating was taped off, so no picnics allowed there. Found a zebra in Skukuza camp looking at the Sabie river and took a photo of her, the only photo I took today. Perhaps she was trying to attract a new mate with those pants! Then down the H4-1 pulling in for lunch at a spot where six months ago we were lucky enough to see a leopard ambush an impala coming down to drink at the Sabie river. And I say lucky because it took young and patient eyes from the car next to us half an hour to point out the leopard.

“You see that tree?”

“Yes”

“From that tree, go 50 metres to the right and ...”

Well, you know how it goes!

No leopard this time. At least, not one that ageing eyes could see! Then to the high level bridge, then the H12 which in our family is known as the pizza crust, and to complete the pizza slice back along the H1-2. Then onto the S1 and out Phabeni gate. At the gate our hands were sanitized before the attendant would accept the permit. Then back home.

What was different? Even though the dams and rivers that we saw had lots of water in them, the change from the green of March to the brown of today was remarkable. There were more cars on the roads than I expected, though we did travel on main roads. In certain stretches there was more dung of all types on the road. Every car we saw had an MP registration. And the biggest question that I (and most people) wanted to know, did the animals behave differently. Well, I can’t really answer that because we hardly saw any! And that didn’t matter to us because we were back home!

[Alf]

Just shows how quickly the animals adjusted when realizing the circus has opened up again

[Mel]

Mel its all Parks ..People arent allowed to stay overnight ..They are only allowed 2 per car and enter and leave the same day ..Going to KTP as a day visitor is a waste of time ...You arenrt allowed to stay over for obvious reasons ..the comings and goings of tourists and staff ..sure way to get the virus onto surfaces ..Think City sized camps like Skukuza...Camping is a no No because of shared ablutions which is why I am trying to cancel my Sept booking ..3 weeks at Shingwedzi but nobody answers at Head Office ...half staff compliment it seems ..There will be now Restaurants open in Parks so bring your own Sandwiches and only a few toilets at SOME picnic spots will be open

True, I didn't see it from the town-like camps' point of view but only from small wilderness camps.

But still - maybe cancel all existing reservations and have Skukuza and the likes only booked at half capacity to avoid too many people. Make a plan how to proceed with gate opening from camp and have people stay at least two nights or something like that then leave the accommodation empty for another two nights and so on.

Restaurants are closed but I saw Cattle&Baron in Addo, for example, has a take away menu.

And I'm really curious about that animal situation as hinted at in Klippie's post... I find Nossob cam extremely quiet and wonder where all the animals went and why they don't show their now that nobody is annoying them with human noises and smells from the hide.

[Richprins]

Klippies!

[Lisbeth]

[Klipspringer]

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/c ... gulations/

Controversy over vehicle capacity regulations
Posted by Anita Froneman on 12 June 2020

Safari goers have poured into the Kruger National Park this past week after SANParks opened to the public on Monday [8 June]. Excited visitors shared magnificent pictures of the bush on social media, leaving those stuck in different provinces green with envy.

Since the reopening though, several complaints have emerged about the safety rules and regulations imposed by the Park.

Some visitors are not happy with the vehicle capacity regulations.


Only self-drive safaris are permitted under Level 3.

Only 70% of a vehicle’s capacity may be occupied when entering the Park, resulting in some families having to go in multiple vehicles. Rules pertaining to specific vehicles have been set out as follows:


Credit: Facebook/SANParks- Kruger National park

‘The 70% vehicle capacity is strictly applied – not a bit over is permitted,’ said the Park’s Facebook group administrator, Dalene Preston.

Members of the public took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, arguing that the rules are illogical.

‘Please tell me why a family of 5 are not permitted to enter Croc Bridge KNP? We were told yesterday at the Croc Bridge office that only 3 people allowed in a double cab, in a Fortuner 4. What’s the difference? We just renewed our Wildcard, and are not permitted to enter as a family,’ Facebook user Yolande Ehlers Venter posted in the Facebook group.

Many agreed, saying that families who live together should be allowed to travel in the same vehicle.

‘Please can we get more clarity on why a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12) cannot travel in one car to the park. We have been in lockdown together in the same house for over 2 months. Surely the government and SanParks cant expect us to now come in 2 cars,’ added Natalie Petal Alsworth-Elvey.

General Manager of Communications and Marketing of the Kruger National Park Ike Phaala, told Getaway Magazine that these rules are in line with government regulations.

‘We don’t come up with the rules and we can’t change it. People must adhere for their own safety,’ he added.

Government states that public transport services like taxis are allowed to operate at 70% capacity, while e-hailing services like Uber as well as private vehicles may only occupy 50% capacity.

For reservations, phone +27 12 428 9111. Find the full regulations for entering SANParks here. https://www.sanparks.org/assets/docs//a ... 8-June.pdf

[Klipspringer]

https://lowvelder.co.za/626211/back-to- ... r-75-days/

Back to Kruger after 75 days
Mpumalanga and Limpopo residents flocked to the Kruger National Park (KNP) this week while the rest of the country could only virtually and longingly look on.
3 hours ago

Reynold Thakhuli, acting head of communications for SANParks, said there has been “no fuss or fight” from visitors regarding the regulations.

“There has been no sense of entitlement because they have not been allowed in the park for more than two months. If they are told that something is wrong, they go and fix themselves.”

Thakhuli clarified a few things:

Prior to today, all gates were open except for Numbi and Pafuri, but he confirmed that these two would also be open from today.

He said gate quotas had been reduced to approximately 30 per cent of what the usual quota was before Covid-19.

There are three time slots and booked day visitors must arrive at the gate within that time span. Visitors who do not book online run the risk of being turned away as Thakhuli said online booking is compulsory. They try to minimise contact and also save time by doing this.



Slot one is from 06:00 to 08:00, slot two from 08:00 to 10:00 and slot three from 10:00 onwards. Booking fees of R46 per adult and R23 per child will apply. If visitors are not in possession of a Wild Card, a R100 per person conservation fee will also be added.


There was some uncertainty around Orpen Gate and which province it is considered to be in. Thakhuli confirmed that the gate is regarded as a duel province gate – Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

Upon arrival at your chosen gate, an entry form is required and an exit one as well for when you leave. These can be found on the SANParks website and can be printed and filled out at home – an action that will make the process at the entrance run smoother.

You will be temperature screened at the gate, and asked to confirm that you are not experiencing any clinical symptoms before you are allowed to enter.

You can enter and exit at different gates, as long as they are in the same province.

For the first week, only bathroom facilities at the entry gates, main camps, and large picnic spots (Nkuhlu and Tshokwane) will be open.

Though restaurants will be closed for sit-down dining, limited takeaway menus and snacks at the shops at the larger camps (like Skukuza) are offered.

No braai facilities at picnic areas will be open at this stage. You are not allowed to have a picnic outside of your car.

The park also asks that visitors help them by removing all waste they generate in the park by packing their own rubbish bags.

Filling stations will operate from 09:30 to 17:00 daily.

Vehicle quotas:

Sedan = 3 (people)

Double Cab = 3

Microbus (10) = 7

Minibus (14) = 9

Minibus (16) = 9

Gate quotas:

Crocodile Bridge Gate 360 (people)

Kruger Gate 260

Malelane Gate 260

Orpen Gate 220

Phabeni Gate 250

Phalaborwa Gate 260

Punda Maria Gate 220

Numbi Gate 260

Pafuri Gate 180