Free entrance at National Parks, but only outside Gauteng

This is one of those rare occasions when it feels good to not reside in Gauteng, and no I’m not talking about e-tolls. Residents in other parts of the country will this week, have free access to nearly all the national parks in their area.

South African National Parks (SANParks) began its annual week-long celebration of spring on Monday and will continue until Saturday, where it allows people free access to nearly all of the 19 parks across the country.

The annual SANParks Week, as it’s formally known, celebrates its ninth anniversary this year.

In the Cape Region, Agulhas National Park, Table Mountain National Park (excluding Boulders Penguin Colony and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway) and West Coast National Park will usher in visitors without a cost.

To add to that, a special extension at the Bontebok and Tankwa Karoo national parks are doing so until Sunday, 14 September.

Folk in Mpumalanga have free entry to the Kruger National Park, which offers visitors a unique wildlife experience, while people around the Eastern Cape have week-long access to the Mountain Zebra Park.

Gauteng residents may sulk at SANParks’ glorious week of free entry at these beautiful places around the country. “I could have taken leave had I known,” they’d say.

Visitors at these parks are only required to show their valid SA ID book or smart ID for free access to the parks - although persons under the age of 16 will be granted free entry without showing proof of identity.

The Marakele National Park in Limpopo and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Bloemfontein are possibly the closest destinations people in Gauteng can travel to, to enjoy this week of free access to nature. Or else they could carry on with their lives and enjoy whatever freedom the concrete jungle offers.