There’s still a week to go for the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa and South African National Parks’ fundraising initiative to meet its goal of raising between R3m and R3,5m.
“Our national parks are the cornerstone of protected areas in our country, which is blessed with a natural and cultural wealth almost beyond comparison. Within our national parks we have thousands of kilometres of beaches where the waves from two oceans break, mountains and valleys, wild plains and endless grasslands populated by rich animal and plant life,” said SANParks managing executive: tourism development and marketing, Hapiloe Sello.
She added that national parks were also hotspots of cultural heritage and played a major role in reviving indigenous knowledge and oral history.
Ending on October 31, the ‘You are nature – Support it!’ campaign calls on local travellers to help protect the parks. By making a donation of R300, individuals can contribute towards the maintenance of the more than four million hectares (comprising 70% of the protected areas under state management) overseen by SANParks. With each donation, individuals stand in line to win one of three prizes:
First prize is an opportunity for two to accompany the SANParks game capture team for a day as they conduct capture operations.
Second prize is an opportunity for a group of four to experience a wilderness trail in the KNP.
Third prize is awarded to three winners who each receive two nights accommodation for two