SANParks urges tourists to use alternative gates to Kruger
Following a spate of recent attacks and ultimately a murder on the Numbi road towards the Kruger National Park, SANParks' acting CEO said visitors must avoid that road.
SANParks has urged tourists to consider utilising other entrance gates into the Kruger National Park, following the attack on a group of four German tourists on October 3, in which one was fatally shot.
This according to SANParks’ acting CEO, Hapiloe Sello, who said the organisation is deeply saddened by the recent spate of attacks on visitors en route to the iconic national park, particularly on the road leading to the Numbi Gate, south of it. She urged tourists with active and future bookings to use other gates to enter.
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On behalf of the staff and board of SANParks, she again sent her heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family and friends of the deceased, and thanked the Government and all South Africans for the outpour of support following this tragic incident.
“We fully appreciate this incident has brought a lot of apprehension to many of our loyal local and international visitors, which could result in cancellations for planned visits to the park and surrounding areas.
“It is thus important for us to remind everyone that the Kruger has a total of 10 gates at which tourists can safely enter. In the south, there are five other entrances than Numbi, namely the Paul Kruger, Phabeni and Orpen gates via the R40 from White River, and the Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge via the N4 toll road towards Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.
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“In the north of the park, visitors can enter through Phalaborwa, Punda Maria or Pafuri, and lastly, Giriyondo Border Post allows access directly from Mozambique.”
Sello said with the tourism industry currently in the midst of a post-Covid-19 recovery plan, such incidents undermine the marketing efforts of tourism stakeholders. She called on the law enforcement agencies to leave nothing to chance to bring the perpetrators to book.
“We also urge members of the communities adjacent to the Kruger to assist with any information that could lead to the arrests of the suspects,” she said.
