Conservation fees for South African national parks will rise, the South African National Parks (SANParks) said on Wednesday.
SANParks spokesperson Wanda Mkutshulwa said the increase is a result of various factors in the day-to-day management of national parks.
”Among others, the South African CPIX [Consumer Price Index] has generally increased, which resulted in increased costs at a much higher rate,” Mkutshulwa said in a statement.
Conservation fees are the fees visitors pay each day when visiting and using the parks’ resources.
Mkutshulwa said with the decline in the value of the rand over the past years, exchange rates generally favour international visitors.
”Infrastructure maintenance and other national parks’ security elements also had a major contribution to the tariff increases.”
In parks with cross-border agreements, there have been increased collective costs, such as joint marketing and administration, she said.
SANParks head David Mabunda said they are confident that the increase will not have a negative effect on the parks’ visitor profile.
”In fact, it will make visitors realise how valuable and important these national assets are to South Africa and the rest of the world,” he said.
For the large and established Kruger and Kgalagadi national parks, standard conservation-fee rates will increase by 10% from R120 to R132.
Rates for South African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) nationals increase by 10% from R30 to R33 and R60 to R66 respectively.
At Addo Elephant Park, which has developed and expanded considerably over the past few years, fees increase by 25% from R80 to R100 for the standard conservation fee, R40 to R50 for SADC nationals and R20 to R25 for locals.
At medium-sized parks, standard conservation fees for SADC nationals will increase by 16,7% from R60 to R70 and for South Africans by 16,7 percent from R30 to R35.
Parks in the developing category maintain the same rates.
The increase is effective from November 1. — Sapa