South African National Parks Explained

Agency Name:	South African National Parks
Formed:	1926
Jurisdiction:	Government of South Africa
Headquarters:	643 Leyds Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Coordinates:	-25.7664°N 28.2022°W
Employees:	4,027 (permanent) 1,405 (temporary)^[1]
Budget:	R2.046 billion^[2]
Minister1 Name:	Barbara Creecy
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Chief1 Name:	Joanne Yawitch
Chief1 Position:	Chairperson of the Board
Chief2 Name:	Dr. Luthando Dziba
Chief2 Position:	CEO
Parent Agency:	Department of Environmental Affairs
Keydocument1:	National Parks Act, 1976
Keydocument2:	National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003
Website:	www.sanparks.org

South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of 3751113ha,^[3] over 3% of the total area of South Africa.^[4]

Many parks offer a variety of accommodations. The best known park is Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 2000000ha. Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions.^[5]

Though not designated as National Parks, other protected areas exist, such as game and nature reserves.

List of parks administered by SANParks

The following are designated as National Parks of South Africa:^[6]

Name	Photo	Location	Date established	Area
Addo Elephant National Park		Eastern Cape -33.26°N 25.44°W		1642km2
Agulhas National Park		Western Cape -34.5°N 20°W		56.9km2
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Richtersveld National Park (South Africa) Ai-Ais Hot Springs (Namibia)		Northern Cape -28.0539°N 17.0347°W		5920km2^[7] 1624km2 4611km2^[8]
Augrabies Falls National Park		Northern Cape -28.5911°N 20.3383°W		417km2
Bontebok National Park		Western Cape -34.0667°N 20.45°W		27.9km2
Camdeboo National Park		Eastern Cape -32.25°N 24.5°W	1979 (Karoo Nature Reserve)	194km2
Garden Route National Park		Western Cape -34°N 23.25°W	1985 (Knysna National Lake Area) 1964 (Tsitsikamma National Park) 1985 (Wilderness National Park)	1210km2 (150km2) (639km2) (106km2)
Golden Gate Highlands National Park		Free State -28.5061°N 28.6167°W		116km2
Karoo National Park		Western Cape -32.35°N 22.5833°W		831km2
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) Gemsbok National Park (Botswana)		Northern Cape -26.4772°N 20.6127°W	(unknown)	33551km2^[9] 9591km2 28000km2(est.)
Kruger National Park		Limpopo and Mpumalanga -24.0114°N 31.4853°W	^[10] ^[11]	19623km2
Mapungubwe National Park		Limpopo -22.2°N 29.4°W		53.6km2
Marakele National Park		Limpopo -24.4°N 27.6°W	^[12]	507km2
Meerkat National Park (Visitors are not allowed)		Northern Cape -30.6914°N 21.39°W		1352.45km2
Mokala National Park		Northern Cape -29.1667°N 24.35°W		196km2
Mountain Zebra National Park		Eastern Cape -32.1833°N 25.6167°W		284km2
Namaqua National Park		Northern Cape -30.0433°N 17.5861°W		1350km2
Table Mountain National Park		Western Cape -33.9667°N 18.425°W		243km2
Tankwa Karoo National Park		Northern Cape -32.25°N 19.75°W		1216km2
West Coast National Park		Western Cape -33.1208°N 18.0667°W		363km2

Location of national parks

See also

• • Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape Parks – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the Eastern Cape
• Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs – The government department responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Gauteng.
• Mpumalanga Parks Board – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Mpumalanga
• North West Parks and Tourism Board – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the North West
• Cape Nature – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the Western Cape

External links

• South African National Parks
• Interview with Head, Business Development, South African National Parks

Notes and References

1. Book: South African National Parks Annual Report 2015/16 . South African National Parks . 978-0-621-44439-1 . 125 . 23 August 2017.
2. Book: South African National Parks Annual Report 2015/16 . South African National Parks . 978-0-621-44439-1 . 140 . 23 August 2017.
3. Web site: South Africa National Parks . Brief History . SANParks . 19 June 2019.
4. Book: South African National Parks Annual Report 2015/16 . South African National Parks . 978-0-621-44439-1 . 6 . 26 August 2017.
5. Web site: National Parks Tourism Income Breaks the Half-a-billion Rand Barrier . 18 June 2024 . Siyabona Africa .
6. Web site: About Us: Nature's Best! . South African National Parks. 22 August 2017.
7. Web site: /Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park . Peace Parks Foundation . 21 April 2017 . 22 August 2017.
8. Web site: /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Game Park . Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia . 25 August 2017.
9. Web site: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park . Peace Parks Foundation . 10 July 2017 . 25 August 2017.
10. House of Assembly Debates, cols 4366-81, 31 May 1926.
11. Book: Stevenson-Hamilton . James . South African Eden: The Kruger National Park 1902–1946 . Struik Publishers . 1993 . 978-1-86825-343-2.
12. Web site: Marakele NP .