GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route National Park has finalised its state of readiness for the 2025 festive season across the three sections - Wilderness, Tsitsikamma, and Knysna, ensuring strengthened visitor services, safety measures, and operational efficiency ahead of the busy holiday period.
The Wilderness section enters the festive season operating at approximately 60% occupancy, with numbers expected to rise over the coming weeks.
To enhance the visitor experience, several infrastructure upgrades have been completed, including the replacement of the Family Cottage deck and renovations to the North ablution block E.
To support increased visitor volumes, the park has appointed eight tourism monitors and 14 temporary workers, while members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers will assist with camp duties across all nodes.
In partnership with the Garden Route Tourism Office, the park will participate in festive holiday activation events on 17 December and 5 January to promote visitor engagement and highlight tourism offerings in Wilderness.
A pop-up shop vendor has also been appointed for the Rest Camp, Lagoon, and Island Lake from 10 December through January.
The Tsitsikamma section has strengthened its teams with 15 seasonal staff members to support general work, housekeeping, gate administration, gate operations, and overall site maintenance during the peak season.
In addition, the Tsitsikamma technical services team is undertaking upgrade works to expand and improve parking facilities along the coastal route.
The project includes the construction of additional parking bays, installation of high-quality paving, and optimisation of each space to ensure safe and efficient parking. Once completed, the improved layout will feature clearly marked, neatly aligned bays to reduce congestion and enhance the overall visitor experience.
The Knysna section is fully operational and ready to welcome increased visitor numbers. In Diepwalle, new braai stands are being installed for the camping decks, further improving facilities ahead of the festive period.
Across the park, enhanced staffing, infrastructure improvements, and strengthened safety protocols position the park to deliver a safe, enjoyable, and memorable festive season.
The park continues to work closely with regional tourism partners to support visitor engagement and promote the area’s diverse natural and recreational offerings.
Visitor safety remains a priority, with all activities and attractions open, increased staffing levels in place, and established festive protocols activated. Visitors are reminded to produce a valid Identity Document (ID) upon arrival and to use water sparingly.
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