South African National Parks (SANParks) has introduced a new 40-seater bus at Garden Route National Park, marking a significant step towards improving access for surrounding communities.
South African National Parks/Facebook
The initiative forms part of SANParks’ ongoing efforts to make South Africa’s national parks more accessible, particularly for residents living near protected areas. The new vehicle will serve communities located within a 50-kilometre radius of the park’s Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma sections.
By addressing transport challenges, SANParks aims to create more opportunities for people to participate in environmental education programmes, conservation awareness initiatives and community outreach activities. The bus will also enable more residents to experience the park’s rich natural and cultural heritage firsthand.
Stretching along South Africa’s renowned southern coastline, Garden Route National Park is one of the country’s most diverse protected areas. It encompasses indigenous forests, fynbos landscapes, lakes, rivers and coastal ecosystems across its Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma sections.
According to SANParks, the investment reflects a broader commitment to inclusion, accessibility and socio-economic transformation. By making it easier for neighbouring communities to engage with protected areas, the organisation hopes to foster a stronger sense of environmental stewardship and shared ownership of South Africa’s natural heritage.
The new bus will support a variety of programmes throughout the year, helping schools, community groups and local residents access educational and recreational opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.
The initiative follows similar community-focused transport projects introduced at other national parks, reinforcing SANParks’ wider strategy of strengthening the connection between conservation areas and the people who live alongside them.
As the Garden Route continues to recover from recent severe weather events that affected parts of the park’s infrastructure, the new addition represents another investment in building stronger links between conservation, education and local communities.
(Source: SANParks)
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