12 September 2003

South African National Parks (SANParks) has extended its Wild Card loyalty system to international tourists who visit the country's national parks regularly, offering easy entry to the country's parks at reduced rates, and exempting cardholders from having to pay daily conservation fees.

SANParks CEO Mavuso Msimang, launching the new international Wild Card for intenational tourists in Durban this week, said SANParks had so far issued 43 000 Wild Cards to South Africans and residents of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

"We received a barrage of complaints from foreign tourists, who accused us of discrimination, so we had to produce a counterpart for them", Msimang said.

In May, SANParks introduced a new daily conservation fee for all its parks - and simultaneously launched its loyalty card system - in a bid to raise funds for conservation and encourage increased visits to the country's parks.

Visitors to South Africa's national parks now pay a daily conservation fee instead of the old once-off entrance fee. The daily conservation fees range from R25 to R120 for international visitors, from R25 to R60 for SADC residents, and from R15 to R30 for South African residents, depending on which park is visited.

South Africans, and SADC nationals - and, now, all international visitors - can get exemption from these conservation fees by buying a Wild loyalty card. The card is valid for a year for South Africans, for six months for SADC residents, and for periods of 10 days at a time for international tourists.

"With the introduction of the international card, individual visitors, couples and families will be entitled to free access to any national park for a 10-day period. Visitors staying longer than 10 days can renew their cards as many times as necessary", Msimang explained.

Unlike the domestic version of the Wild Card, which can be bought at SANParks reservation offices and satellite outlets, the international cards can only be bought at the entrance gates and tourist camps of the country's parks.

"The international card system will reward loyal, long-staying foreign visitors, and enable them to continue visiting our national parks", Msimang said.

The card also entitles holders to benefits such as shopping discounts, reduced accommodation and travel rates, when presented at affiliated outlets.

• New fees, Wild Card for SA parks

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