As South Africa shifts down to Level 3, more freedom of movement is allowed – more businesses have opened up, schools in the Western Cape have resumed in-person classes and the exercise period has been extended to last for 12 hours per day instead of three.

Under Level 3, nature lovers are also allowed to visit nature parks for activities such as hiking and exercise. South African National Parks (SANParks) is reminding its visitors that while the majority of the Table Mountain National Park is open, there are still some areas that will remain closed.

The areas that will remain closed off from the public for the time being include:
– Boulders Beach;
– Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope);
– Silvermine Gate 1 and 2
– Upper Tokai
– all picnic sites until further notice

No reason has been provided as to why these specific areas will remain closed for the time being.

When SANParks broke the news that certain areas will be off-limits, there were a number of mixed reactions in the comments section of its Facebook page.

“So no entry to the MTB trails we pay towards maintaining on Tokai mountain, then?” one user commented.

“Thank you, we are so happy to be back on the mountain, walking and running,” another user said.

SANParks is excited to welcome vistors back, and requests that social distancing protocols be maintained by all.

“We know it must have been challenging but it is a pleasure to have you back,” SANParks said via a statement.

“Please ensure that you wear your face masks and maintain a social distance of at least 1.5m when undertaking recreational activities,” SANParks said. “As per alert level 3 lockdown regulations, you are permitted to exercise between 6am and 6pm, and Table Mountain management humbly request adhere to this very important lockdown regulation. No overnight hiking will be permitted in the park.”

Alsor read: Self-drive game reserve visits permitted in Level 3

Picture: Pixabay

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.