Visitors heading to the popular Boulders Penguin Colony in Simons Town are being urged to stay alert, after park authorities flagged concerns about people posing as payment collectors near the entrance.
The reminder comes as visitor numbers increase during the festive season and opportunists attempt to take advantage of those unfamiliar with the official entry process.
In a message issued by Table Mountain National Park via Facebook, visitors were reminded that entry fees must be purchased at the official payment stations only.
Officials stressed that individuals approaching tourists with mobile devices and asking for money outside the gate are not affiliated with the park.
The park notes that these encounters are most likely to occur in parking areas or along open-access boardwalks, spaces that are not controlled entry zones.
As park representatives explained in their communication, any person ‘asking for payment before you reach our entrance gate’ should be considered unauthorised.
Authorities said the advisory is intended to safeguard both local and international visitors from questionable transactions.
They also highlighted that avoiding these interactions helps ensure that conservation fees are correctly collected and directed to the management of the protected area.
Visitors are therefore encouraged to proceed directly to the main entrance kiosk and to avoid sharing personal or banking information with anyone who approaches them outside the demarcated payment points.
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Picture: SANParks – Table Mountain National Park/Facebook
