South African National Parks
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South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 21 national parks and 10 marine protected areas, totalling over 44,595 km2 (17,218 sq mi).
Many parks offer a variety of accommodations. The best-known park is Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi). Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions.
Though not designated as National Parks, other protected areas exist, such as game and nature reserves.
List of parks administered by SANParks
The following are designated as National Parks of South Africa:
| Name | Photo | Location | Date established | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addo Elephant National Park | Eastern Cape 33°16′S 25°26′E/33.26°S 25.44°E/ -33.26; 25.44 | 1931 | 1,642 km2 (634 sq mi) | |
| Agulhas National Park | Western Cape 34°30′S 20°00′E/34.50°S 20.00°E/ -34.50; 20.00 | 14 Sep 1998 | 56.9 km2 (22.0 sq mi) | |
| Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Richtersveld National Park (South Africa) Ai-Ais Hot Springs (Namibia) | Northern Cape 28°03′14″S 17°02′05″E/28.053889°S 17.034722°E/ -28.053889; 17.034722 | 2003 1991 1968 | 5,920 km2 (2,290 sq mi) 1,624 km2 (627 sq mi) 4,611 km2 (1,780 sq mi) | |
| Augrabies Falls National Park | Northern Cape 28°35′28″S 20°20′18″E/28.591111°S 20.338333°E/ -28.591111; 20.338333 | 1966 | 417 km2 (161 sq mi) | |
| Bontebok National Park | Western Cape 34°04′00″S 20°27′00″E/34.066667°S 20.45°E/ -34.066667; 20.45 | 1931 | 27.9 km2 (10.8 sq mi) | |
| Camdeboo National Park | Eastern Cape 32°15′S 24°30′E/32.25°S 24.5°E/ -32.25; 24.5 | 30 Oct 2005 1979 (Karoo Nature Reserve) | 194 km2 (75 sq mi) | |
| Garden Route National Park | Western Cape 34°00′S 23°15′E/34°S 23.25°E/ -34; 23.25 | 6 Mar 2009 1985 (Knysna National Lake Area) 1964 (Tsitsikamma National Park) 1985 (Wilderness National Park) | 1,210 km2 (470 sq mi) (150 km2 (58 sq mi)) (639 km2 (247 sq mi)) (106 km2 (41 sq mi)) | |
| Golden Gate Highlands National Park | Free State 28°30′22″S 28°37′00″E/28.506111°S 28.616667°E/ -28.506111; 28.616667 | 1963 | 116 km2 (45 sq mi) | |
| Grassland National Park | Eastern Cape 30°45′49″S 28°06′16″E/30.7637°S 28.1044°E/ -30.7637; 28.1044 | 17 Oct 2025 | 102.25 km2 (39.48 sq mi) 300 km2 (120 sq mi) - planned | |
| Karoo National Park | Western Cape 32°21′00″S 22°35′00″E/32.35°S 22.583333°E/ -32.35; 22.583333 | 1979 | 831 km2 (321 sq mi) | |
| Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) | Northern Cape 26°28′38″S 20°36′46″E/26.47716141014315°S 20.61268169075392°E/ -26.47716141014315; 20.61268169075392 | 12 May 2000 31 Jul 1931 (unknown) | 33,551 km2 (12,954 sq mi) 9,591 km2 (3,703 sq mi) 28,000 km2 (11,000 sq mi)(est.) | |
| Kruger National Park | Limpopo and Mpumalanga 24°00′41″S 31°29′07″E/24.011389°S 31.485278°E/ -24.011389; 31.485278 | 31 May 1926 | 19,623 km2 (7,576 sq mi) | |
| Mapungubwe National Park | Limpopo 22°12′S 29°24′E/22.2°S 29.4°E/ -22.2; 29.4 | 1995 | 53.6 km2 (20.7 sq mi) | |
| Marakele National Park | Limpopo 24°24′S 27°36′E/24.4°S 27.6°E/ -24.4; 27.6 | 11 February 1994(1994-02-11) | 507 km2 (196 sq mi) | |
| Meerkat National Park | Northern Cape 30°41′29″S 21°23′24″E/30.691444°S 21.39°E/ -30.691444; 21.39 | 27 March 2020(2020-03-27) | 1,352.45 km2 (522.18 sq mi) | |
| Mokala National Park | Northern Cape 29°10′00″S 24°21′00″E/29.166667°S 24.35°E/ -29.166667; 24.35 | 19 June 2007 | 196 km2 (76 sq mi) | |
| Mountain Zebra National Park | Eastern Cape 32°11′00″S 25°37′00″E/32.183333°S 25.616667°E/ -32.183333; 25.616667 | 1937 | 284 km2 (110 sq mi) | |
| Namaqua National Park | Northern Cape 30°02′36″S 17°35′10″E/30.043333°S 17.586111°E/ -30.043333; 17.586111 | 1999 | 1,350 km2 (520 sq mi) | |
| Table Mountain National Park | Western Cape 33°58′00″S 18°25′30″E/33.966667°S 18.425°E/ -33.966667; 18.425 | 19 May 1998 | 243 km2 (94 sq mi) | |
| Tankwa Karoo National Park | Northern Cape 32°15′S 19°45′E/32.25°S 19.75°E/ -32.25; 19.75 | 19 May 1986 | 1,216 km2 (470 sq mi) | |
| West Coast National Park | Western Cape 33°07′15″S 18°04′00″E/33.120833°S 18.066667°E/ -33.120833; 18.066667 | 1985 | 363 km2 (140 sq mi) |
Location of national parks
See also
- Protected areas of South Africa
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in KwaZulu-Natal
- Eastern Cape Parks – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the Eastern Cape
- Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs – The government department responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Gauteng.
- Mpumalanga Parks Board – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Mpumalanga
- North West Parks and Tourism Board – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the North West
- Cape Nature – The body responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in the Western Cape