KNYSNA NEWS - South African National Parks (Sanparks) have announced that the Knysna Estuary will only be open to activities through concessionaires.
The announcement comes in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that the entire country would be moved into an adjusted Level 3 lockdown as of Tuesday 29 December.
There has been much confusion in the days following Ramaphosa's declaration as to what is and what is not permitted within the confines of the Garden Route National Park.
Yesterday, Sanparks clarified the matter through a statement on social media.
In the Tsitsikamma section, swimming will only be allowed in rock pools and the swimming pool intended for guests of the park. No other swimming is permitted. Snorkeling is permitted, but not at the section's sandy beach areas.
The Groot River Estuary is closed as an entirety, but all other concessionaire activities within the park remain permitted.
In the Knysna Section all water bodies, including the lagoon, are closed to the public but can be used by concessionaires. Swimming and all other recreational activities are prohibited. No recreational fishing from boats is allowed, only fishing along the shoreline is permitted.
In the Knysna Estuary, all water based activities are allowed through a concessionaire. Shoreline fishing and bait collection are also permitted. Nothing else is permitted on the estuary.
In the Sedgefield Island Lake, no boating activities are allowed. Angling is permitted from the beach and/or rocks if one is in possession of a valid permit and within the curfew and wearing a mask, and social distancing.
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