SANParks transfers Filming and Photography Permit Function from Pretoria to Cape Town
10. Dec, 2009
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In August this year, SANParks internalised the Commercial Filming and Photography permit process which was previously contracted to a service provider. The intentions for doing this were numerous; one of the main reasons being SANParks’ compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and another being that SANParks has a need to be in control of commercial activities taking place in the protected areas it manages.
In the four-and-a-half months that the permit process has been conducted from SANParks’ Head Office in Pretoria, we have been able to accommodate and assess this particular activity in the parks. Given that the core business of SANParks is Conservation and Tourism, we have also been able to institute the necessary regulations in terms of commercial filming and photography, which were previously not in place, as advised by the Park Managers, Area Managers and Section Rangers.
SANParks has identified that the Cape Region is the busiest sector in terms of commercial filming and photography with the areas within Table Mountain National Park being the most popular for the industry. With this in mind, SANParks has transferred the function of issuing of filming and photography permits to its Cape Town office.
From 11 December 2009, any requests for commercial [documentary included] filming and photography in South African National Parks should be sent through to Vanessa Fletcher at vanessaf@sanparks.org, telephone number 021 701 8692 and fax number 021 701 8773.
The procedure for application and the relevant documents can be found on the SANParks website at http://www.sanparks.org/groups/filming
It must be noted that certain areas of SANParks will be closed to filming and photography during the holiday season that is upon us. These are as follows:
West Coast National Park is closed between 12/12/2009 and 10/01/2010
Areas in Table Mountain National Park that will close are listed as follows:
- Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope Section 15/12/2009 to 15/01/2010
- Boulders Beach [including boardwalks] 11/12/2009 to 12/01/2010
- Silvermine 16/12/2009 to 11/01/2010
All tourist access and activity will still continue during the dates mentioned above as the closure only applies to commercial filming and photography. All other locations of Table Mountain National Park will still be available for filming and photography. SANParks Head Office will close from 15 December 2009 to 4 January 2010.
SANParks would like to extend its gratitude to the filming and photography industry for its understanding of the mandate of South African National Parks and for its patience during this process of internalising of this function as well as during the handover. It is hoped that the good working relationship established directly between SANParks and companies in the industry will continue and grow in the future.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
This is just alright to be able to preserve these parks and other wild life forr future generations..We have to preserve Mother Earth because it is where we live in and it is also for us. It will give photographers as well as film makers more subjects to use in their field of art.