Rangers promote good conduct, safety on trails

SANParks rangers have been advising members of the public on how to conduct themselves and stay safe in Lower Tokai, Cecilia Forest and Constantia Nek.

From kiosks at entrances to the trails, rangers provide information to visitors on park rules - including those about walking with dogs, horse-riding and cycling - and how to protect themselves from crime.

The campaign is part of a nationwide effort by SANParks and will be expanded to include other parts of the Table Mountain National Park, says park spokeswoman Babalwa Dlangamandla.

The park’s trails drew a variety of users, and the campaign would help everyone to enjoy the park without conflict, she said.

Nicky Schmidt, the founder of environmental non-profit organisation Parkscape, welcomed the initiative and said such awareness campaigns should be ongoing as the park drew new visitors all the time.

Parkscape, the Tokai District Riding Association and Friends of the Dog Walkers had started running joint awareness campaigns in 2020 to, among other things, encourage visitors to pick up after their dogs, carry leashes, ensure they had the correct activity permits and be aware of possible conflict between dogs and horses, she said.

Most park visitors complied with the codes of conduct, but a minority still felt that regulations and etiquette did not apply to them, she said.

“It's for this reason that we've been asking SANParks since 2018 to assist in supporting us. We cannot enforce the Park's regulations; we can only raise awareness and attempt to educate.”