The SANParks Socio-Economic Transformation Unit, through its Environmental Education and Awareness Programme, proudly participated in the 44th Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) Conference, held in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 21 to 25 September 2026. Hosted under the theme “Reimagining Education for Climate Resilience, Justice and Sustainable Futures,” the conference brought together environmental educators, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, conservationists, and development stakeholders from across Southern Africa and beyond. The event provided an important platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and exploring innovative approaches to environmental education, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), climate action, and transformative learning. The conference was officially opened by Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon. Patricia Wiskes, MP, who welcomed delegates to the “Warm Heart of Africa.” In her remarks, EEASA President Heila Lotz-Sisitka underscored the importance of collective learning and encouraged participants to ensure that the insights and experiences shared at the conference translate into meaningful action within classrooms, communities, institutions, and everyday life. SANParks' participation highlighted the critical role of environmental education in supporting conservation, community empowerment, and socio-economic transformation. Through its conference contributions, the organisation showcased innovative and inclusive approaches to environmental learning, including efforts to make conservation education more accessible to children with diverse learning needs through the Kids in Parks Programme. The Unit also shared its work on climate-smart, community-based environmental and cultural heritage education. This contribution demonstrated how protected areas can serve as spaces for inclusive learning, community resilience building, and the promotion of sustainable futures by integrating environmental stewardship with cultural heritage conservation. Furthermore, SANParks actively participated in discussions on climate change, environmental education, and sustainable development, contributing to regional dialogue on the role of education in advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and sustainable development within protected area landscapes. These contributions reflect SANParks' ongoing commitment to positioning national parks as centres of transformative, inclusive, and community-centred learning. Participation in the conference also strengthened opportunities for professional growth, regional collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge on emerging trends and best practices in environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development.

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Fire Reported at Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park A fire was reported on 24 September at Letaba Rest Camp affecting two tourist units. The camp staff members including ranger team reacted immediately and managed to contain the fire before it could spread: shorturl.at/diJzv

#MountainZebraNationalPark's spectacular landscapes! 📷Karen Stander Van Jaarsveld #LiveYourWild #WildBack @SANParks

Happy Heritage Day! Together, let's honour, protect, and preserve the heritage that connects us all. #HeritageDay

Thank you for the love, 📹Cait Mathers #AddoElephantNationalPark #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

📷Koos Franken: "The mountains are my happy places. Needless to say that #CamdebooNationalPark was right up my alley. He are just a few of my phone snaps of the #ValleyOfDesolation." #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

The many faces of a #MountainZebraNationalPark cheetah 📷Karen Stander Van Jaarsveld #LiveYourWild @SANParks

WORLD RHINO DAY Rhino calves are born without a prominent horn to prevent injuring the mother during birth. A soft, flat horn bud is present, which begins to grow rapidly within just a few months. #WorldRhinoDay #SaveTheRhino #RhinoConservation #StopPoaching #WildlifeProtection

4x4'ing in #MountainZebraNationalPark 📷Adventure Awaits #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

PLEASE NOTE: The majority of #KarooNationalPark's routes are still closed due to damage experienced as a result of heavy rains of late. Lammertjiesleegte and Potlekkertjie Loop are currently the only ones open to be driven. @SANParks

The veld and the animals in #KarooNationalPark are looking spectacular after all the rain! 📷Graham Smith #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

"A Day in Addo – Green Veld, Big Elephants & Great Food." writes 🐘📷Stof-fel Tours #AddoElephantNationalPark #WildBackYard #LiveYourWild @SANParks

Kruger's 2026 rains caused widespread flooding, but how do they compare with 1999/2000? The data may surprise you. See the comparison: shorturl.at/P3x2O

Cooling off at Marion Baree waterhol in #AddoElephantNationalPark 🐘📷Loretta Jakubiec #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

This is what #CamdebooNationalPark is looking like right now - carpets of purple blooms stretching across the #Karoo veld, with dramatic spring skies making the show even better. 📷 Johan Bouwer #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

Some iconic #KarooNationalPark vistas. 📷Graham Smith #LiveYourWild #WildBackYard @SANParks

#MountainZebraNationalPark 📷Graham Smith: "Once again it was superb. This time we drove the 4x4 trails which took us into the less visited areas of the park." Looks like it paid off! #LiveYourWild @SANParks

SANParks Supports Local Skills and Enterprise Development at West Coast National Park West Coast National Park (WCNP) celebrated 20 members from three small-scale fishing cooperatives and 25 local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) from Saldanha Bay and surrounding communities who successfully completed training in skippers’ competency and business planning. The training forms part of SANParks’ commitment to equipping neighbouring communities with practical skills, strengthening local enterprises and expanding access to sustainable economic opportunities. SANParks has also provided fishing equipment to the cooperatives and continues to support their participation in the fishing value chain. Local MSMEs are being assisted to build business capacity and access procurement and broader market opportunities: shorturl.at/8gV7G

Malelane Gate to Close Temporarily due to Planned March by Unemployed Youth Access to the Malelane Gate in the south of the Kruger National Park will be closed temporarily on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 due to a planned march by a group of unemployed youth from the Nkomazi area bordering the Park. According to information received, the organisers have indicated that the march is intended to be a peaceful protest aimed at raising concerns affecting unemployed youth in the area. Attempts to meet the organisers before the planned march were unsuccessful: shorturl.at/fA7bD