Cape town: The South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced its readiness to accommodate an anticipated surge in visitors to Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) during the upcoming festive season. Visitors can look forward to an enjoyable experience at TMNP's iconic sites, with robust safety measures and enhanced firefighting and environmental protection capacities in place.According to South African Government News Agency, SANParks has assured that visitors will be able to enjoy the park's stunning scenery and unparalleled views. Highlights include visiting African penguins at Boulders penguin colony, 360-degree views from Cape Point lighthouse or Signal Hill, standing on the top of Table Mountain after a cableway ride or a hike up Platteklip Gorge, and picnicking at Silvermine Dam or Oudekraal beach. Adventurers can explore 850 kilometres of hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking trails.Between April and October 2025, TMNP recorded 1,708,289 entries across its access points, marking an almos t 20% increase compared to the same period in 2024. With a projected rise in flight and cruise ship arrivals, this upward trend is expected to continue through December and January.SANParks has deployed 157 rangers across the park, collaborating with the 40-member Sea-Air-Mountain (SEAM) special operations unit. This unit was reinforced earlier this year with 24 additional elite rangers and six new operational vehicles. Drone technology has also been introduced to aid safety patrols and firefighting efforts.The park's specialist teams have played a crucial role in visitor protection and environmental crime prevention, achieving notable successes in reducing poaching, theft, and other illegal activities. The TMNP canine unit will receive further support from contracted, trained dogs and handlers during the festive period, as a review of the unit aims to enhance its long-term operations.A Senior Manager responsible for visitor safety and resource protection will assume duties before mid-December to overse e safety coordination and guide volunteer involvement. Volunteers already contribute significantly to joint safety campaigns and operations targeting illegal activities such as overnighting and making fires outside designated areas.SANParks has urged all visitors to prepare adequately for their visit, recommending steps such as planning routes in advance, hiking in groups, sharing itineraries and expected return times, carrying enough water and weather-appropriate clothing, using tracking apps, ensuring phones are fully charged, and carrying a power bank.Emergency contacts for visitors include the TMNP Emergency Number (086 110 6417), Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) (021 937 0300), and the National Emergency Number (112 from a cellphone).