South Africans will once again get the chance to experience some of the country’s most treasured natural spaces without paying an entrance fee when SA National Parks Week returns this week.
The 21st annual campaign will run from 7 to 10 September 2026, giving South African day visitors free entry to participating SANParks reserves.
Some parks will follow a slightly different schedule. Kruger National Park, West Coast National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park will offer free entry from 7 to 11 September, with the promotion not extending into the weekend.
Not every SANParks attraction is included. Namaqua National Park, the Boulders Penguin Colony section of Table Mountain National Park and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will be excluded from the initiative.
SANParks says the campaign is designed to give families, schools, communities, nature enthusiasts and people visiting a national park for the first time an opportunity to connect with South Africa’s natural heritage.
Visitors will need to provide valid identification to qualify for free admission, including children.
The free entry applies to day visits only. Visitors will still have to pay the usual fees for accommodation, game drives, guided activities and other tourist experiences.
SANParks has also warned that individual parks may have their own entry requirements and could impose limits on the number of visitors allowed.
Since launching in 2006, SA National Parks Week has grown into one of SANParks’ major public outreach campaigns, drawing large numbers of South Africans to the country’s protected areas and promoting greater awareness of conservation.
More than 105,000 people made use of the free-access initiative in 2025.
Visitors can check the dates and conditions for individual parks on the SANParks SA National Parks Week 2026 page.
The 21st annual campaign will run from 7 to 10 September 2026, giving South African day visitors free entry to participating SANParks reserves.
Some parks will follow a slightly different schedule. Kruger National Park, West Coast National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park will offer free entry from 7 to 11 September, with the promotion not extending into the weekend.
Not every SANParks attraction is included. Namaqua National Park, the Boulders Penguin Colony section of Table Mountain National Park and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will be excluded from the initiative.
SANParks says the campaign is designed to give families, schools, communities, nature enthusiasts and people visiting a national park for the first time an opportunity to connect with South Africa’s natural heritage.
Visitors will need to provide valid identification to qualify for free admission, including children.
The free entry applies to day visits only. Visitors will still have to pay the usual fees for accommodation, game drives, guided activities and other tourist experiences.
SANParks has also warned that individual parks may have their own entry requirements and could impose limits on the number of visitors allowed.
Since launching in 2006, SA National Parks Week has grown into one of SANParks’ major public outreach campaigns, drawing large numbers of South Africans to the country’s protected areas and promoting greater awareness of conservation.
More than 105,000 people made use of the free-access initiative in 2025.
Visitors can check the dates and conditions for individual parks on the SANParks SA National Parks Week 2026 page.
