Tag: SANParks

South Africans can explore national parks for free this week

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
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.

South Africans can explore national parks for free during annual SANParks week

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
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 next 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.

SANParks Announces Free Access Week for South African Visitors

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
South African day visitors will once again have the opportunity to explore participating national parks for free during the 21st annual SA National Parks Week.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) initiative will take place from 7 to 13 September 2026, offering South African citizens free entry to participating national parks across the country.

However, free access at Kruger National Park, West Coast National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park will only be available from Monday, 7 September to Friday, 11 September, and will not include the weekend.

“This highly anticipated South African National Parks campaign opens the gates of participating national parks to South African day visitors at no charge, creating an opportunity for families, communities, schools, nature lovers and first-time visitors to experience some of the country’s most spectacular protected areas,” SANParks said.

Namaqua National Park, the Boulders Penguin Colony section of Table Mountain National Park and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway are not included in the free access initiative.

To qualify for free entry, South African visitors must present a valid identity document. Children under the age of 18 will not be required to provide identification.

The free access offer applies to day visitors only and does not include accommodation, guided activities, game drives or other tourism activities, which will continue to be charged at normal rates. SANParks has also warned that individual parks may have different entry requirements and visitor limits.

For the full list of participating parks and their respective free-access dates, visit the SANParks SA National Parks Week 2026 page.

Since its launch in 2006, SA National Parks Week has become one of SANParks’ flagship public awareness initiatives, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and helping to build greater appreciation for South Africa’s national parks and their role in conservation.

More than 105,000 visitors took advantage of the free-access initiative in 2025 alone.

Kruger National Park flood repairs estimated at R950 million

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht

The cost of repairing infrastructure damaged by severe flooding in the Kruger National Park earlier this year is estimated at R950 million.

Heavy rains and flooding in January 2026 caused extensive damage to roads, accommodation facilities and water-related infrastructure across the park.

Since then, the park’s management team and contractors have been working on a phased recovery programme to repair the damage and strengthen infrastructure against future extreme weather events.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister David Maynier said the recovery effort is focused not only on restoring damaged facilities, but also on building more modern and resilient infrastructure.

“Our national parks are valuable environmental assets, and the Kruger National Park is the jewel in our crown. We must ensure that they are maintained and revitalised.”

Maynier visited the Kruger National Park last week for briefings on the progress of the flood recovery programme.

He also visited Letaba Rest Camp, one of the areas worst affected by the floods, where repairs are currently underway.

The A and B circles at Letaba are expected to reopen in September 2026.

The Letaba High-Level Bridge, which was also severely damaged, has already reopened, with the final stages of its rebuild nearing completion.

During his visit, Maynier also engaged with guests at Skukuza Rest Camp and the Letaba campsite.

He said maintaining a positive guest experience remains a key priority as investment in the park continues.

“The guest experience must be a key focus for investments going forward, as we want families and friends to come together and create lasting memories of their time at the Park,” Maynier said.

He added that feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive, while any outstanding issues would be addressed by park management.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is expected to provide further updates on the progress of the recovery work.

N2 Near Knysna Reopens After Crash Claims Two Lives

Posted on by Eon Engelbrecht
Both lanes of the N2 near Knysna in the Western Cape have reopened to traffic following a serious crash that claimed two lives.

The road was closed in both directions after a collision between a truck and an SUV near the Knysna Lagoon.

The two occupants of the SUV were declared dead at the scene, while the truck driver sustained serious injuries.

Authorities are continuing efforts to remove the truck from the lagoon. The Garden Route District Municipality, SANParks and the Knysna Fire Services are also working to contain a diesel spill in the lagoon.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Photos: Supplied
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