The 21st annual SA National Parks Week is set to take place from 7 to 13 September. The annual initiative provides South African day visitors with free access to participating national parks during the designated week.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) 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.

Limited dates at select parks

However, Kruger National Park, West Coast National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park will offer free access from Monday 7 to Friday 11 September 2026 only, excluding the weekend.

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 week, SANParks says.

How to qualify for free entry

To qualify for free access, South Africans must present their identity documents, whilst children below the age of 18 will not be required to provide identification.

The free access does not include accommodation, guided activities, game drives or other tourist activities, as these are charged at normal rates. Individual parks may also have different entry conditions and visitor limits.

A flagship public awareness initiative

Since its inception in 2006, SA National Parks Week has become one of SANParks’ flagship public awareness initiatives, attracting hundreds of thousands of day visitors and helping to strengthen public appreciation of South Africa’s national parks and the vital role they play in conservation.

In 2025 alone, more than 105 000 visitors took advantage of the free-access initiative, SANParks says.

For dates and information on which parks will participate in SA National Parks Week and offer free access, visit the SANparks website.

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