South Africans Can Visit These National Parks for Free

South Africans will be able to visit many of the country’s national parks for free in September, as SANParks prepares for the 21st annual SA National Parks Week.

The free-access period will run from 7 to 13 September 2026, although some parks will only offer free entry until Friday, 11 September.

The offer applies to South African day visitors, who will need to present a South African ID book or ID card. Children under 18 will not be required to provide identification.

National parks offering free entry from 7–13 September

These parks will offer free day access for the full week:

• Addo Elephant National Park
• Agulhas National Park
• Bontebok National Park
• Camdeboo National Park
• Garden Route National Park
• Karoo National Park
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Mokala National Park
• Mountain Zebra National Park
• Tankwa Karoo National Park
• |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
• Table Mountain National Park, with certain exclusions

For Eastern Cape residents, this includes several popular destinations within the province, including Addo Elephant, Camdeboo and Mountain Zebra national parks.

These parks only offer free entry until 11 September

Free access will run from 7 to 11 September at:

• Kruger National Park
• Augrabies Falls National Park
• Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Mapungubwe National Park
• Marakele National Park
• West Coast National Park

SANParks says West Coast National Park will not extend the free period into the weekend because it falls during the busy flower season.

What is not included?

The free entry applies to day visits only.

Visitors will still have to pay the normal costs for accommodation, guided activities, game drives and other paid tourist activities.

The Namaqua National Park is not participating in the free-access week. The Boulders Penguin Colony section of Table Mountain National Park and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway are also excluded.

SANParks has warned that individual parks may have their own entry conditions and visitor limits.

SA National Parks Week was introduced in 2006 to encourage more South Africans to experience the country’s protected areas. According to SANParks, more than 105,000 people took advantage of the free-access initiative in 2025.

The 2026 event gives South Africans another opportunity to explore some of the country’s best-known natural attractions without paying the normal conservation entry fee.

Check the official SANParks National Parks Week dates and conditions