Get free entry to some parks in the country from 7-13 September. This will be the 21st edition of the annual SA National Parks Week. South Africans can get free access to participating national parks during the designated week, but there are exceptions and exclusions.

“This annual initiative provides South African day visitors with free access to participating national parks during the designated week.”

Get free entry to some parks from 7-13 September

In some places, you will also not have access for the full 7-day period, but only for a shorter period. According to South African National Parks (SANParks), free access to the Kruger National Park, West Coast National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park will be from Monday 7 to Friday 11 September 2026 only and excludes the weekend.

The Head of Communications, JP Louw, says 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.

The 21st annual SA National Parks Week 7 to 13 September

Louw added that the free access does not include accommodation, guided activities, game drives or other tourist activities. These will carry their normal fees. He says individual parks may also have different entry conditions and visitor limits, so make sure before you set off.

READ MORE: Respective dates on when different parks will be observing SA National Parks Week

SA National Parks Week set for week of 7 September 2026

According to a statement, SANPARKS says that since its inception in 2006, SA National Parks Week has become one of SANParks’ flagship public awareness initiatives. It attracts hundreds of thousands of day visitors. At the same time, it helps to strengthen public appreciation of national parks in the country and the vital role they play in conservation. JP Louw says that, in 2025 alone, more than 105,000 visitors took advantage of the free-access initiative.

South Africans must present their identity documents

National Parks Week is a highly anticipated campaign in the country. It opens the gates of participating national parks to South African day visitors at no charge, thereby creating an opportunity for families, communities, schools, nature lovers and first-time visitors to experience some of the country’s most spectacular protected areas. Spokesperson JP Louw says 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.