SOUTH AFRICA. – South Africans will soon have the chance to enjoy some of the country's most beautiful natural scenery without paying a cent. The annual SA National Parks Week takes place from 7 to 13 September 2026. It is the 21st year this initiative has been offered, since it began in 2006.
During the week, all South African citizens can get free access to most of the 21 national parks for a day visit. To gain access, you must show your identity document. Children must also have valid identification, such as a birth certificate, with them.
According to SANParks, it is a wonderful opportunity for families, schools and nature lovers to visit places they might otherwise never see. Last year, more than 105 000 people took advantage of the offer. It is evidence of how popular this week has become among South Africans.
Free access applies only to day visitors. Overnight stays and places such as the Boulders penguin colony and the Table Mountain cable car are not included.
Kruger National Park
Free access: 7 to 11 September 2026
Cape Region
- Agulhas National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Bontebok National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Table Mountain National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026 (Boulders penguin colony and the cable car are excluded)
- Tankwa-Karoo National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- West Coast National Park: 7 to 11 September 2026 (not over the weekend due to flower season)
Border Region
- Addo Elephant National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Camdeboo National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Karoo National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Mountain Zebra National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
Garden Route Region
- Garden Route National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
Northern Region
- Limpopo National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Mapungubwe National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Marakele National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
Arid Region
- |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Augrabies National Park: 7 to 11 September 2026
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
- Mokala National Park: 7 to 13 September 2026
SANParks also asks that visitors respect the rules of each park, handle their litter properly and help keep the areas clean and safe for everyone.
Sources:SANParks, SAnews, The Newspaper
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
