How much does it cost to visit South Africa’s national parks in 2026/27?

Planning a South African holiday does not have to mean spending thousands on a luxury safari. Some of the country’s most spectacular national parks can be visited for relatively modest entrance fees – although prices vary considerably depending on where you go.

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The SANParks 2026/27 daily conservation fees, covering the period from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, also indicate that the rates differ for South African citizens and residents, SADC nationals and international visitors.

For South Africans, the cheapest options start at R46 per adult, while entering Kruger will cost R140 per adult from November.

Here is what you can expect to pay.

The national park entrance fees for South Africans

The prices below are the daily conservation fee for South African citizens and residents. Adults are 12 years and older, while children are aged two to 11. Children under two enter free.

National parkAdultChildAddo ElephantR115R57AgulhasR63R32Ai-Ais/RichtersveldR91R45Augrabies FallsR73R37BontebokR63R32CamdebooR63R32Garden Route – KnysnaR54R27Garden Route – Nature’s ValleyR76R38Garden Route – Storms River MouthR85R43Garden Route – WildernessR63R32Golden Gate HighlandsR76R38KarooR76R38Kgalagadi TransfrontierR134R67KrugerR140R70MapungubweR76R38MarakeleR76R38MokalaR66R33Mountain ZebraR76R38NamaquaR65R33Table Mountain – BouldersR57R27Table Mountain – Cape of Good HopeR115R57Table Mountain – NewlandsR46R23Table Mountain – OudekraalR46R23Table Mountain – SilvermineR46R23Table Mountain – TokaiR46R23Tankwa-KarooR63R32West Coast – flower seasonR127R63West Coast – outside flower seasonR85R43

These are the official SANParks conservation fees for 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027 and are subject to change.

Kruger National Park is one of the more expensive options

Cheetah at Kruger National Park. Image: canva

For many South Africans, Kruger National Park is the ultimate bucket-list safari destination.

From November 2026, a South African adult will pay R140 per day, while children aged two to 11 will pay R70. That means a family of two adults and two children would pay R420 per day in conservation fees alone.

It is worth remembering that this does not include accommodation, game drives, guided activities, food, fuel or other expenses.

West Coast National Park gets more expensive during flower season

Wildflower season at West Coast National Park. Image: canva

One of the biggest seasonal differences can be found at West Coast National Park.

During the peak flower season in August and September, South African adults will pay R127, compared with R85 outside flower season.

For children, the rate is R63 during flower season and R43 outside it.

The higher price coincides with one of the park’s most popular periods, when the normally dry landscape can be transformed by colourful wildflowers.

Table Mountain offers some of the cheapest options

The penguins at Boulders Beach in Table Mountain National Park are world-famous. Image: canva

For those who live in the Mother City, you do not necessarily need to travel far from Cape Town for an affordable SANParks outing.

Several sections of Table Mountain National Park have a conservation fee of just R46 per adult for South Africans, including Newlands, Oudekraal, Silvermine and Tokai.

Boulders is R57 per adult, while the Cape of Good Hope section costs R115.

However, these fees only cover the relevant SANParks areas. Some attractions within or around the broader Table Mountain area are independently operated and have their own charges.

Addo offers an affordable safari

Elephants at Addo Elephant National Park. Image: canva

Addo Elephant National Park is another option for travellers wanting a proper wildlife experience without paying Kruger prices.

The 2026/27 South African rate is R115 per adult and R57 per child.

The park is particularly popular for elephant sightings and offers a self-drive safari experience, meaning visitors can explore at their own pace without necessarily paying for a guided game drive.

Don’t forget about SANParks’ free week

And if you’re looking to save even more, SA National Parks Week offers South Africans a chance to visit participating national parks without paying the usual conservation fee.

In 2026, the annual free-access week runs from 7 to 13 September, although Kruger, West Coast and Augrabies Falls will only offer free entry from 7 to 11 September.

The offer is also only for South African day visitors and does not include accommodation, game drives or other paid activities.

What about SADC and international visitors?

The prices are considerably higher for visitors who do not qualify for the South African rate.

For example, the 2026/27 Kruger rate is R296 per adult for SADC nationals and R692 for international visitors, compared with R140 for South African citizens and residents.

There are some exceptions for nationals of neighbouring SADC countries covered by specific transfrontier agreements. For example, Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals visiting Kruger receive the same park-specific conservation fee as South African residents.

Don’t forget the other costs

Also good to remember: the conservation fee is only the cost of entering the park.

If you are planning an overnight trip, you will need to budget separately for accommodation, while activities such as guided drives, walks and other experiences generally carry additional charges.

SANParks also notes that a 1% community fund contribution is added to accommodation and activity reservations.

South Africans also need to provide acceptable proof of identity to qualify for the local rate. SANParks accepts a South African ID, driver’s licence or passport, among other qualifying documents.

For the full and latest tariff information, check the official SANParks rates page before travelling, as fees can change.

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