Visitors planning trips to South Africa‘s national parks will face revised conservation fees from 1 November 2026, when South African National Parks (SANParks) introduces its fee structure for the 2026/27 period.
The new rates will apply until 31 October 2027 and affect both South African residents and international visitors.
For local visitors, most increases are relatively modest, with adult daily fees generally rising by between R2 and R6. International visitors, however, will face considerably larger increases at several major parks.
Kruger Remains the Most Expensive Major Park for Locals
Kruger National Park will continue to have the highest daily conservation fee among the parks listed.
From 1 November, South African adults will pay R140 per day, up from R134. Children aged between two and 11 will pay R70.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park will increase from R129 to R134 for South African adults, while Addo Elephant National Park rises from R110 to R115.
Agulhas National Park will increase from R61 to R63.
Augrabies Falls National Park is an exception to the general increase, with its South African adult fee remaining at R73.
Cape Town Attractions Also See Increases
Several popular areas within Table Mountain National Park will have higher conservation fees.
Newlands, Silvermine and the Tokai Picnic and Braai Area will each increase from R44 to R46 per South African adult.
Oudekraal will also cost R46.
Boulders Beach, known for its African penguin colony, will increase from R55 to R57.
The Cape of Good Hope section of the park, commonly associated with Cape Point, will rise from R110 to R115 per South African adult.
The Table Mountain Cableway and Kirstenbosch are not included in these SANParks fees because they are independently operated and have their own pricing structures.
International Tourists Face Larger Increases
The biggest changes will affect international visitors.
At Kruger National Park, the daily adult conservation fee for international visitors will rise from R602 to R692.
The Cape of Good Hope section will increase from R515 to R592, while the international adult fee at Addo Elephant National Park will rise from R492 to R565.
The increases mean overseas visitors will see significantly larger changes than South African adults at several of the country’s most popular parks.
SADC Visitors Have Different Rates
Visitors from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries fall into a separate fee category.
Certain transfrontier agreements can also affect the amount visitors pay at particular parks.
For example, a visitor from Zimbabwe travelling to Kruger National Park pays the South African local rate under the applicable arrangement.
Children Pay Reduced Conservation Fees
Children between the ages of two and 11 generally pay approximately half of the adult South African conservation fee.
The reduced rates provide families with a lower-cost option when visiting SANParks destinations, although the exact fee depends on the park being visited.
Wild Card Offers an Alternative for Regular Visitors
Frequent visitors can potentially reduce their overall conservation costs through the SANParks Wild Card programme.
Wild Card members do not pay the applicable daily conservation fees when visiting covered parks, provided they present their card and identification on arrival.
The SANParks Cluster Wild Card, which provides access to all 21 SANParks national parks, is currently priced at R895 for an individual, R1,450 for a couple and R1,735 for a family.
Wider Cluster Covers Additional Parks
Another option is the All Parks Cluster Wild Card, which includes more than 80 parks and reserves, including CapeNature-managed destinations.
The current prices are R930 for an individual, R1,525 for a couple and R1,870 for a family.
These Wild Card prices apply until 31 October 2026. SANParks has not yet published the Wild Card prices that will apply during the 2026/27 period.
Visiting Before November Could Save Money
Travellers planning to visit SANParks destinations before the new fee structure takes effect can still pay the existing daily rates.
From 1 November, the revised fees will apply.
SANParks also notes that conservation fees are subject to change without prior notice, making it advisable for visitors to confirm the applicable rate before travelling.
For regular visitors, comparing the cost of individual daily fees with a Wild Card could also help determine which option provides better value over the course of a year.
