It’s South African National Parks week so get ready for an adventure!
South African National Parks (SANParks), together with First National Bank and Total South Africa, provide free access to most of the impressive national parks across the country. This year, SANParks Week kicks off from today—16 November 2020—until 20 November, with numerous parks extending their free access until 22 November. The inaugural South African National Parks Week kicked off in 2006 to link the South African national parks system to the global national movement and to also showcase the best of South Africa’s national parks.
South African National Parks Access
The week provides free access for day visitors to enter most of the 21 national parks and strives to promote the appreciation of South Africa’s natural diversity and beauty. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of SANParks week and learn about the importance of each park, celebrate the country’s rich heritage, and experience the iconic beauty of these impressive natural areas. Free access is limited to day-visitor entry only and does not include free access to tourist activities and accommodation facilities.
South African National Parks
Most of the 21 national parks are free to access this week, including the impressive Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s flagship—the Kruger National Park—and the West Coast National Park. Free entry excludes Namaqua National Park, Boulders Penguin Colony, and the Table Mountain Cableway in Table Mountain National Park. As a bonus, several parks will extend the free access, granted under SANParks, until 22 November. These parks include Agulhas, Bontebok, Table Mountain, Tankwa Karoo, and the West Coast National Park—all of which can be accessed for free on Saturday and Sunday as well.
COVID-19 Regulations
In the years before, SANParks Week took place in September. However, the event was postponed this year due to the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 regulations. These regulations restricted the number of people allowed in public spaces. With Alert Level 1 in action, SANParks have implemented extra measures to manage visitor volumes within the parks and stay in line with current regulations to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
NB: All South Africans over the age of 18 years must produce an SA identity document or SA driver’s licence to enter for free during South African National Parks Week. Due to COVID-19, all parks will be operating under capacity constraints, and on a first-come-first-serve basis to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
Table Mountain National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Addo Elephant National Park
List of South African National Parks
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Addo Elephant National Park near the city of Port Elizabeth is the third-largest national park in South Africa, and home of the Big Seven added the Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Near the small town of Kakamas, approximately 120km from Upington in the Northern Cape of South Africa lays the Augrabies Falls National Park.
Visitor Quotas:
- Augrabies Falls Main Entrance Gate (to view the Falls) – 250 guests per day
- Augrabies Falls Day Visitor’s Area (Swimming & Braai area) – 50 guests per day
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
Bontebok National Park was first proclaimed in 1931 near Bredasdorp, but the park was moved to its current location to suit the habitat requirements of the bontebok.
Visitor Quotas:
- Main Entrance Gate – 120 guests per day
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Along the south coast of South Africa lies one of the most beautiful stretches of land, the Garden Route National Park.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Situated near Clarence in the north eastern part of the Free State Province of South Africa, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is known for its spectacular scenery at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Right on Beaufort West’s doorstep lays the Karoo National Park, definitely a gem worth spending a couple of nights at, surrounded by the beautiful Nuweveld Mountains.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Once the red sand of the Kalahari sticks to your soles, it will be hard to brush off. The ideal place to experience this is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Gate quotas will be applicable during SA National Parks Week: 20 vehicles per Gate, per day.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
The largest national park in South Africa needs no introduction. Stretching from Malelane in the south to Pafuri in the far north at the border with Zimbabwe, the Kruger National Park covers nearly two million hectares.
For park quota and entrances, see SANParks website
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
Marakele National Park lies in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains near Thabazimbi in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
You will be met by large open sandy plains and rocky hilltops as soon as you enter through the gates of Mokala National Park, approximately 80km from Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
For park quota and entrances, see SANParks website
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
Just a stone’s throw from Cradock in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa lays the Mountain Zebra National Park, a park synonymous with crystal clear skies and breathtaking scenery.
***Excluded from SA National Parks Week
Find out more about the park here.
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
***Free entry excludes Boulders Penguin Colony and the Table Mountain Cableway in Table Mountain National Park.
Scenes of mountains dipping into the sparkling oceans meet you at the Table Mountain National Park, situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa,
For park quota, see the SANParks website.
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
Keen to get away from the city and spend some quality time doing absolutely nothing? Just four hours from Cape Town in South Africa near the town of Calvinia you will find the Tankwa Karoo National Park.
Dates: 16 to 22 November 2020
The crystal blue azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon are the central focus point of the West Coast National Park.
Dates: 16 to 20 November 2020
Other useful links:
or, Call 1800-ListingPro
or, Call 1800-ListingPro
