Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

In June 2003 SANParks introduced a new pricing system for all their parks. Park fees before June 2003 were not being charged on a daily basis for guests that stayed in a park, while facilities and park were being utilized daily. Park entrance fees were replaced with a conservation fee based on daily park utility - and simultaneously launched a unique loyalty card system - in a bid to raise funds for conservation and encourage increased visits to the country's parks. 

Visitors to South Africa's national parks will now pay a daily conservation fee instead of the old once-off entrance fee. The new daily conservation fees range from R40 to R160 for international visitors, from R36 to R80 for residents of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, and from R18 to R40 for South African residents, depending on which park is visited. South Africans, and SADC nationals and international tourists can get exemption from the conservation fees by buying a Wild loyalty card. A Wild Card gives unlimited access to the national park of the buyer's choice for a year. Wild Cards are also available for couples (two adults).

More information about the Wild Card system can be found at the SANParks website.

Daily conservation fees

When you're going to any of the parks managed by the South African National Parks (SANParks) authority then you'll have to pay a daily conservation fee. You can find the rates for the various parks in the following paragraphs.

Daily conservation fee for South African residents

Daily conservation fee for SADC Nationals

SADC nationals are citizens of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Daily conservation fee for International Visitors

When to get a Wild Card  

Whether it's cheaper to buy a wild card or to pay the daily conservation fees depends on the parks that you're going to visit and the number of days that you'll be spending in the park. If you are for instance a couple from Europe and you're going to stay in Kruger for six nights then the total cost of the daily conservation fee would be R160 * 6 * 2 = R1920 which is more than the price of an International Wild Card (R1640). Should you decide that you want to get a wildcard then you can buy one at the gate of the park which you are traveling to, there is no need to buy one in advance. The Wild Card is a loyalty programme that provides access for one year (*subject to accommodation availability) to South African National Parks and Cape Nature Conservation Reserves. 

South Africans and SADC Nationals

SADC nationals are citizens of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

International Visitors

International visitors have to purchase a card (All Clusters) that gives them access to all parks. The cost for 1 year is:
Individual     R940 
Couple        R1640  (any 2 persons)
Family        R2210  (2 adults plus children up to 18 years)