South African National Parks (SANParks) announced the dates for the South African National Parks Week 2023! [update #3]

update (23 August 2023): Please note: Free day visitor entry only for South African citizens with a valid ID!

update (21 August 2023): Please not that the free entry is not applicable to Boulders Penguin Colony within Table Mountain National Park, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, and the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse in Agulhas National Park.

South African National Parks (SANParks), the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks, has announced the dates of the SA National Parks Week 2023. The 18th edition of the annual event will take place from 16 to 24 September 2023. The week grants free access to most of the 21 (19?) national parks for day visitors, especially people from the local communities. It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities. Some of the parks will be extending the week to include the two weekends.

1. Addo Elephant National Park
   Dates: 18 to 22 September 2023
2. Agulhas National Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
   
3. Augrabies Falls National Park
   Dates: 18 to 22 September 2023
   
4. Bontebok National Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
   
5. Camdeboo National Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
6. Garden Route National Park
   Wilderness section: 16 to 24 September 2023
   Tsitsikamma section: 16 to 24 September 2023
   Knysna section: 16 to 24 September 2023
   
7. Golden Gate Highlands National Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
   
8. Karoo National Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
9. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
   Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
   
10. Kruger National ParkDates:
    18 to 22 September 2023
11. Mapungubwe National Park
    Dates: 16 to 23 September 2023
    
12. Marakele National Park
    Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
13. Mokala National Park
    Dates: 16 to 22 September 2023
    
14. Mountain Zebra National Park
    Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
15. Namaqua National Park
    ***Excluded from SA National Parks Week.
16. Table Mountain National Park
    Dates: 16 to 22 September 2023
    
17. Tankwa Karoo National Park
    Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023
    
18. West Coast National Park
    Dates: 16 to 22 September 2023
19. |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
    Dates: 16 to 24 September 2023

Since its inception in 2006, the SA National Parks Week has seen an influx of over 691 418 day visitors in all participating parks in South Africa. SANParks has not mentioned it in its first announcement regarding the SA National Parks Week, but in the previous years, only South African citizens were granted free access to the national parks during the South African National Parks Week. We presume this will also apply this year.