Kruger Park Fees Rise to US$42 a Day on 1 November

SOUTH AFRICA · NATIONAL PARKS

South Africa’s national parks will charge foreign visitors about 15% more per day from Sunday, 1 November. A week in Kruger will cost a US couple about US$584 in park fees alone.

Kruger Park fees for foreign visitors rise to R692 (about US$42) per adult per day on Sunday, 1 November 2026. South African National Parks (SANParks), the state agency that runs 21 national parks, published the new 2026/27 rates.

The same rate card lifts Cape Point and the Boulders penguin colony in Cape Town by about 15% for foreigners. For US travellers planning a safari or a Cape Peninsula day trip, every park day now costs more.

What Changes on 1 November

The new fees apply from Sunday, 1 November 2026, to Sunday, 31 October 2027, according to the SANParks rate card. The current rates, still shown on the park pages, remain valid until Saturday, 31 October 2026.

SANParks calls the charge a daily conservation fee, paid per person for each day inside a park. The main changes for foreign adults and children aged 2 to 11 are below.

• Kruger National Park: adults R692 (US$42), up from R602 (US$36); children R345 (US$21), up from R300 (US$18).
• Cape of Good Hope section, including Cape Point: adults R592 (US$36), up from R515 (US$31); children R288 (US$17), up from R250 (US$15).
• Boulders penguin colony, Simon’s Town: adults R282 (US$17), up from R245 (US$15); children R138 (US$8), up from R120 (US$7).
• Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape: adults R565 (US$34), up from R492 (US$30); children R283 (US$17), up from R246 (US$15).
• Newlands, Oudekraal, Silvermine and Tokai in Table Mountain National Park: adults R230 (US$14), up from R200 (US$12); children R115 (US$7), up from R100 (US$6).

Conversions use open.er-api.com rates of Thursday, 15 October 2026, when US$1 bought ZAR 16.58. On that basis, the Kruger rise is R90 (about US$5.43) per foreign adult per day.

At Kruger, Cape Point and Boulders, the foreign adult rate rises by almost exactly 15%. The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), a trade body for Africa travel firms, flagged the change on Thursday, 8 October.

What the New Kruger Park Fees Mean for a Safari

Because the fee is charged per person for every day, longer stays and family trips feel the rise most. Lodging, guided drives and other activities are paid on top of it.

A US family of two adults and two children spending four days in Kruger will pay R8,296 (about US$500) in fees. Under the current rates, the same trip costs R7,216 (about US$435), so the rise adds about US$65.

A couple on a seven-day Kruger safari will pay R9,688 (about US$584) in fees from November. A single day at Cape Point for two foreign adults will cost R1,184 (about US$71).

SANParks describes Kruger as nearly 2 million hectares, roughly the size of New Jersey, so many visitors stay several days. Each extra day inside the park adds the fee again for every person in the vehicle.

Who Pays More and Who Does Not

The steepest rises fall on visitors from outside southern Africa, who pay the standard foreign rate. South African citizens and residents see much smaller increases, with Kruger rising from R134 (US$8.08) to R140 (US$8.44).

Citizens of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a 16-member regional bloc, pay a middle rate. At Kruger, that rate rises from R275 (US$16.59) to R296 (US$17.85) per adult.

Under transfrontier park agreements, some SADC nationals pay the South African rate instead. The rate card’s examples are Mozambicans or Zimbabweans visiting Kruger and Botswana nationals visiting Kgalagadi.

As a result, a foreign adult will pay almost five times the South African rate at Kruger. US passport holders without South African residency pay the standard foreign rate.

Cape Town Day Trips After 1 November

In Cape Town, the rise hits the classic peninsula drive to Cape Point and the Boulders penguin colony at Simon’s Town. Two foreign adults visiting both on one day will pay R1,748 (about US$105) from November.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden are run separately and set their own prices. The SANParks rate card says their fees are not part of its list.

Hiking areas such as Newlands, Silvermine and Tokai carry lower fees, now R230 (about US$14) per foreign adult. Children aged 2 to 11 pay roughly half the adult rate at the main parks.

The Wild Card Option

The Wild Card is a SANParks loyalty pass that waives daily conservation fees for its holders. Members show the card and proof of identity on arrival, the rate card says.

Foreigners without South African residency or work permits can buy only the International All Parks Cluster, covering 80-plus parks and reserves. It costs R4,680 (about US$282) for one person, R7,310 (US$441) for a couple and R8,745 (US$527) for a family.

Those prices apply until Saturday, 31 October 2026, and SANParks has not yet published the new ones. Membership runs for 365 days from the date of purchase.

At the new Kruger rate, a single foreign adult’s card pays for itself on the seventh park day. For a couple, the break-even point arrives on the sixth day.

Getting There and Staying Safe

Kruger lies in South Africa’s northeast, and SANParks names Skukuza, Phalaborwa and Malelane among its nearest towns. The agency says the park falls inside the country’s malaria endemic area.

SANParks advises visitors to consult a travel doctor about malaria prevention before the trip. The State Department advises seeing a doctor at least a month before travel to update vaccinations.

For visitors who drive, the State Department notes that traffic in South Africa keeps to the left. A valid US driver’s licence is accepted for stays under six months, with no international permit needed.

The department advises against driving at night outside cities. It also warns that wild animals have injured and killed tourists, so stay inside the vehicle outside marked areas.

Last festive season, SANParks used daily quotas for day visitors at Kruger, with priority entry for those who pre-booked online. Its notice of 17 December 2025 set a non-refundable R59 (about US$3.56) adult pre-booking fee, on top of the conservation fee.

SANParks has not yet said whether quotas will return this December. Overnight guests were exempt from last year’s quotas, the notice said.

One more change lands on Sunday, 1 November 2026, at Kruger’s main camp. SANParks says the new Skukuza units, bookable only directly with the camp until 31 October, open for online booking that day.

Entry Rules for US Visitors

US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays under 90 days, the State Department says. Passports need two consecutive blank visa pages and must remain valid for 30 days after departure.

Travellers arriving from a yellow fever risk country must show a vaccination certificate. Visitors may bring in up to ZAR 25,000 (about US$1,508) in South African cash.

The State Department rates South Africa at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, citing crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping. That advisory was issued on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, and remains in force.

What It Means for You

The new rates cover park days from Sunday, 1 November 2026, so a trip across that date may meet two prices. Budget Kruger Park fees of about US$42 per adult per day, and US$36 at Cape Point.

For stays of a week or more, compare the daily fees with the Wild Card before you arrive. A card bought by 31 October costs the current published price and stays valid for 365 days.

What Is Not Known

SANParks has not published Wild Card prices from 1 November, so it is unclear whether the pass will also rise. It has also not said whether quotas or pre-booking fees will return at Kruger this festive season.

The rate card does not say how fees are handled for visits booked and prepaid before 1 November. It also does not explain why foreign rates rise faster than resident rates.

What Comes Next

The 2026/27 Kruger Park fees and other rates stay in place until Sunday, 31 October 2027, unless SANParks changes them. Its rate card warns that fees are subject to change without prior notice.

The 2025/26 rates also began on 1 November, so the next change will probably follow the same calendar. Travellers booking for late 2027 should check for a new rate card before paying.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times Cape Town city guide and Johannesburg city guide cover neighbourhoods, transport and costs. For events, see What to Do in Cape Town in October 2026 and What to Do in Johannesburg in October 2026.

For background on where the parks sit, read South Africa Regions and Provinces Explained. The longer story is told in South Africa History Explained, From Origins to 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Kruger Park fee from 1 November 2026?

Foreign adults pay R692 (about US$42) per day, and children aged 2 to 11 pay R345 (about US$21). The rates apply from Sunday, 1 November 2026, to Sunday, 31 October 2027.

Do the new fees apply to Cape Point and Boulders Beach?

Yes, the Cape of Good Hope section with Cape Point rises to R592 (about US$36) per foreign adult. The Boulders penguin colony rises to R282 (about US$17).

Is the Wild Card worth it for US visitors?

It can pay off on long trips, as one foreign adult’s card, at R4,680 (about US$282), beats Kruger fees from day seven. New Wild Card prices from 1 November have not yet been published.

Sources: SANParks, daily conservation fees 2026/27; SANParks, Kruger rates and entry fees; SANParks, Table Mountain rates and entry fees; SANParks, Addo rates and entry fees; SANParks, Wild Card types and pricing; SANParks, Kruger National Park; SANParks, about; ATTA, SANParks fee rise; SANParks, Kruger festive-season day visitor access; SAnews, Kruger gate quotas; US State Department, South Africa country information; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 15 October 2026).

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