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Cape Town, get ready to swap traffic for trails as the 21st annual SA National Parks Week runs from Monday, 7 September to Sunday, 13 September 2026, offering free access to participating national parks for South African day visitors.
SANParks Week is a good excuse to rediscover the remarkable natural spaces on the city’s doorstep, from the fynbos-covered slopes of Table Mountain to the windswept coastline of the West Coast.
And you don’t need to book a luxury safari or remortgage the house to experience it. The annual SANParks initiative makes the country’s protected areas more accessible to South Africans, while highlighting why these spaces need protecting in the first place.
Participating national parks
For Cape Town, Table Mountain National Park is an obvious draw.
The park stretches across a spectacular chunk of the CBD, protecting an extraordinary range of landscapes, plants and wildlife. It’s also home to one of the world’s most famous examples of fynbos.
There is, however, a small catch for anyone planning a Boulders penguin outing. The Boulders Penguin Colony section of Table Mountain National Park is excluded from the free-access offer, as is the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.
While the mountain itself remains very much part of Cape Town’s natural playground, visitors should check the specific access arrangements before heading out.
West Coast National Park, another favourite, will offer free access from Monday 7 to Friday 11 September, rather than throughout the weekend.
The timing is especially tempting because September coincides with the park’s famous flower season, when the landscape can transform into a spectacular carpet of colour.
Other participating parks include:
- Agulhas National Park
- Bontebok National Park
- Tankwa Karoo National Park
More info:
- South Africans wanting to make use of the free access will need to present their IDs.
- Children under 18 do not need identification.
- The offer applies to day visits only and does not include accommodation, game drives, guided activities or other paid tourist experiences, which remain subject to their normal fees.
- Don’t forget to check the individual park’s entry conditions and visitor limits before setting off.
- Visit the SANParks website for further details.
So, get those hiking shoes and binoculars out. It's time to embrace your wild side.
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