Roughly 210,102 feet got to ‘touch grass’ and see for themselves what makes our national parks so special!
South Africa (08 October 2025) – National Parks Week, which started almost 20 years ago in 2006, was created because so many South Africans had never set foot in their own parks. So, SANParks opened the gates for a week, let locals in for free, and showed everyone that these places belong to everyone.
Since it started, the initiative has seen almost a million South Africans experience the history, beauty, and wildlife that our park authorities work tirelessly to protect.
This year, 105,00 people across the country cashed in their free passes during National Parks Week in September. Mapungubwe National Park saw a 52.3% increase in visitors. Mountain Zebra National Park wasn’t far behind at 52%. Addo Elephant Park saw an increase in 47.3% more guests. Even the giants, Kruger and Kgalagadi, showed big jumps at 39% and 26.7% respectively. In fact, Kruger had such high demand over Heritage Day that some gates had to close early once quotas were reached.
It’s good news, because every extra person walking through those gates is another South African connecting with the spaces that we should all know and strive to protect. And it’s a boost for the towns and communities that neighbour these parks.
SANParks says the aim has always been to nurture pride and a deeper relationship between us and the landscapes that we share. It’s up to us to keep that connection strong now that National Parks Week has passed!
Every visit helps keep these spaces alive for longer, and the ‘return on investment’ you get by way of connection to nature, to your body and to mental wellness while you’re out exploring is tenfold!
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