South Africans to Enjoy Free National Park Entry

South Africa’s SANParks will offer free day-entry during SA National Parks Week from September 7–13, 2026, with identity documents required for adults and free entry for under-18s, though activities, accommodation and some park-specific conditions still apply. Namaqua National Park is not included, and some parks like Table Mountain and West Coast have caveats or different dates; participation spans most of SANParks’ 21 national parks. In the United States, the National Park Service marks its 110th birthday on August 25, 2026 with a fee-free day for U.S. citizens and residents during National Park Week, though international visitors must still pay in many cases. The birthday event is part of a broader pattern of free-entry days at some parks, including the nation’s most visited Great Smoky Mountains, which has no general entrance fee year-round, with fees applying to camping and certain services. Michigan and Florida are highlighted as examples of free-entry promotions on August 25, with Michigan sites and Florida’s South Florida parks listing Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, and Everglades among those participating. Alternative free-entry information notes that several other parks offer free access at the gate or on specific days, though additional activities and reservations may carry costs.