What is a Wild card?
If you're a regular visitor to some of our most popular parks and reserves, having a Wild card will end up saving you money. The card is SANParks’loyalty programme – buy one and you get one year’s unlimited entry to more than 80 national parks and reserves in South Africa and eSwatini. In other words, you won’t have to pay the daily conservation fee when you show your membership card upon arrival. The card can be used at SANParks reserves, CapeNature reserves, certain Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserves and Msinsi reserves (near Durban and Pietermaritzburg) – see
wildcard.co.za for a comprehensive list.
You can buy a membership for all parks or only specific clusters. There are different membership packages available: You can buy it as an individual, a couple (any two people) or a family (two adults and up to five children under 18). All-parks pass: R790 for an individual; R1 300 for a couple; R1 590 for a family (valid until 31 October 2023).
You can sign up for a Wild card at certain parks but it's much easier online:
GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK
Forests, rivers, estuaries full of birds, beaches… This park has it all. There are three sections – Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma (Nature’s Valley and Storms River Mouth) – spanning both the Western and Eastern Cape.
DO THIS: The five-day Otter Trail (45 km) runs from Storms River Mouth to Nature’s Valley. It’s a popular hike and you’ll have to book up to a year in advance. R1 500 p.p.
012 426 5111
For something shorter, try the Drupkelders Trail (3,4 km) in the forest north of Sedgefield. It ends at a big, clear mountain pool. R52 p.p.
076 906 8125
Daily conservation fee: Wilderness R52 per adult; Knysna R44 per adult; Nature’s Valley R63 per adult; Storms River Mouth R70 per adult. All fees are half-price for children aged 2 – 11; free with a Wild card.
Camping (with power) from R330 p.n. for two people; R104 per extra adult; R52 per extra child aged 2 – 11 (six people per stand). Rondavels from R490 p.n. for two people. Forest cabins (sleep two to four people) from R930 p.n. for two people; R300 per extra adult; R150 per extra child aged
