Kruger park fees are going up: what it means for your safari quote

From 1 November 2026, the daily conservation fee for international adults visiting the Kruger National Park rises to R692 per person, per day, under SANParks' new fees. If you are staying inside the national park, or popping in for a day, that is the fee you will pay. If you are staying in one of the private reserves of the Greater Kruger, you will probably never pay it at all. You will pay that reserve's own levy instead.

That second part is what trips most people up, so it is worth a few minutes of your time.

What exactly is changing on 1 November?

The Kruger's fee year runs from 1 November to 31 October, and the new rates kick in on the first day of it. The fee is charged per person, for every day you are in the park. South Africans pay much less than international visitors, with a separate middle rate for visitors from neighbouring southern African countries. Children pay less again, and the very young go free.

This year the rise is noticeably bigger for international visitors than for locals, which is the part that has made the news. Nobody enjoys a fee going up. Set against the cost of flights and lodges, though, it is rarely the line on a quote that makes or breaks a trip.

Do you pay Kruger fees if you stay in a private reserve?

Usually, no. The private reserves along the Kruger's western edge, such as the Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie and Balule, share unfenced boundaries with the national park, so the animals wander freely between them. The reserves themselves are separately owned and run, though, and they charge their own conservation levies instead of the park fee.

You would only pay the Kruger fee if you left your reserve and drove into the national park itself, for a day trip, say. Most guests on a private reserve safari never do, because the wildlife comes to them.

If you are still deciding between the two, our guide to the Sabi Sand or the Kruger sets out how they differ on the ground.

What do private reserve levies pay for?

Levies pay for the unglamorous business of keeping a reserve working. That means anti-poaching teams, outer boundary fences, roads and fire management, plus the people who do all of it. Private reserves don't get money from the national park's gate fees, so the levy is a big part of how they stay afloat. Some also send part of it to projects in neighbouring communities.

Levies are charged per person, per night. The lodge usually collects them on the reserve's behalf. Some lodges build the levy into the nightly rate, while others add it to your bill as a separate line. A few reserves also charge a one-off gate fee when you arrive by road.

A levy can look a bit steep on paper. In our experience, it is often the most honest line on the invoice, because you can see exactly where it goes.

Why can a quote change when the lodge rate hasn't?

Because the fees aren't set by the lodge. SANParks changes the Kruger fees every 1 November, while many private reserves set their levies by calendar year, from January. Neither date has anything to do with when your lodge reviews its own rates.

So if your trip falls after 1 November, it is worth checking that your quote uses the new Kruger fees and not last year's. If it is a private reserve trip for next year, check that the levy is next year's figure, or that the quote says it hasn't been published yet. None of this means anyone has done anything wrong. It just means a quote is a snapshot, and fees move on their own timetable.

Our explainer on how safari pricing works goes further into how rates are built and what "per person sharing" really means.

Why do two Kruger quotes look so different?

Often it is because they are not quoting the same thing. "A Kruger safari" can mean a rest camp inside the national park, or a lodge on a private concession within the park. It can also mean a lodge in one of the private reserves next door, or a guesthouse outside the gates in a town like Hoedspruit. Each comes with a different mix of fees and inclusions.

One quote might fold every fee and levy into the price. Another might leave them for you to pay at the gate or on departure. Put side by side, the second can look cheaper when it isn't.

The quickest fix is to ask two questions of any quote: which fees and levies are included, and which year's figures does it use?

How we handle fees in our quotes

We would rather you never meet a surprise at the gate. When we put a quote together, we tell you which park fees and reserve levies are included, and which are not. If a reserve hasn't yet published its levy for your dates, we say so rather than guess.

For the bigger picture on where the money goes on a safari, see what a luxury safari actually costs.

Frequently asked questions

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

From 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, international adults pay R692 per person per day. Children pay less, and South African citizens and residents and visitors from neighbouring southern African countries pay lower rates.

Do you pay Kruger fees if you stay in the Sabi Sand or Timbavati?

Usually not. Private reserves in the Greater Kruger charge their own conservation levy instead. You would only pay the Kruger fee if you drove into the national park itself, for example on a day trip.

Are reserve levies included in the lodge rate?

It depends on the lodge. Lodges usually collect the levy for the reserve, and some include it in the nightly rate while others add it to the bill. Your quote should say which.

Is a SANParks Wild Card worth it for international visitors?

A Wild Card is an annual pass that covers daily conservation fees at national parks. It tends to pay off only on long trips or when you visit several parks. Most guests staying in a private reserve won't need one.

When do Kruger fees change each year?

The Kruger fee year runs from 1 November to 31 October, so new fees take effect every 1 November. Private reserve levies often change on a different date, commonly in January.

If you have a quote in hand and can't tell what is included, send it to us. We will give you an honest read on it, even if it isn't one of ours.

Vikki Jackson is co-founder of Marula Hill Travel. We plan boutique safaris across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, and Mozambique. We have stayed in most of the lodges we recommend, and we tell you when we have not.