There’s something rather special about September in South Africa.
Every year, during SA National Parks Week, South African citizens get the chance to visit participating national parks without paying the usual day-entry fee. It’s a great initiative — but there’s more to the week than simply getting through the gate for free.
It’s really about getting people out into nature, discovering the places that belong to all South Africans, and understanding why these landscapes are worth protecting.
And if you happen to live on, or be travelling through, the Garden Route, you have some pretty spectacular places to explore.
What is National Parks Week?
let’s give you a bit of history. SA National Parks Week started in 2006, when SANParks realised that many South Africans simply weren’t visiting their own national parks.
The idea was to change that.
Under the theme “Know Your National Parks”, SANParks opened the gates to make the parks more accessible to local people. The thinking was that if people had the opportunity to experience these places for themselves, they would hopefully develop a stronger sense of pride in — and responsibility for — South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage.
And it worked.
What started as an initiative to introduce more South Africans to their national parks has become an annual tradition. Thousands of people now take advantage of the opportunity every year.
The timing is also fitting. National Parks Week usually takes place in September, which is Tourism Month in South Africa.
What does National Parks Week mean for the Garden Route?
Quite a lot!
The Garden Route is home to one of South Africa’s most diverse national parks: Garden Route National Park.
And perhaps the first thing to know about it is that it isn’t one big, continuous park.
Instead, SANParks manages several protected areas along the Garden Route, with the three best-known sections being Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma.
Together, they protect an extraordinary mix of indigenous forest, fynbos, rivers, lakes, wetlands, mountains and coastline.
So, depending on where you go, you can have a completely different national park experience.
Tsitsikamma: where the forest meets the ocean
If you’ve ever visited Tsitsikamma, you’ll know why it’s such a special part of the Garden Route.
Think dramatic coastline, indigenous forest, the Storms River, rocky cliffs and the Indian Ocean stretching out in front of you.
But Tsitsikamma is important for another reason too: Tsitsikamma Coastal and Forest National Parks were proclaimed in 1964, protecting both the coastal environment and indigenous forests. The area also became home to South Africa’s first marine protected area.
Today, you can walk through the forest, explore the coastline, follow one of the hiking trails or simply find a viewpoint and take in the scenery.
It’s a great reminder that conservation isn’t just about protecting animals. Sometimes it’s about protecting an entire landscape.
Knysna: giant trees and ancient forests
Then there are the forests around Knysna.
The Knysna section of Garden Route National Park takes you into one of the most atmospheric landscapes in the region. Walk beneath towering indigenous trees, listen to the forest and you’ll quickly understand why these forests have such a special place in the Garden Route’s history.
And that history isn’t all about conservations, as for generations, the indigenous forests were used for timber. Over time, concerns about the sustainability of that exploitation grew, and the approach to forest management gradually changed.
By 1939, the rights of woodcutters to work the forests had been cancelled. From 1940 onwards, the state forests were largely closed to exploitation, apart from limited removal of dead and fallen timber.
Today, we can walk through these forests and appreciate the result of those changing attitudes towards conservation.
And if you visit the Diepwalle or Harkerville areas, you’ll get a particularly good taste of what makes the southern Cape forests so remarkable.
Wilderness: water, wetlands and wide-open spaces
Then there is Wilderness (close to George) — a very different experience again.
Here, the landscape is shaped by rivers, lakes, wetlands, forest and the coast.
It’s a wonderful part of the Garden Route for walking, paddling and birdwatching, with trails taking you through forests and along waterways.
One of the area’s best-known natural landmarks is the Woodville Big Tree, an enormous Outeniqua yellowwood and a reminder of just how old some of these forests can be.
Spend a little time exploring the Wilderness section and you’ll discover that the Garden Route isn’t simply about a beautiful coastline. Much of its magic is found slightly inland, among the trees and waterways.
Is everything free during National Parks Week?
This is where it’s worth reading the small print.
National Parks Week means free entry for eligible South African citizens — it doesn’t mean that everything inside the park is free.
The offer is generally for day visitors. Accommodation, activities and other services aren’t automatically included. SANParks may also offer special activities or programmes during the week, but these can vary from year to year.
For example, in 2025, Garden Route National Park put together a programme covering Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma, with activities including guided walks, forest experiences, birdwatching and canoeing. At the time of publishing this post, the events for 2026 had not been advertised as yet. So if you’re planning to visit, it’s worth checking the programme for the particular year rather than assuming that last year’s arrangements will still apply.
Who can visit for free?
The free-access offer is intended for South African citizens.
SANParks normally requires proof of South African citizenship, such as a valid South African identity document, although the precise requirements — including arrangements for children — can change.
And if you’re an international visitor reading this, don’t worry — you can still visit Garden Route National Park. You simply pay the applicable normal conservation fee.
In fact, those fees are an important part of supporting the conservation work that keeps these places protected.
Planning your visit?
If you’re heading into the Garden Route during National Parks Week, check the official SANParks information before you go. Dates, participating parks, identification requirements, activities and conditions can change from year to year.
Here are the useful places to start:
- SANParks – SA National Parks Week — the latest information on dates, participating parks and conditions.
- Garden Route National Park – Rates & Entry Fees — normal conservation fees and other charges.
- Garden Route National Park – Entrance Gates — useful information about accessing the park.
- Garden Route National Park – Maps — maps for the Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma sections.
- Garden Route National Park – Natural & Cultural History — a fascinating look at the history behind the landscapes you’re visiting.
- SANParks – Garden Route National Park — the main official information hub for the park.
One final tip: Check the current SANParks announcement first, as the dates, participating parks and terms and conditions may change.
And once you’ve checked the dates, the only real question left is: which part of the Garden Route will you explore first?
