The North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) has introduced revised fees across its protected areas, effective December 1. It says this forms part of a turnaround plan aimed at restoring deteriorated infrastructure and improving conservation management.
The tariff adjustments, which are higher than previously proposed numbers, apply across all NWPTB regions, including Pilanesberg (now US$44.06 for international visitors) and Madikwe (now US$72.56 for international visitors).
NWPTB Acting CEO Jonathan Denge said the “user pays principle” supports the once-off increase. “In order to restore the functionality and the sustainability of our protected areas, towards the fulfilment of their conservation objectives and the needed restoration of the deteriorated state of basic conservation and tourism facilities in the parks, we have implemented a turnaround plan, which lays its basis on a ‘user pays principle’. The once-off unusual fee increase was necessary to achieve the set acceptable standard.”
Recent reports highlight “an alarming decline in the state of provincial nature reserves across the country, putting South Africa’s biodiversity assets at risk,” he added.
According to the NWPTB, the updated 2025/26 tariffs intend to generate sustainable revenue for anti-poaching operations, infrastructure upgrades and to ensure that communities owning or surrounding the land “finally benefit –something that has sadly never happened before”.
Revised fees also include day-visitor rates, vehicle entry, accommodation, activities and late-exit penalties.
See NWPTB’s updated tariffs for 2025/26 here.
