Central SA
New tariffs at park in North West spark debate over public access─── ZENANDE MPAME 16:32 Fri, 06 Feb 2026
With new entrance fees already in effect at key provincial parks, attention is now shifting to how the changes will reshape visitor behaviour in the North West.
The North West Parks and Tourism Board has moved to defend the implementation of new tariffs and electronically controlled access systems at provincial nature reserves. It said these interventions are part of a broader strategy to improve safety, quality, and sustainability across all provincial reserves.
The board announced that upgrades to essential tourism infrastructure at Pilanesberg National Park are set to begin, and will focus on hides, picnic sites, and ablution facilities, followed by longer-term improvements to the park’s road network. However, the tariff increases have drawn sharp criticism from civil society and opposition parties.
“Pilanesberg belongs to the people of the North West and South Africa as a whole,” said AfriForums environmental affairs manager Lambert de Klerk. “Access to public nature reserves should not become a mechanism to compensate for years of financial mismanagement.”
“The organisation is concerned that the public is now being asked to pay significantly more for access to a public park. Visitors to Pilanesberg cannot be held accountable for the deterioration of the park’s infrastructure by paying more for entrance.”
The board said they remain encouraged by the strong support received from concessionaire partners in Pilanesberg. Concessionaire partners are private sector entities that enter into a long-term contract, a concession agreement with a government, public authority, or private landowner to operate, manage, and often finance a business or asset.
Following constructive engagements, partners affirmed their alignment with the board‘s long-term vision, acknowledging that the extensive work required to reverse infrastructure decline and improve visitor facilities far outweighs concerns associated with tariff adjustments, it said in a statement.
“There is no clear or transparent process behind the decision to increase entrance fees at any of the parks,” said North West DA economic development, environment, conservation, and tourism spokesperson Johni Steenkamp.
“These increases undermine affordability and accessibility, and place additional pressure on the tourism sector that is already struggling.”
The North West Parks and Tourism Board spokesperson, Dinah Rangaka, said the matter was addressed a while back to the public and justified at the portfolio committee. “The tariffs are being implemented as they are.”
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