Pilanesberg National Park Faces Infrastructure Collapse As Entrance Fees Soar Past Kruger National Park Rates

Pilanesberg National Park fees hit R504 per car as infrastructure crumbles. North West Tourism Board warns of a R2.2 billion repair bill to save the park.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 6:21 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from BusinessTech

Rising Costs Amidst Systemic Neglect

Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa's fourth-largest game reserve, is currently at the center of a heated dispute over its pricing and maintenance. While the park remains an ecologically vital transition zone between the Kalahari and the Lowveld, its infrastructure is reportedly "collapsing in plain sight." Visitors are now being met with significantly higher tariffs; the entrance fee for South African citizens has doubled to R160 per person, while international travelers face a steep increase to R680. Combined with a vehicle fee of R160, a typical local trip for two adults now costs R504—a rate that civil society groups argue exceeds that of the flagship Kruger National Park.

The Road Infrastructure Crisis

The most visible sign of the park’s deterioration is the state of its 200-kilometre road network. Originally established during "Operation Genesis" in 1979, the tarred surfaces have suffered from decades of deferred maintenance. Recent visitors have reported potholes large enough to cause structural damage to vehicles, with many sections of the road disappearing entirely, forcing tourists to navigate rough gravel. Acting North West Tourism Board CEO Jonathan Denga has acknowledged that the cost to repair the park’s roads, fencing, and ablution facilities could reach between R1.8 billion and R2.2 billion.

Financial Mismanagement And The Threat Of Closure

The park’s financial situation reached a critical point in late 2025, with reports of unpaid salaries and staff strikes. Denga warned that the park faced potential closure due to an unsustainable funding model that relied too heavily on National Treasury allocations. The recent "revenue enhancement strategy" which includes the tariff hikes is an attempt to generate the capital necessary for critical repairs. However, organizations like AfriForum argue that the public is being unfairly penalized for years of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency regarding historical budget allocations.