SANParks.org Forums

Hi,
We arrive in Cape Town in 5 weeks time and have a few Wild Card / park fee questions that we can't find answers to:
When paying park fees on each entry, are fees charged per 24 hour period or per calendar day? So when we enter Kruger late on the afternoon of day 1, stay 3 nights and leave on the morning of day 4 - is that 3 days or 4 days?
Can we purchase Wildcards anywhere in Cape Town or on entry to the Cape, or at Addo?
If we don't get a Wild card, can we pay park fees with credit or debit card, or is it cash only?
Thanks

Hi there 4 Aussies,

If you are staying three nights you'll be charged for three lots of conservation fees.

Buying Wild Cards in the Cape can be problematic but can be done, I'll try to get you a list of places where you can buy. An alternative is buying on line. It will be touch and go for you to get you actual cards (they take 4 weeks to be sent at the moment) but you can use the confirmation email to gain entry to all the parks. Remember, if you have a Wild Card you get a discount on the cable car up Table Mountain and as you will have an International All Clusters Card, they can be used in the Cape Nature parks as well

Again, not sure about using credit cards in the TMNP but should be fine at Addo and Kruger (I can't say certainly as they do sometimes have issues).

Which parks are you thinking of visiting?

Thanks Saraf,
We're only visiting Addo for 2 nights and Kruger for 3, and a day trip to the Cape, so it's more for convenience than money saving. There seem to be a number of post from overseas visitors having difficulty with the online purchase so we were hoping to pick it up locally if possible.
We've already got our Table Mountain tickets - didn't know there was a discount on those

Morning Aus as far as my memory recalls you can also purchase a wildcard at the entrance and camp gates (if that's changed mods please correct me), a wildcard is a handy tool to have when entering the parks it is way more cost effective and as was said discounts are then also available

I'm overseas and mine took about 4 weeks to arrive. And like I said you can always print out the email you get sent and use that.

You'll probably only just about break even (haven't done the maths yet, too early ) but if you are visiting any of the Cape Nature or KZN parks as well then it might be worthwhile

But you should be able to use a credit card for the entry fees.

Don't bank on getting your wild card anytime soon. We live in S A. My boss applied at Mountain Zebra in October, I sent an online enquiry on his behalf in Dec and in Jan I sent an email as his card had still not arrived and is to date still not in his hands. You can apply at the entrance of a SANpark i.e Addo and use your confirmation letter as proof of payment though. Good Luck and I hope you have a wonderful visit with many happy memories.

I think the break even point on wild cards is (still) around 6 days.

Hi,

The last time we were at Addo, you could use credit card but I think only at the main gate.

There is only a card machine in either reception or the game drive booking office so you have to explain what you want to do and hopefully the guys on the gate will let you through. Reception is a 700m further on in the main camp.

That's all I know. Hopefully helpful!

Alasdair

Even if you pay for a wildcard in South Africa, it will not be issued immediately.
It will be posted to you after 4 weeks or so after you have been online to add to or correct details.
You may as well get it on line a few days before you leave and just print out the confirmation and bring it.
The wildcard is not easy to purchase in Cape Town but handy to have for access to Cape Point, which is a spectacular scenic area, as well as Boulders Beach, which gives you the best access to the penguin viewing boardwalks.
It sounds like a wonderful trip! Enjoy!

Aaaargh, didn't know it covered Boulders as well. Definitely would have been worth purchasing on our last trip as well!

Don't forget a trip to Boulders Beach - fantastic and beautiful scenery on the drive down as well!