Pilanesberg National Park Day Visitor Entrance Fee (reserve near Sun City)

Short answer: As of the North West Parks & Tourism Board tariff update that took effect 1 December 2025, Pilanesberg’s day-visitor entrance fees were substantially revised. The park’s published (current) gate tariffs list different rates for South African, SADC and international visitors, plus a vehicle fee — and visitors must carry ID to qualify for South African/SADC rates. (Pilanesberg National Park)

What the park currently charges (day-visitor entrance fees)

(Amounts are per person unless otherwise stated; effective date shown on the park page: 01 December 2025.)

South African adult: R168. (Pilanesberg National Park)
South African child (5–12 yrs): R84. (Pilanesberg National Park)
South African pensioner: R84. (Pilanesberg National Park)
SADC guest (adult): R385. (Pilanesberg National Park)
SADC guest (child): R275. (Pilanesberg National Park)
International (non-SADC) adult: R748. (Pilanesberg National Park)
Vehicle fee (sedan/LDV/SUV): R168 (vehicle entry is charged in addition to per-person tariffs). (Pilanesberg National Park)

The park page explicitly states South African citizens should produce ID to substantiate citizenship. Gate times (seasonal opening/closing times) are also listed on the same page. (Pilanesberg National Park)

Why the prices changed (short summary)

The North West Parks & Tourism Board introduced a province-wide tariff revision for the 2025/26 year, effective 1 December 2025, citing the need to restore decayed infrastructure, strengthen anti-poaching capacity and make reserves financially sustainable under a “user pays” approach. The change produced steep increases at several parks (Pilanesberg and Madikwe among them). These tariff revisions were widely reported and drew strong public and industry reaction. (Tourism Update)

Reactions & practical implications

Tourism operators, visitors and political groups publicly criticised the scale of the increases and called for clarity on how the extra revenue will be spent; some stakeholders launched petitions and the matter drew political attention. (Tourism Update)
For day visitors from Gauteng or staying at Sun City, the new per-person and vehicle fees mean a self-drive family day trip will likely cost noticeably more than in previous years — factor both per-person tariffs and the vehicle fee into your budget. The Pilanesberg / Sun City partnership pages continue to direct guests to the park’s gate fees and gate times. (Pilanesberg National Park)

Practical tips before you go

Bring ID if you want to qualify for South African or SADC rates — park staff will ask. (Pilanesberg National Park)
Check gate times for the season you plan to visit (they vary by month). (Pilanesberg National Park)
Confirm current rates just before your visit — regional tariffs changed recently and some third-party travel pages still show older amounts. Use the Pilanesberg park page or the North West Parks Board channels for the most up-to-date official information. (Pilanesberg National Park)
If you’re booking a guided drive, day tour or package from Sun City or other operators, ask whether the quoted price includes the park entrance and vehicle fees or whether those are charged separately at the gate. (Hotels, Gaming and Entertainment Group)

Sources (official / credible)

Pilanesberg National Park — “Tariffs & Gate Times” (rates shown with note as of 01 December 2025). (Pilanesberg National Park)
Tourism Update — reporting on North West Parks’ rollout of revised 2025/26 tariffs. (Tourism Update)
TravelNews / industry coverage — detailed explanation of the tariff changes and the NWPTB rationale. (Travelnews)
NewsDay / regional news — coverage of the tariff increases and reaction. (Newsday)
North West Parks Board (official organisation overview and contact details). (northwestparks.org.za)

Pilanesberg National Park Day Visitor Entrance Fee (reserve near Sun City)