SANParks Wild Card

Effective conservation requires immense financial and human resources. South African National Parks (SANParks) needs to receive sufficient revenue to be able to successfully manage the parks under its control, and it needs to gain the support of all the people in South Africa either through visitation, or an appreciation of the importance of conserving South Africa’s natural heritage.

Since its inception the National Parks have applied a once off entrance fee (coupled with vehicle fees) for the duration of a person’s stay. Park use is reflected in the enjoyment of the natural and cultural wonders of each park,as well as in the use of facilities such as road networks, trails, picnic sites, ablutions, viewing hides, water supply for humans and waterholes for game etc. All these facilities are expensive to install and maintain. The longer a person stays in a park, the more utility they gain from their stay. Applying a daily fee to use such facilities is recognised practice for sports grounds, parking lots, theatres, cinemas etc. and is applied in game reserves and parks all around the world. However it is also common practice in many countries to offer local residents certain concessions. Such people already provide incremental support through the taxes they pay

South African National Parks (SANParks) has thus simultaneously introduced a new daily conservation fee for all its parks and launched an innovative loyalty card system, in order to meet important conservation objectives and provide added value for all visitors.

WILD members will reap further benefits when presenting their card at more than 2000 Infinity partners countrywide, entitling them to cash back rewards for holidays, accommodation, tours, attractions, airlines, car hire, shopping, leisure and entertainment.

Members will also be contributing to conservation through an income sharing agreement between SANParks, Infinity, South Africa’s premier loyalty and smart card management company and its 2000 partners, which channels a percentage of the income generated from WILD card transactions to conservation.