Minister Willie Aucamp has announced the establishment of a recovery fund to help rebuild South Africa’s flagship national park following devastating floods that have caused infrastructure damage running into hundreds of millions of rands.
Speaking today 22 January, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment said the extent of destruction at Kruger National Park was so severe that the park cannot rebuild without external assistance. The flooding has also affected the wider Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, where lives have been lost along with homes and critical infrastructure.
The government declared a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002. Whilst lives were lost in the broader region, no fatalities occurred within Kruger National Park itself. SANParks credited its early warning systems and the swift response of park management and emergency services for ensuring all guests and staff were safely evacuated.
The damage to the park is extensive. Bridges and roads have been destroyed, along with water and electrical systems. Staff villages and tourist accommodation have suffered destruction, forcing the suspension of tourism facilities and commercial operations. Fifteen camps remain closed, with some completely inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges.
Between 9 January and 19 January, the park recorded 24,073 guest entries, representing a 41% decline compared to the same period in the previous year. Gate closures continue to limit access to certain areas, affecting both overnight stays and day visits.
“The Kruger National Park is not just a conservation landscape – it is an economic lifeline for the region, a symbol of our national heritage, and a globally recognised conservation asset,” Aucamp said.
The revenue loss poses a serious threat to SANParks’ entire network of parks. The organisation generates close to 80% of its operating budget, making the damage to its tourism flagship a risk to the sustainability of all national parks under its management.
The current crisis follows flooding in 2023 from which the park was still recovering. The combined scale of infrastructure damage and operational disruption has exceeded the park’s existing contingency and maintenance budgets.
In response, SANParks has established the Kruger Recovery Fund, which the minister fully endorsed. The fund will be administered through three audit firms on SANParks’ panel, providing independent governance, assurance, transparent reporting and donor confidence.
Support has come from various quarters. The Honorary Rangers, a long-term strategic partner of SANParks, will assist through their funding campaign called “the Kruger Flood 2026 Fund”. Internationally acclaimed author Tony Park has also committed to supporting the rebuilding efforts.
Aucamp warned the public about fraudulent fundraising schemes, stating that the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund and the Honorary Rangers’ Kruger Flood 2026 Fund are the only two legitimate funds authorised to receive donations for the recovery efforts.
In the northern part of the park, various roads remain inaccessible, cutting off access to Tshokwane Picnic Site, Satara Rest Camp and the northern regions. In the southern section, road closures have affected routes between Skukuza and Lower Sabie, among others. The southern and northern areas of the park remain cut off from each other.
All tourism camps and facilities in the northern region have been closed, including Pafuri Border Camp, Punda Maria Rest Camp, Sirheni Bush Camp, Shingwedzi Rest Camp, Bateleur Bush Camp, Mopani Rest Camp, Tsendzeleka Rustic Camp, Shimuwini Bush Camp, Letaba and Olifants Rest Camps and Balule Satellite Camp.
In the southern region, closures include Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp and Gate, Lower Sabie, Mbiyamiti, Satara Rest Camp and Talamati Bush Camp. Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate and Paul Kruger Gate remain open with an entry quota system in place.
The flooding comes as Kruger National Park celebrates its centenary this year. Details on how and where contributions can be made to the legitimate recovery funds will be provided by SANParks and SANParks Honorary Rangers through official channels.
