Recent floods have severely damaged infrastructure in Kruger National Park, requiring millions of rands for repairs. Camps like Skukuza are operating partially as assessments continue. Officials report no loss of life but highlight ongoing support for affected staff.
The Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces has suffered extensive damage from recent floods, impacting several camps, roads, and bridges. South African National Parks (SANParks) estimates that repairs will cost over R500 million, with early assessments pointing to around half a billion rands in damages.
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Willie Aucamp stated that the floods have hit the park hard, as shared in a recent update. SANParks CEO Hapiloe Sello emphasized the organization's focus on safety during the disaster. "We also really have to commend our staff on the ground and just to indicate that we put safety first and our staff was disaster ready," Sello said. She added that there were no losses of life or serious injuries, which brought some relief amid the destruction.
Currently, parts of the park, including Skukuza Camp, are running at reduced capacity while teams evaluate the full extent of the flooding's impact. Over 500 staff members remain cut off from main access routes, but SANParks is ensuring their well-being by delivering food parcels. This event underscores the vulnerability of natural reserves to extreme weather, with recovery efforts now prioritizing infrastructure restoration to reopen the park fully.
