The Kruger National Park cannot rebuild without help and a well-coordinated, rapid response is needed, with national parks agency South African National Parks (SANParks) estimating the damage to infrastructure could run into hundreds of millions of rands, said Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp.

The combined scale of infrastructure damage and operational disruption in the recent flooding had exceeded the park’s existing contingency and maintenance budgets. Substantial finances were required for recovery and restoration efforts, the Minister pointed out in a January 22 media briefing.

Therefore, Aucamp has endorsed the establishment of the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund, which aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Kruger National Park as a national heritage asset, economic driver and symbol of South Africa’s commitment to conservation amid climate risks.

The fund would be administered with strong fiduciary oversight and credibility to attract national and international donors, he said.

The Kruger Recovery Fund will be administered through three audit firms on SANParks’ panel, which will provide independent governance, assurance, transparent reporting and donor confidence in the use of funds for resilience-enhancing infrastructure reconstruction programmes at the national park.

Aucamp pointed out that the Kruger Park had still been recovering from flooding experienced in 2023, when the most recent floods hit.

Prolonged delays in recovery risked not only environmental degradation and loss of tourism revenue, but also adverse socioeconomic consequences for surrounding communities and the broader conservation sector, said Aucamp.

The Kruger Park faces immediate to medium-term revenue loss risks as a result of the flood damage.

Further, SANParks generated close to 80% of its own operating budget; therefore, the destruction of its tourism flagship put the sustainability of the entire network of parks at risk, Aucamp added.

The floods have damaged bridges, roads, water and electrical systems and services in the Kruger Park, as well as destroyed certain staff villages and tourist accommodation.

The Kruger Park has suspended tourism facilities and commercial operations, with 15 camps currently closed, and with some completely inaccessible owing to the destruction of roads and bridges.

There are also continued temporary gate closures, which limit access to the park in certain areas and both overnight and day visits.

Additionally, between January 9 and 19, the Kruger National Park recorded 24 073 guest entries, which was a 41% decline compared with the same period in the previous year, he reported.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and SANParks have received an overwhelming influx of support from various spheres of society, with local people and organisations and international entities and figures expressing support for the recovery fund.

Additionally, the Honorary Rangers, which is a long-term strategic and trusted partner organisation of SANParks, will assist with funding conducted through its normal fundraising channels under the 'Kruger Flood 2026 Fund' campaign.

The Honorary Rangers had a long-standing record of trusted community support and, in addition to their flood relief fundraising efforts, they were also supporting the Kruger Recovery Fund as one of the patrons, said Aucamp.

Further, internationally acclaimed author Tony Park is another patron of the Kruger Recovery Fund, and he has committed to supporting the rebuilding efforts by supporting the Kruger Recovery Fund, and the fundraising and relief initiatives driven by the Honorary Rangers.

The SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund and Honorary Rangers’ Kruger Flood 2026 Fund were the only two legitimate funds authorised to receive donations for the recovery efforts, Aucamp emphasised.

“The Kruger National Park is not just a conservation landscape, but is an economic lifeline for the region, a symbol of our national heritage and a globally recognised conservation asset. SANParks remains committed to a resilient and adaptive management approach, as we navigate these climate-related challenges,” said Aucamp.

DAMAGE AND CLOSURES
In an update on the current situation in the Kruger Park, Aucamp said the southern and northern areas of the park remained cut off from each other, although the Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate and Paul Kruger Gate remained open, with an entry quota system in place.

In the northern part, or Nxanatseni Region, of the Kruger National Park, various roads are currently not accessible owing to damage from flooding, including S57 Shisha low-level bridge providing access to Sirheni Bush Camp; H14 Phalaborwa to Mopani; and the Tsendzeleka low-level bridge approach.

The H1-4 Letaba to Mopani approach at the high-level bridge has also been washed away, which means Tshokwane Picnic Site, Satara Rest Camp and the Northern Regions of the Park are not currently accessible.

All tourism camps and related facilities in the northern part have been closed owing to the flood damages, namely 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 part, or Marula Region, the road closures are at the H4-1 Skukuza to Lower Sabie, as the three temporary bypasses have been washed away. S1 Skukuza to Phabeni is not accessible as the L5 drainage structure has been washed away.

The H2-2 Pretoriuskop to Afsaal gravel road is also not accessible owing to drift structures being washed away.

In the southern part, only the Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp and Gate, Lower Sabie, Mbiyamiti, Satara Rest Camp, and Talamati Bush Camp tourism camps and related facilities have been closed.

Final assessment of all gravel roads would be done once the roads became accessible to determine their condition, Aucamp said.

“With the collective support of our communities, corporate partners and international friends, we will rebuild and ensure that Kruger remains a sanctuary for wildlife and people for generations to come,” he added.