The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, says extensive damage has been recorded in the Kruger National Park following recent floods, describing the impact as devastating and warning that recovery will take time and significant funding.

Speaking on Thursday, 22 January 2026, Aucamp said the floods have affected not only the Kruger National Park but also large parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, resulting in the loss of lives, homes and critical infrastructure.

“The decision to classify a National Disaster was unequivocally the right one,” Aucamp said, adding that the scale of destruction warranted urgent national intervention.

According to SANParks, damage to infrastructure in the Kruger National Park alone is estimated to run into hundreds of millions of rand. Roads, bridges, water and electrical systems have been severely affected, while staff villages and tourist accommodation have also suffered destruction.

Despite the damage, no lives were lost in the park.

“The most important highlight is that no lives were lost. SANParks’ early warning systems and the swift, coordinated response of park management and emergency services ensured that all guests and staff were safely evacuated.”

Several camps are still closed, some of them completely inaccessible due to washed-away roads and bridges. Tourism operations have been suspended in a number of areas, with temporary gate closures limiting both overnight and day visits.

Between 9 and 19 January 2026, the park recorded just over 24,000 guest entries, a 41% decline compared to the same period last year, raising concerns about revenue losses. SANParks generates close to 80% of its operating budget from tourism.

“The destruction of our tourism flagship puts the sustainability of the entire network of parks at risk.”

In response, Aucamp announced the establishment of the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund, aimed at supporting long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

“The Kruger National Park cannot rebuild without help. A well-coordinated, rapid response founded on our collective responsibility is imperative.”

The fund will be administered with independent oversight through three audit firms to ensure transparency and donor confidence. Aucamp said the fund has already received widespread support from individuals, organisations and international partners.

He confirmed that the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund and the Honorary Rangers’ Kruger Flood 2026 Fund are the only authorised channels for donations, warning the public to be alert to fraudulent fundraising schemes.