Two South African tourists were found dead inside Kruger National Park this week, prompting authorities to increase ranger patrols and monitoring in parts of the reserve.
The victims, a 71-year-old man and a woman whose age has not been released, failed to return to their lodge on Wednesday evening. After a search was launched, other tourists found their bodies in a river on Friday afternoon.
Police said the man had stab wounds and the woman’s body showed bruising. Their vehicle was missing from the scene. No arrests have been announced.
South African National Parks, SANParks, said it is “deploying additional monitoring and ranger resources in specific areas of concern” in response to the killings. Security across the 19,485 sq km park has been tightened while investigations continue.
–Background–
Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves and a major draw for both domestic and international tourists, hosting over 1.7 million visitors annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. While wildlife attacks occasionally occur, violent crime against tourists inside the park is rare compared to surrounding areas.
South Africa has struggled with high rates of violent crime nationally. In parks, most incidents involve vehicle break-ins, robberies on unfenced perimeters, or opportunistic theft. The latest case stands out because of the fatal stabbings and the disappearance of the victims’ vehicle, which police are treating as a possible carjacking or robbery gone wrong.
SANParks regularly issues safety advisories urging visitors to stay on designated routes, avoid traveling after dark, and report suspicious activity immediately. The park employs more than 400 rangers, but its size makes full coverage challenging.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have asked anyone who visited the area between Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon to come forward with information.
