Kruger National Park (KNP) hit by two fire incidents at its Satara and Olifants rest camps on the evening of October 14.

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported in either incident.

The first fire occurred at Satara Rest Camp, where embers from a braai fire landed on the thatched roof of a chalet, igniting a blaze. A swift response from the firefighters, the fire was quickly contained, preventing it from spreading to other structures.

A second fire broke out at Olifants Rest Camp, necessitating the evacuation of three chalets. Although the blaze was contained, it was not possible to salvage guests’ belongings before they were damaged. Affected visitors were relocated to nearby camps.

The park has been experiencing hot, dry, and windy weather conditions, which heighten the risk of fire. In response, SANParks has urged all visitors to fully extinguish braai fires immediately after use to prevent similar incidents in the future.

SANParks expressed its gratitude to the emergency response teams, Rangers, and the Phalaborwa Fire Brigade for their rapid intervention, which helped control the fires and protect the surrounding environment.