News

Kruger National Park is implementing management burns for the winter fire season which usually takes place between June and October. The park received significant rainfall during the recent summer season which caused significant flood damage to large parts of the park. The substantial rainfall has resulted in an increase in grass growth over the last few months. In KNP, veldfires require sufficient grass cover to support a fire. Thus, in years with exceptional rainfall, larger areas of the park are burned due to substantial grass growth.

Fire is a natural part of life in the KNP where it is a common occurrence every winter.  Over thousands of years, plants and animals have adapted to living in an environment where fires play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy. The diversity of wildlife in the park relies on fires to maintain the savanna landscapes of KNP. Animals such as zebras, buffaloes and wildebeest gather on recently burned areas to graze on the new, highly nutritious grasses which regrow shortly after the fire.

This year, KNP is anticipating more burned areas during the upcoming fire season compared to the last few years. To manage this, park officials have begun with proactive fire management by applying controlled burns early in the dry season. The Rangers apply these burns for ecological purposes as well as to ensure fire safety. These controlled fires reduce the risk of larger, uncontrolled wildfires later in the dry season by reducing the fuel load (grass density). Furthermore, preparations to ensure the safety of people and infrastructure have begun to maintain firebreaks around key infrastructure such as tourist camps, entry gates, staff facilities and along the park’s boundary.

The park will continuously monitor fire activity using both ranger field reports and advanced satellite mapping techniques. Thanks to a well-trained, equipped and experienced team of Rangers and support staff, KNP has been proactively preparing for the upcoming fire season.