Powering the Kruger with the aid of Mother Nature

Last updated on 8 June 2026

Electricity powers water pumps, accommodation facilities, communications systems, offices and
conservation operations spread across nearly two million hectares of protected land. While visitors
come to experience one of Africa’s most celebrated wilderness areas, few consider the infrastructure
required to keep the park running.

Yet as South Africa continues to navigate energy challenges and rising electricity costs, SANParks is
exploring how renewable energy could help secure the future of the country’s flagship conservation
destination. This week marked a significant step in that journey when SANParks formally received the Kruger
National Park Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, a technical assessment outlining how the park could
source up to 80% of its electricity from renewable energy.

The study, undertaken by Malachite Advisory through the Technical Assistance Facility of Verdure Fund
and backed by German development bank KfW, concludes the first phase of a broader programme
aimed at transitioning the park towards cleaner and more resilient energy sources.
While the handover of a feasibility study may appear administrative on the surface, the implications
stretch far beyond energy planning.

At stake is the future of one of South Africa’s most important tourism and conservation assets.
During the handover ceremony in Pretoria, SANParks Chief Executive Officer Hapiloe Sello described the
project as a critical investment in the park’s long-term sustainability.

“Kruger National Park is South Africa’s premier tourism destination and one of the country’s most
important conservation assets,” she said.

“ Securing a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future for the Park is essential to safeguarding
its ecological integrity, visitor experience and long-term financial resilience,” she said.
The project forms part of a broader partnership between South Africa and Germany on climate action,
conservation and the Just Energy Transition.

German Ambassador Andreas Peschke said the initiative demonstrates how environmental sustainability
and economic development can work hand in hand.
“This project is a tangible example of the partnership between Germany and South Africa on climate,
energy and conservation,” he said.

Peschke stressed that the transition towards renewable energy should create opportunities for people
and businesses while helping organisations become more resilient.
“We need to think about opportunities for people and we need to make sure that nobody is left behind.
That’s why we talk not only about energy transition, but about just energy transition.”
One of the most revealing insights from the study is that the challenge facing Kruger National Park is not
necessarily the amount of electricity it consumes.

According to Ken Ross, Director at Malachite Advisory, the park’s electricity demand is roughly
equivalent to that of two large shopping centres.
“The Kruger uses the equivalent amount of electricity of two large shopping malls,” Ross explained.
“The challenge is not the quantum of energy that the Kruger uses, but the distributed nature of the
infrastructure and how that is put together from an overarching plan.”

To address this challenge, the feasibility study proposes the installation of 12.9 megawatts of solar
photovoltaic capacity across 44 sites within the park, supported by 10 megawatts of battery storage.
According to Ross, the proposed infrastructure could generate nearly 60% of the park’s electricity
requirements directly where energy is needed while improving resilience against power interruptions.
“The goal is to get it to 80%, create stability of supply, reduce the use of diesel, reduce the reliance on
the South African grid,” he said.

The project could also result in estimated savings of around R14 million annually through reduced diesel
and electricity costs.

The completion of the feasibility study marks the end of Phase 1, but it may ultimately be remembered
as the beginning of a broader transformation.
For Kruger National Park, the transition is not simply about keeping the lights on. It is about building a
conservation model that is more resilient, more sustainable and better equipped to meet the challenges
of the decades ahead.