Following my update of 14 January 2026, river levels on the Luvuvhu have continued to fall, and our team was able to access Pafuri Camp earlier this morning.
The initial site inspection confirms that our core operational infrastructure has come through the flood event largely intact. Staff accommodation, workshops, solar plant, sewerage works, kitchen, stores, and offices were not inundated and remain structurally sound.
The damage we have sustained is concentrated along the river-facing edge of the camp, where scouring and bank cut-back led to the collapse of one lounge structure and the loss or serious damage of four downstream tents (tents 4–7). The western section of the camp (tents 9–20) is unaffected.
The team on site has already begun securing the area and clearing debris. Over the coming weekend, Harald van Lennep and I will be at Pafuri to work directly with staff on a detailed restoration and rebuild plan. Our intention is not simply to repair what was lost, but to reconfigure these elements in a way that improves the camp’s resilience to future flood events.
Pafuri is not the most severely affected site in this flood event. Properties and communities further south in the catchment have experienced greater damage, and our thoughts are with those owners, operators, staff and residents now facing difficult recovery efforts.
Given the scale of work required, and the importance of rebuilding with care rather than haste, we have cleared the Pafuri Camp booking sheet through 4 March 2026. Our reservations team will be in contact should your booking be affected. We will communicate further as soon as rebuild designs, timelines, and reopening phases are confirmed.
Pafuri Camp exists within a living floodplain and a Ramsar-listed wetland system. Flooding is not an anomaly here; it is part of the ecology that gives this place its character and value. That reality demands humility, adaptability, and long-term thinking in how we build and operate.
I want to again acknowledge the calm, disciplined response of our team throughout this event, and to thank our guests, partners and the relevant authorities for their understanding and support.
We look forward to welcoming guests back to a more resilient Pafuri Camp when conditions allow, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to both your safety and the integrity of this extraordinary landscape.
PJ Massyn – RETURN Africa
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
About RETURN Africa
RETURN Africa offers immersive journeys in South Africa, from its flagship Pafuri Collection in the northern Kruger National Park to historic boutique stays in Cape Town. With a philosophy rooted in heritage, community and conservation, RETURN Africa invites travellers to share in the joy of extraordinary places and the people who call them home.
Media Contact
Craig Parvess – RETURN Africa
craig@returnafrica.com
