The brutal killing of two elderly tourists in the remote northern reaches of the Kruger National Park has shaken South Africa’s tourism and conservation sectors, with authorities describing the attack as an unprecedented tragedy in the park’s 100-year history.

Police have now confirmed the identities of the victims as Ernst and Dina Marais, a couple from Mossel Bay, whose bodies were discovered on Friday, 22 May, in the Pafuri region near Crooks Corner, an isolated area where the borders of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique converge.

The couple’s bodies, bearing multiple stab wounds to the upper body, were found near the banks of the Luvuvhu River by fellow tourists who were game-viewing in the area before alerting SANParks rangers.

Their green Ford Ranger double cab was missing from the scene, prompting police to open cases of murder and hijacking. Investigators believe the attackers may have fled across the nearby Limpopo River into Mozambique following the killings.

The attack has stunned officials at South African National Parks, who said no similar incident involving tourists had ever been recorded in the vast two-million-hectare reserve.

“This incident is unprecedented in the more than 2-million-hectare park that shares a combined 374-kilometre border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. No similar occurrence has ever been recorded in its 100-year history,” SANParks said in a statement.

The Marais couple had reportedly entered the park on 17 May and were last seen on Wednesday morning at the Pafuri picnic site. Concern was raised on Thursday evening after they failed to return to camp, triggering a search operation involving park rangers and security teams.

The search continued into Friday before the horrifying discovery was made.

Authorities believe the attack occurred in one of the most remote sections of the park, an area known for its rugged terrain, thick bush and proximity to international borders. Crooks Corner, historically associated with smuggling routes and cross-border criminal activity decades ago, lies at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers and is regarded as one of Kruger’s most isolated tourism zones.

Law enforcement officials have confirmed that security cameras at the park’s gates showed the missing vehicle did not exit through any of the nine official access gates or through the two border posts connecting to Mozambique.

Rangers later followed tyre tracks believed to have been made by the missing vehicle. The tracks reportedly led through bush terrain and over a fence in the direction of Mozambique, although police cautioned that investigators are still working to verify whether the tracks belong to the hijacked Ford Ranger.

The South African Police Service has since assembled a high-level investigative team to probe the killings.

Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe confirmed that senior detectives had been assigned to the case due to its seriousness and international implications.

Police are also working closely with border authorities and neighbouring law enforcement agencies as investigations continue.

No arrests have yet been made.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp expressed condolences to the victims’ family and said SANParks and police were cooperating fully to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The minister, together with SANParks board members, executive management and senior police officials, visited the family over the weekend to offer support.

According to SANParks spokesperson JP Louw, the family described Ernst and Dina Marais as long-standing and deeply committed visitors to Kruger National Park who always followed park safety rules.

“The family shared that the couple were regular guests who strictly adhered to park rules and would never have placed themselves at risk by exiting their vehicle where it was prohibited,” Louw said.

In response to the incident, SANParks has announced additional risk mitigation measures in the Nxanatseni North Region, including increased ranger patrols, enhanced monitoring and the expansion of surveillance and early warning technologies.

Although the organisation declined to disclose operational details for security reasons, SANParks confirmed that existing technology systems played a critical role in identifying the vehicle linked to the missing tourists.

Officials said the systems are part of a broader multi-year modernisation programme aimed at strengthening anti-poaching operations, border surveillance and visitor safety across the park.

SANParks has also sought to reassure tourists that Kruger remains one of the safest wildlife destinations in Africa despite the shocking incident.

“Kruger National Park remains a very safe area to visit and work at, with effective security protocols remaining in place,” the organisation said.

The killings have nevertheless raised renewed concerns about cross-border crime syndicates operating near vulnerable border regions and the challenges of policing vast conservation areas that stretch across international boundaries.

Police have appealed to members of the public who may have information about the killings or the whereabouts of the missing Ford Ranger to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit anonymous tips through the MySAPS app.

Investigations are continuing.