Adapting to survive – Water management and aquatic science in the Kruger National Park

Abstract

The availability of water has been a prime consideration for the management of the Kruger National Park (KNP) since its establishment in 1926. While the park is fed by five, historically perennial, river systems, its location at the downstream end of these systems has left the park vulnerable to external influences, which have compromised the integrity of its water resources. This article is based on a Masters of Arts study completed at North-West University in 2017, and provides a historical overview of water management in the KNP and its role in the development of aquatic science in South Africa. A specific focus is placed on the KNP Rivers Research Programme, a collaborative, multidisciplinary aquatic research programme, which was conducted in three phases between 1988 and 1999. The article explores the influence of this programme on changes in water management in the KNP as well as its role in the development of aquatic science in South Africa.