A retired couple was found dead in a South African national park this week, and authorities believe it’s because they stumbled upon poachers. Ernst and Dina Marais, ages 71 and 73, were discovered in Kruger National Park on Friday, May 22, two days after they were last seen leaving their holiday accommodations for a day of sightseeing. Their bodies were found near a river, bound and stabbed.
According to PEOPLE, the couple, who lived in Mossel Bay on South Africa’s southern coast, were avid safari-goers, according to neighbors. Their deaths have left the local community in shock. A source within Kruger National Park stated, “It was hoped that they had gone off road and [that their vehicle had] broken down after heavy local floods somewhere, but then we got a call to say two bodies had been found.”
“Both had been stabbed in what was clearly a very brutal attack and had been thrown into the river, no doubt for the crocs, and their 4 x 4 had been stolen, so this is a very major incident for us,” the source added. It is this little detail, the stolen vehicle, that gives the police their theory.
They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time
What makes this case chilling is the theory that the Maraises may have accidentally crossed paths with poachers. An anonymous source in the South African police mentioned that “Their pickup truck would have been an easy way to transport anything they were carrying if they were smugglers, and there are unfenced ways to get across the river into Mozambique.” The river where their bodies were found is known to be home to crocodiles, adding another layer of horror.
The search for the couple began after staff at their camp noticed they hadn’t returned by the evening of May 20. South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed the deaths in a statement on Saturday, May 23, calling the incident unprecedented.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp said: “It is the first time in the history of the Kruger National Park that an incident of this nature has been reported.”
Neighbors in Mossel Bay described the Maraises as “a lovely couple who loved going on safari, and the residents are all in shock. One neighbor mentioned that police had even checked their home, hoping they had returned early, but the house was empty.
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometers. It’s a bucket-list destination for many travelers, known for its lions, elephants, and rhinos. But this incident has cast a dark shadow over the park’s reputation.
Their bodies had been found by other tourists when they ventured near the river. SANParks described the scene as disturbing, and police are treating the case as a homicide investigation. Authorities are now urging anyone with information to come forward, but so far, no arrests have been made.
The couple’s next of kin have been notified, but many questions remain unanswered. Why were their hands bound? Was their vehicle taken to cover up evidence, or was it simply a convenient getaway car?
Published: May 26, 2026 06:37 am