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Most southern African elephant-shrew species, including Petrodromus tetradactylus, Elephantulus myurus, and Macroscelides proboscideus are largely insectivores though plant material is occasionally eaten. Unlike the other southern African elephant-shrew species P. tetradactylus does not inhabit arid areas of southern Africa but is restricted to coastal sand-forests. However, all species rely on their food source for water. The renal structure of the above three species (only renal morphometric data was obtained for E. myurus) displayed characteristics common to arid-adapted species, and there were no clear differences in renal morphology between the three species. Renal structures of all three species were similar, exhibiting distinct cortical and medullary zones, and a single, elongated urinary papilla projecting into the pelvis with no calices. There was no significant difference in the percent medullary thickness index between the species. There was no significant difference in urine concentrating ability (UCA) for M. proboscideus and P. tetradactylus with each showing no change in urine osmolality when fed a diet of mealworms with and without water. The mean (+/- SEM) urine osmolality when feeding on mealworms only was 3.99 +/- 0.09 mol/kg and 2.96 +/- 0.19 mol/kg for M. proboscideus and P. tetradactylus respectively. Both M. proboscideus and P. tetradactylus had allantoin precipitate in their urine during all stages of the experiment. These results suggest that the latter two species are arid adapted and that there is no difference in UCA when sufficient water is available in their diet. Although both species have a kidney structure indicative of a high urine concentrating ability, this study shows that P. tetradactylus and M. proboscideus when feeding on a diet high in performed and metabolic water, have urine osmolalities similar to more mesic species.