Kruger National Park reopens following devastating floods in Mpumalanga

Dubbed South Africa’s premier tourist destination, the Kruger National Park has reopened its doors after experiencing floods in the south of the park.

The park has released an official statement confirming the news and this will come as a relief to tourists as they look forward to visiting the area.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the re-opening of Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie Camps after they were closed following floods in the south of the Kruger National Park.

Just last week, the park’s management temporarily closed some of the remote camps and evacuated staff members to safer camps closer to home.

“We can confirm that the water has subsided enough for us to safely open the two rest camps. Access to Lower Sabie will be through the Crocodile Bridge gate, as the road via Skukuza is still inaccessible,” said the KNP managing executive, Oscar Mthimkhulu.

“Talamati Bush Camp is also open, and access to the camp will be through Orpen on S140 or from Satara on S36, then S145 from the east.”

In addition, inclement weather conditions posed a threat to life due to the fast-flowing streams that later ravaged homes, businesses, and basic infrastructure (roads and bridges) and affected crops and livestock.

Though several gravel roads are still closed as assessments on their safe use continue, SANParks confirmed access to other gates.

The management also revealed that Biyamiti Bush Camp and Sable Dam Hide will remain closed until further notice.

Per The Star, it is mentioned that KNP Technical Services are busy with assessments to establish the extent of damage caused by the devastating floods.

“Meanwhile, tourists and tour operators are still cautioned not to remove barriers that indicate closure on some of the gravel roads for their safety and that of their clients,” said the report.

“Different parts of the country experienced severe flooding, with many reporting fatalities.

“Residents in most parts of the Eastern Cape, the central and eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga, the eastern and northern parts of Limpopo, the central and eastern parts of the Free State, Gauteng, as well as the extreme eastern and north-eastern parts of the North West, were displaced.”

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, also warned people to refrain from getting closer to dams and rivers as they were still dangerous.

According to reports, police from Tonga in Mpumalanga were called to Mgobodzi last week after community members retrieved the body of a young boy from the dam who was certified dead at the scene.