South Africa: Kruger National Park flooding

update (02 August 2012, 15:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Except for some roads, all affected facilities, inclunding all camps and picnic spots, are open again. Check SANParks latest update on the Kruger National Park flood notice for some detailed info. Click here!

update (13 June 2012, 09:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (07 May 2012, 17:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (02 May 2012, 17:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (26 April 2012, 15:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (05 April 2012, 17:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (27 March 2012, 09:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (15 March 2012, 17:00): Kruger experienced some heavy floodings in Jan 2012. Some parts of the parks are still affected. SANParks has therefore published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (13 Feb 2012, 11:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (10 Feb 2012, 12:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (09 Feb 2012, 09:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (31 Jan 2012, 16:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (26 Jan 2012, 15:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (25 Jan 2012, 17:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (24 Jan 2012, 15:30): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (23 Jan 2012, 19:30): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates. 

update (23 Jan 2012, 10:30): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (20 Jan 2012): Giriyondo Border Post is open!
According to SANParks' CEO David Mabunda, no animal carcasses floating on the water were so far spotted in Kruger National Park. Rangers at the park believe the animals had sensed the disaster days before it happened and migrated to higher grounds. Kruger National Park is now 80 percent functional.

update (20 Jan 2012), 12:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (20 Jan 2012): While all rivers have subsided and no infrastructure is currently threatened, SANParks has decided to block access to the Kruger National Park for all day visitors, as officials will not be able to locate them should they be stranded.  

update (20 Jan 2012), 09:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (19 Jan 2012, 17:00): SANParks has published a new update on the current situation in Kruger National Park. The good news is that all rivers have subsided and no infrastructure is currently threatened. Click here for more info about the affected rest camps, roads and gates.

update (19 Jan 2012, 14:00): Latest Kruger National Park flood updates as at 14h00. The following areas have been affected:

Rest camps:

• Crocodile Bridge: Camp open and Operational - (Water stopped 50m from fence).
• Lower Sabie: Camp open and operational. 6 Tents had to be evacuated. No units flooded – water level outside fence.
• Skukuza: No damage to rest camp – water on fence line. One house in staff village flooded. Flood damage at Skukuza Nursery.
• Berg en Dal: Camp open and operational
• Tshokwane Picnic Site: Serious flood damage and closed.
• Balule: Guests and staff evacuated.
• Letaba: Camp open and operational.
• Olifants: Camp open and operational
• Talamati: Still cut off flood damage.
• Biyamiti: Still cut off – no flood damage.
• Shimuwini: Reopened and fine
• Orpen: Camp operational and open
• Tamboti: Still closed
• Maroela: Still closed
• Sirheni:  Reopened and fine
• All other camps north: fine

Access roads inside the park:

• Pafuri Gate down to Mopani is fine.
• Mopani to Phalaborwa is fine.
• Mopani to Letaba is fineLetaba.
• Letaba to Olifants is fine.
• Olifants T-junction to Olifants at H8 to high level bridge is closed.
• Olifants high level bridge to Satara is fine.
• Satara to Orpen is fine.
• Satara to Tshokwane is fine.
• Tshokwane to Skukuza is fine
• Crocodile bridge  to Lower Sabie to Skukuza is fine.
• Crocodile bridge gate is closed due to flooded causeway.
• Skukuza to Malelane is fine via (detour to S114).
• Skukuza to Kruger Gate and Phabeni is closed.
• Phabeni to Kruger gate is fine.
• Pretoriuskop to Skukuza is closed.
• Numbi to Pretoriuskop is fine

All gravel roads South of Letaba River are still closed.

Gates that are open:

• Malelane to (Berg en Dal and Skukuza).
• Numbi to (Pretoriuskop only).
• Phalaborwa (to Letaba and Mopani).
• Punda Mari.
• Pafuri.
• Kruger
• Phabeni

Gates that are closed:

• Croc Bridge Gate
• Giryondo Border Post

Important Notice:

• Guests are urged to exercise caution around rivers as crocodiles are likely to be in flat areas.
• Day visitors will not be allowed access to the park at the moment, as the park management will not be able to locate them should they be stranded. (src. SANParks)

update (18 Jan 2012): Kruger National Park flood update as at 17h50 on 18 January 2012:

Camps not accessible:

• Skukuza
• Lower Sabie
• Crocodile Bridge
• Biyamiti
• Talamati
• Olifants
• Satara
• Balule
• Bateleur
• Shimuweni
• Sirheni
• Imbali Concession Lodge
• Tamboti
• Tshokwane picnic site

Gates closed:

• Phabeni gate
• Paul Kruger gate
• Crocodile Bridge gate
• Giriyondo Border gate
• Malelane to Skukuza
• Phalaborwa gate to Mopani
• Letaba to Mopani
• Olifants to Satara
• Lower Sabie to Skukuza
• Crocodile Bridge to Lower Sabie

All gravel roads are closed.
Lower Sabie and Skukuza are cut off and precautionary evacuations are being carried out on low lying areas, which include Staff accommodation, river view chalets and some camping grounds. The situation is under control and the SANDF is also assisting where necessary. Stranded people are being assisted. Some guests are being evacuated to nearby accommodation facilities outside the Park. (src. SANParks)

Also check News24 for pics of the flooding in Kruger!

update (18 Jan 2012): The South African government news service, BuaNews, has named even more routes in Kruger National Park that are temporarily closed:

• Crocodile Bridge Entrance Gate (Use Malelane Gate as an alternative)
• Giriyondo Border Gate
• Makhadzi Picnic Spot
• Shimuwini Bush Camp
• 9km road to Olifants Camp from main road (all access roads to Olifants closed)
• Road between Olifants and Satara
• Sirheni Bush Camp
• Tsendze road between Phalaborwa and Mopani. (Guests advised to use Phalaborwa-Letaba road.)
• Letaba Nhlanganini bridge
• Letaba Camp - filling station and camping site affected
• H25 gravel road - between Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge Camp
• S145 - to Talamati Bush Camp
• H1/2 - between H4/1 and H12 (low water bridges at Sabie and Sand Rivers)
• S23 Biyamiti Loop
• H1 - 3 - Nwa'sitsotso (Tshokwane high water bridge)
• Lower Sabie dam (low water bridge)
• Tshokwane Picnic Site
• Routes to Imbali Safari Lodge, Tinga Private Game Reserve and Shishangeni Private Lodge
• Gravel road to Balule Bush Camp 

Tropical storm "Dando" has hit southern Mozambique since the beginning of the week and has resulted heavy rains as well as flooding in Kruger National Park. About 260mm of rain came down in 24hrs - that is about 60% of the monthly average, in one day.

The entrance gates listed below have been closed until further notice:

• Crocodile Bridge
• Giriyondo Border post

The road between Letaba and Satara is not accessible. Guests wishing to travel to Olifants and Letaba can only do that from Phalaborwa Gate.  All gravel roads and low level bridges must be avoided.

Currently, the following three facilities are closed:

• Biyamiti Bush Camp
• Shimuwini Bush Camp
• Talamati Bush Camp
• Tshokwane Picnic site

The Tinga Private Game Reserve is currently being evacuated and guests that were on the Sweni Wilderness Trail have already been evacuated. The National Parks helicopter is currently being used for evacuations where necessary. (src. SANParks)