update (16 February 2023): South African National Parks (SANParks) has released an comprehensive update of the current state of Kruger National Park following the heavy rains and floodings of the last couple of days since early February 2023. READ MORE
update (16 February 2023): Balule is now open for guests from today. Access is still from the south on S89 and S90. Olifants River low water bridge remains closed.
update (16 February 2023): Crocodile Bridge has been cleared for emergency entry and exit ONLY. The gate will remain closed for guest use until desaster recovery is complete.
update (15 February 2023): The gravel road S3, from Phabeni to Pretoriuskop is open. Guests can use that as an emergency detour between Skukuza and Malelane.
update (15 February 2023): The Letaba Low Water Bridge on the H14 in the Kruger National Park is flooding and closed. The S112 and S114 are also closed and needing repairs before guests can make use of them.
Kruger National Park river flow update:
Crocodile River remains high 250 cumec at Malelane, with similar volumes on the way, with extended forecast for Croc Bridge to remain closed by another 48 hours. Sabie River upstream at Hazyview over 120 cumec, and with Inyaka dam still spilling, Sand River has dropped down to 75 cumec from 300 yesterday, again extend, no access to Lower Sabie by another 48 hours or so.
Olifants stable but high at over 600 cumec. Letaba flow will increase now as the Klein Letaba now in flood, this restricts access at Low Water Bridge.
Luvuvhu at Parfuri has risen and the Limpopo at Beitbridge now rising rapidly, but at this stage within normal flood peak range, nothing excessive.
update (14 February 2023): Tshokwane restrooms and kitchen are currently out of order due to a lack of running water. Guests are requested to be patient while a 6000 litre tanker for assistance is being sent through.
Please note that SANParks' Central Reservations has been inundated with calls since the floods began. Some camps have had their data and phone lines damaged from the rains. If one is struggling to get through, alternatively please contact SANParks' satellite offices for assistance. Shingwedzi is also currently unavailable due to damaged communication lines.
update (14 February 2023): Kruger National Park river flow update:
- Sabie River at lower Sabie at 140 cumecs, with sustained upstream contributions, expect lower Sabie access to remain close for approximately 48 hours.
- Crocodile River at Malalene close to 300 cumec with sustained upstream flows, so Crocodile Bridge also to remain close for another 48 hours or so at least.
- Letaba River flood pulse has pass and flows now dropping. Olifants also dropping. Keeping an eye on Luvuvhu at this stage.
update (13 February 2023): Various parts of Kruger National Park are expected to receive more rain in the coming week (13 -17 February 2023). As a precautionary measure, gravel roads and remote camps have been temporarily closed including those used to evacuate guests from Lower Sabie, Biyamiti and Crocodile Bridge out of the Kruger National Park yesterday. Tar roads are open although the disaster management teams had to temporarily close some of them for a short period yesterday (route between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza as well as the one between Malelane and Skukuza) for guests’ safety; but these were reopened as soon as flash floods stopped. Skukuza Airport is operating but advises passengers to contact their lodges to get information before flying to Skukuza. The airport is currently processing passengers to and from the airport via Shelati Bridge; and all transfer companies, lodge representatives, car hire should pick up and drop off in the Skukuza Day Visitors Site which is adjacent to the train/bridge because the Sabie low level bridge is currently flooded.
The status of camps and roads in Kruger National Park is as follows:
- Gravel roads in the South remain closed
- All tar roads in the Park are open; except the main road between Skukuza and Lower Sabie
- Talamati Bush Camp is closed
- Balule is closed
- Biyamiti Bush Camp closed
- Sable Hide closed
- Shimuwini, Bateleur and Sirheni Bush Camps open
- All Rest Camps are operational except Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie
- All Entrance Gates except Crocodile Bridge are open
update (13 February 2023) All dirt roads around Olifants, Mopani, Shingwedzi apart from road S25 S52 are open. All dirt roads around Letaba are closed until further notice.
Tarred roads in the south of Kruger National Park are all open except Lower Sabie and Skukuza. Majority of gravel roads are open but visitors should be cautious and not remove "No Entry" barricades (including branches of trees). A lot of work still needs to be done until all roads can be fully open and operational. Crocodile Bridge situation remains unchanged since yesterday afternoon. The Bridge is still flooded, heavy rain fell overnight. All dirt roads remain closed.
More rain is anticipated for 13-15 February 2023.
update (13 February 2023): The road from Phabeni to Skukuza is currently open with the Disaster Management Team keeping an eye on Nwaswitshaka Low water Bridge as it’s flow slowly rises.
Eskom power has been restored in the northern part of Kruger National Park, including Mopani Rest Camp.
update (12 February 2023): All roads in the south of Kruger National Park are currently closed. River levels are rapidly rising and it is advisable to stay indoors. Disaster Management is on High alert.
Skukuza is currently experiencing heavy rain. It is advisable for passengers inteding to fly to/from Skukuzu Airport to contact their lodges to get further information. Should the situation improve SANParks will process passengers to/from the airport via the Shalati Bridge.
All transfer companies, lodge representatives, car hire will pick up and drop off in the Skukuza day visitors car park adjacent to the bridge/train. Please advise passengers that a shuttle is being run between the airport and the bridge but has limited capacity and to expect delays with this process.
Sable Hide in Kruger National Park is temporarily closed. The hide is currently flooded and cannot accommodate overnight visitors.
N4 Lowveld:
- One lane on the N4 is open and passable with slow moving traffic.
- At Watervalboven tunnel. 2 trucks landed on top of rockfalls. Both lanes obstructed. NOT passable!!
- Schoemanskloof at De Beers Nek. Landslide and rock falls. NOT passable!
- Thus the only route out of Nelspruit area towards Middelburg and Gauteng would be via Badplaas, Carolina and joining N4 at Wonderfontein. From Kruger Gate use Sabie, Longtom pass, Lydenburg roads.
update (11 February 2023): An evacuation operation is underway in Kruger National Park to assist guests who were staying at Lower Sabie, Talamati, Crocodile Bridge and Biyamiti with available safe passage out of the National Park. This is an evacuation route, and no guests will be able to travel through to those camps. Guests with bookings at affected camps are advised to amend their dates through SANParks Central Reservations.
According to reports from the South African Weather Services, various parts of the Kruger National Park, will continue to receive rainfall as from Friday, 10 February until Friday, 17 February 2023. Disaster management teams in the park and external role players are on alert and monitoring the impact of this rainfall.
- Camps/Lodges:
- All are open except Lower Sabie, Biyamiti, Crocodile Bridge and Talamati.
- Gates/Ports of Entry:
- All Gates and Ports of Entry are open except Crocodile Bridge.
- Access roads inside Kruger National Park:
- All tarred roads are open except:
- The route directly from Lower Sabie to Skukuza remains inaccessible.
- The route between Satara and Skukuza has been restored and is operational.
- The water flowing into the Lonely bull bridge is rising; the tar road between Phalaborwa and Mopani will be affected; please be cautious.
update (10 February 2023): The status of all roads closed in Kruger National Park due to the floods has not changed.
update (10 February 2023): According to SANParks' latest update, some of the camps and roads in the southern part of the Kruger National Park remain temporarily closed due to the recent heavy rains. SANParks would like to advise guests not to use any gravel roads and to stay on the tar. Guests are further advised not to open or travel on any roads which have been closed and not to cross any low-water bridges as the dangers of being washed away remain high.
All access gates into Kruger National Park are open, except Crocodile Bridge, and guests can enter and exit the south of the park from the open gates. The route directly from Lower Sabie to Skukuza remains inaccessible; whilst travelling between Satara and Skukuza or Lower Sabie is not possible at this stage.
Guests are advised not to take chances and leave any camp without checking with camp management and reception about the status of the roads they plan to travel on. The rain forecast for today remains high, caution should be exercised at all times on the roads.
update (10 February 2023): According to the latest flood update by SANParks, four rest camps in Kruger National Park have been badly affected by the floods; namely: Lower Sabie, Crocodile Bridge, Biyamiti and Talamati. These camps remain inaccessible since the early hours of yesterday morning. Guests that have bookings in the four affected camps can contact those camps directly or SANParks Central Reservations for assistance to modify their bookings while the camps remain inaccessible.
All access gates into Kruger National Park are open and guests can enter and exit the south of the National Park from these gates, except Crocodile Bridge. Traveling between Satara and Skukuza or Lower Sabie is not possible at this stage.
The route directly from Lower Sabie to Skukuza remains inaccessible.
update (09 February 2023): SANParks has release new "Kruger National Park road update". According to the update, the S140 and the the S145 to Talamati remains inaccessible. Visitors cannot access the Crocodile Bridge Gate and the Malelane Gate due to the flooding of the Crocodile River and several other bridges are currently overflowing.
update (09 February 2023): Skukuza Airport is open and flights will be operating. Access to and from the airport will be via the Shalati Train Bridge. Vehicles are to park adjacent to the day visitors parking and passengers and staff only will be permitted to cross the bridge by foot. The Airport has arranged for a vehicle to be available to shuttle people from the Tinga side of the bridge to/from the airport.
update (09 February 2023): SANParks has release new "Kruger National Park road update". According to the update, Skukuza currently is cut off - Delaporte bridge and the bridge between Skukuza and the staff village are underwater. The road between LS (Lower Sabie?) and Skukuza is washed away, and the low level bridge north of Skukuza is also closed.
South African National Park (SANParks) has announced several road updates for roads in the Kruger National Park. The region experienced heavy rains and flooding over the last couple of days, which caused roads and bridges inside the National Park to overflow. According to SANParks:
- Lower Sabie Bridge is overflowing and closed
- if need to travel up north, you can use alternative roads
- From Lower Sabie to Skukuza after Lubyelubye at Mhlagambu stream the road has been washed away
- Nwaswitshaka low water bridge is overflowing and closed
- The following roads have been closed
- S140 to Talamati.
- Guests can use S145 to S25
- S40
- S90
- S100
- S125
- S126
- S127
No comments:
Post a Comment