South African National Parks (SANParks) has released an updated operational status report for Kruger National Park, outlining which rest camps, bush camps, gates and picnic sites are open or closed following severe rainfall and flooding experienced over recent weeks.
While the majority of facilities remain temporarily closed due to infrastructure damage and ongoing safety assessments, SANParks has confirmed that several key camps and access points will reopen from 25 January 2026, allowing limited visitor access to resume in specific areas of Kruger National Park.
Below is the latest confirmed status update, accurate as of 24 January 2026.
Main Rest Camps – Kruger National Park
- Punda Maria – Open from 25 January 2026
- Pafuri Border Camp – Closed
- Shingwedzi – Closed to overnight guests
- Open as a day visitor site only from 25 January 2026
- Shop, restaurant and fuel station closed
- Day visitors must bring their own food, drinking water and ensure sufficient fuel
- Mopani – Closed
- Letaba – Closed
- Olifants – Closed
- Satara – Closed to overnight guests
- Open for day visits
- Restaurant and shop operational
- Orpen Rest Camp – Open from 25 January 2026
- Skukuza – Open
- Lower Sabie – Open
- Pretoriuskop – Open
- Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp – Open
- Berg-en-Dal – Open
Bush Camps
All bush camps remain closed until further notice:
- Sirheni
- Bataleur
- Shimuweni
- Talamati
- Biyamiti
Satellite Camps
- Balule – Closed
- Tsendze – Closed
- Tamboti – Open for overnight guests
- Maroela – Open for overnight guests
- Malelane Satellite Camp – Open
Private Concession Camps
- Boulders – Closed
- Roodewal – Closed
Gate Access Status
- Pafuri Gate – Closed
- Punda Maria Gate – Open from 25 January 2026
- Phalaborwa Gate – Closed
- SANParks-guided drives to resume from 25 January
- Orpen Gate – Restricted access
- Open only to overnight guests for Orpen, Maroela and Tamboti
- Emergency services and essential deliveries permitted
- Paul Kruger Gate – Open
- Phabeni Gate – Closed
- Numbi Gate – Open
- Malelane Gate – Open
- Crocodile Bridge Gate – Open
Picnic Sites
- Babalala Picnic Site – Closed
- Tshokwane Picnic Site – Open
- Accessible only to guests travelling from Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge
- Mundzandzeni Picnic Site (S36) – Open
- Accessible from the Orpen side
Road Conditions Advisory
- H14 and H9 roads are open for limited travel only
- Visitors should treat these routes as dead ends and plan itineraries accordingly
Important Visitor Advisory
SANParks strongly urges all visitors to:
- Monitor official updates regularly
- Adhere strictly to gate and road restrictions
- Avoid closed areas and barricaded roads
- Plan fuel, food and water supplies carefully, especially in northern Kruger National Park
Further updates will be issued as repairs, safety assessments and weather conditions improve.
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