South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that it has temporarily suspended day visitor access to Kruger National Park following persistent and heavy rainfall across Limpopo and Mpumalanga, which has resulted in flooding, rising river levels, and unsafe road conditions within the park.
The precautionary decision comes after a recent incident at Crocodile Bridge Gate, where several day visitors were unable to exit the park when floodwaters covered a bridge due to rapidly rising river levels. Although all affected visitors were safely assisted and no injuries were reported, the situation underscored the heightened risks posed by the current weather conditions.
SANParks has emphasised that the ongoing rainfall is placing considerable strain on operational, safety, and emergency response resources. In light of this, the organisation has opted to prioritise its capacity for genuine emergencies and the protection of overnight guests, staff, and surrounding communities, rather than managing avoidable incidents linked to non-essential travel by day visitors.
The suspension of day visitor access to Kruger National Park is a preventative safety measure and will be reviewed continuously as weather patterns stabilise and road and river conditions improve.
Northern Kruger National Park access severely affected
Conditions in the northern regions of Kruger National Park have deteriorated further, with Letaba Rest Camp currently undergoing an evacuation of both guests and staff after floodwaters breached the camp from the Letaba River. As a result, Phalaborwa Gate has been closed for at least 24 hours, with SANParks monitoring the situation closely.
At present, there is no access to the northern parts of the park, and visitors are urged to stay informed through official SANParks communication channels before planning any travel to Kruger National Park.
Safety remains the top priority
SANParks has issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the restrictions and closures but reiterated that visitor and staff safety remains the organisation’s highest priority. Members of the public are thanked for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during this challenging period.
Travellers planning visits to Kruger National Park in the coming days are strongly advised to postpone day trips, monitor official updates, and remain flexible with travel arrangements until conditions normalise.
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