Flooding forces closure of Pafuri & Giriyondo Border Posts in northern Kruger

The South African Border Management Authority (BMA) announced on 15 March 2026 that operations at the Pafuri Port of Entry and Giriyondo Port of Entry have been temporarily suspended due to flooding affecting the border facilities and surrounding areas.

The Pafuri Port of Entry, located in the far northern section of Kruger National Park, connects South Africa and Mozambique and is a key crossing for travellers exploring the remote Pafuri region. Access to the border post via Pafuri Gate has also been closed after rising floodwaters made the road unsafe. The gate itself lies roughly 30 km from the border post.

Further south, the Giriyondo Port of Entry - another cross-border point between South Africa and Mozambique - forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, the vast conservation area linking Kruger National Park in South Africa with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

Rivers rising across northern Kruger

Rangers in the northern Kruger National Park region reported that water levels at the Luvuvhu River bridge increased by around half a metre overnight, reflecting continued heavy inflows from upstream catchments.

Additional updates indicate that the Klein Letaba River and Middelvlei River are currently overflowing, while the Letaba River bridge is approaching capacity as water levels continue to rise.

Because the Luvuvhu River flows directly alongside the Pafuri border facilities, the rapidly increasing water levels posed a potential safety risk to travellers, staff, and infrastructure in the area. As a precaution, the BMA has therefore suspended operations at both border posts until conditions improve.

Staff safely evacuated

Authorities confirmed that all BMA personnel, members of the Port Management Committee, and operational vehicles stationed at the affected border facilities were evacuated safely as a precautionary measure. No injuries or infrastructure damage have been reported so far.

Advice for travellers visiting northern Kruger

Travellers planning to visit the Pafuri region of Kruger National Park should note that Pafuri Gate is currently inaccessible due to flooding.

As an alternative, visitors are advised to enter the park via Punda Maria Gate, which remains open. This gate lies roughly 65 km from the Pafuri border post and currently provides the closest practical access to the far northern section of the park.

Travellers intending to cross between South Africa and Mozambique should monitor official updates before travelling, as reopening of the Pafuri and Giriyondo border posts will depend on river levels and safety assessments in the coming days.

 

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