SANParks: Nationwide strike action on 24 August 2022 might affect Kruger National Park! [update #4]

update (25 August 2022): SANParks noted in comment on Facebook this morning that Kruger National Park's Paul Kruger Gate remains partially unaccessible for guests coming through Belfast Village, which has been on ongoing protests with road blockages. Phabeni Gate is currently taking an unusual amount of traffic while the protests continue.

update (24 August 2022): SANParks announced on Facebook that the Phabeni Gate and the Numbi Gate are both accessible and confirmed that in light of the planned protest action/national shutdown, the two gates remain unaffected. SANParks further still encourages travellers to avoid the road leading to Paul Kruger Gate, as protest actions and road closures still continue there.

update (24 August 2022): R536 to Hazyview: Protesters have blocked the road near Belfast, cutting off access to commuters in the region.

update (24 August 2022): According to local newspaper "The Lowvelder", Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) and surrounds are still quiet this morning after the announcement of a national shutdown scheduled for today. Only one confirmed incident has been reported of tyres being burnt in Pienaar.

South African National Parks (SANParks) is advising visitors to Kruger National Park to consider that labour unions in South Africa have called for a nationwide strike on 24 August 2022 to protest against high cost of living. There have already been protests in the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, which at times affected normal operations of the Paul Kruger Gate, Numbi Gate and to a certain extent Phabeni Gate, so that the situation around Kruger National Park might escalate. Travellers intending to leave Kruger National Park are advised to take note of possible delays in their departure. Services might also be affected by the absence of staff who might be not be able to make the trip to work. We'll keep you posted!

Kruger National Park: Emergency arrangements for guests due protest action in Mbombela and surrounding areas! [update #7]

update (08 July 2022): According to "The Lowvelder", a local newspaper from Nelspruit, all reports indicate that everything is mostly back to normal (as at 08:00 this morning).

update (08 July 2022):  According to SANParks, the N4 at the Crocodile River Bridge between Kaapmuiden and Matsulu junction is currently blocked by a truck that has been placed across the road, blocking the whole E-W sides and set alight. (as at 20:26, 07 July 2022)

update (07 July 2022): According to SANParks, the N4 is cleared and open again.

update (07 July 2022): SANParks has released three recent updates regarding the situation outside the southern part of Kruger National Park.

• N4 now closed with trucks at the KaNyamazane turn-off before the gorge.
• The situation around Hazyview and Mkhuhlu is still volatile . Access to Paul Kruger Gate and Numbi Gate still blocked but Phabeni Gate, Open Gate, Crocodile Bridge Gate and Malelane are all accessible.
• Hazyview to Kruger Gate road blocked by truck at Mhkuhlu mall.

update (07 July 2022): SANParks just released a road update on facebook. According to the post, the N4 is now open and it is quiet in the area. It seems the situation is stabilizing. N4 is clear from Mbombela (Nelspruit) to Malelane, including R40 and Mkhuhlu area. The Plaston road still has two trucks but the road can be accessed.

update (07 July 2022): According to local newspaper "Lowvelder", no closures have been reported in Mbombela (Nelspruit) thus far, but some outlying areas are reported as closed. According to a posting by a group member in Kruger National Park's official facebook group, the N4 between Mbombela (Nelspruit) towards Crocodile Bridge Gate is open with police everywhere. However there was an accident between two trucks 40 km before Malelane from Mbombela (Nelspruit). Heavy congested from Malelane's direction. 

update (06 July 2022): The road between Hazyview and Kruger National Park's Phabeni Gate is now open.

The promise of a National Shutdown in South Africa was realised by protesters in Mbombela (Nelspruit) and surrounding areas in Mpumalanga, after they blockaded the N4 and several other roads this morning (06 July 2022). Some of the entry roads into the southern part of Kruger National Park are affected, so that South African National Parks (SANParks) has made the following emergency arrangements for 06 July 2022.

• Guests are allowed to leave the Kruger National Park exit gates on their own accord up to gate closing time.
• After gate closing time guests will not be allowed to leave Kruger National Park's exit gates. Guests without bookings will be allowed to spend the night inside their vehicles either at the exit gate or at any of the rest camps in designated areas. They can use the ablution facilities at the gates or at the tourist camp.
• SANParks will keep certain entry gates open after normal closing time for guests with bookings that may make their way to our entry gates. The gates that will be open until 20:00 on 06 July 2022 are:
• Orpen Gate – for visitors with bookings at Orpen, Satara, Marula and Tamboti camps.
• Kruger Gate – for visitors with bookings at any of the tourist facilities in Skukuza.
• Phabeni Gate - for visitors with bookings at any of the tourist facilities in Skukuza or Pretoriuskop.
• Malelane Gate - for visitors with bookings at Malelane Private camp and Berg & Dal.
• Crocodile Bridge Gate - for visitors with bookings at Crocodile Bridge or Lower Sabie.
• Escorts from the entry gates to the camps will be arranged at 18:00, 19:00 and 20:00 by Protection Services.
• HSMs must arrange for the designated gates and camps reception offices to remain open until 21:00.

We'll keep you posted!