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Kruger National Park flood damage update as at 14:00 on 27 March 2013.

Changes to previous update:
The S30 Salitjie Road (gravel) between Lower Sabie and Skukuza has been reopened (27 March 2013).

Camps Open:

Balule - Access via Balule Causeway still closed. Use S89 & S90.
Bateleur
Berg- en- Dal
Biyamiti
Boulders
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Maroela
Mopani
Olifants
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shimuwini
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Talamati
Tamboti
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shingwedzi - Severely flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public. Camping and B-circle units (EH3, BD2, BD2Z & BG2) to be reopened by 15 June 2013 and remainder of camp possibly open by 31 August 2013.
Sirheni - Flood damage. 5 units to be reopened by 26 April 2013 and remaining 10 units by 31 May 2013.

Picnic Spots / Viewpoints:

Afsaal - Open
Albasini Ruins - Open
Babalala - Open
Bobbejaan Krans - Open (Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712)
Crooks Corner - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible)
Eileen Orpen Memorial - Open
Gardenia Hide - Open
Kanniedood Hide - Closed (Inaccessible)
Lake Panic Hide - Open
Makhadzi - Closed (Flooded)
Masorini - Open
Matambeni Hide - Open
Mathekeyane - Open
Mlondozi - Open
Mooiplaas - Open
Muzandzeni - Open
Nhlanguleni - Closed (Roads closed)
Nkuhlu - Open
Nkumbe - Open
Nthandanyathi Hide - Open
Nwamanzi - Open
Nwanetsi - Open
Nyawutsi Hide - Closed (Roads closed)
Olifants River on S44 - Open
Orpen Dam - Open (Accessible from H10 only Tshokwane Lower Sabie tar road)
Pafuri Picnic Spot - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible). Scheduled to reopen 31 May 2013.
Paul Kruger Tablets - Open
Pioneer Hide - Open
Rabelais Museum - Open
Ratel Pan Hide - Open
Redrocks - Open
Sable Dam - Open
Shibyatsangela - Closed (Roads closed)
Shipandani Hide - Open
Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial - Open
Sweni Hide - Open
Timbavati - Open
Tshanga - Open
Tshokwane - Open

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:

H1-1 (Skukuza to Pretoriuskop) breach near Transport Dam (Temporary detour is available).
S63(Pafuri Port of Entry Road).
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only).

All gravel roads open, except:

S3 (Albasini Road) (Open from S1 to H1-1; closed from H11 to S1)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road) (Expected opening on 30 April 2013)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop) (Only open from H10 to Orpen Dam)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed) (Expected opening on 15 April 2013)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S57 (Sirheni Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (northern riverside section closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

Crocodile Bridge
Giriyondo - 4x4 vehicles only
Kruger
Malelane
Numbi
Orpen (Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712 light vehicles only.)
Pafuri
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:
Pafuri Port of Entry - Severe flooding. It will possibly be reopened by 30 June 2013.


Important Notes:

Please keep in mind that, due to heavy rainfall, the status of roads can change without notice. Guests are urged to take special caution when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges.

Guest are hereby notified that opening or travelling on a road that has been closed constitutes an offence and such offenders can be fined.

Guests are kindly urged to use water sparingly as camps/ gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.
Emergency Numbers:

Media enquiries: Reynold Thakhuli 073 373 4999 / Ike Phaahla 083 673 6974

Tourist Enquiries: Michelle van der Merwe 082 601 9354/ michelle.vandermerwe@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

For changes to bookings: Please contact our Reservations offices on 012 426 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org or on the web at http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations

Hi

Any update on the H7 breach between Orpen and Satara.

I cannot believe the destruction that masses of water can cause! I wonder if there is a way to fortify bridges against such extreme flooding? (I am not a structural engineer!)

I think they do learn from experience in most cases, for example the new Croc Bridge has withstood the past 2 floods now with barely a scratch .....