SANParks.org Forums

Remembering the 2000 floods

Joep Stevens, General Manager of Strategic Tourism Services, SANParks writes: "As we are still trying to recover from the recent Shingwedzi flood, with all the additional burden on our managers and staff, we remember this day and are thankful now, as we were then, that no lives were lost. But there were many sacrifices, as we have now again, of people's belongings and livelihoods."

Nico - I enjoyed our video - ineresting take on the rain That crab at the beginning lookes like one mean and agry character

Great video - loved the sound and images great

Good Morning all from Germany.

While sitting still in 15 cm snow we are looking forward to our next visit in KNP in Mai.

Now we also got the cancellation for Shingwedzi for Mai. Can anybody tell, if it make sense to book Tsendse instead ? It seems, that it is only closed because of the road closes and not because of damages.

The online tool shows it as available but I´m not shure if it is updated.

As we are going with a camper, it would make sense anyway and we spend some wonderful nights a fex years ago.

Regards
Marc

Hi Marc!

I'm sure Tsendze will be open by May if it is only access that is a problem. If it is available to book - I'm sure you can book it! If you're uncertain about the availability - it might be a good idea to phone reservations on Monday and confirm.

Hope that helps!

I think access is the problem, Marc and Bushbuddies.
See Lesego's post here :

Does anyone have any ideas as to when the roads in the north will be open? We will be in Punda in May and if we can not get up to Pafuri area, I am thinking about changing reservations.

Also, we changed our Shingwedzi reservations (after much loud crying and thrashing) to Bateleur but the updates say, "Fence and bulk services damaged". What are bulk services? Any guesses as to when they will be open. Lesego's updates say it is still closed, but the Accommodation Availability page shows availability for the end of Feb. Do I assume they will be back up and running by then????

Hello

We are going 3rd September and were also looking forward to Shingwedzi, for one night, we have never been to that camp, I had an email asking us to change as repairs will take until the end of the year, we will be in a motorhome so had the campsite booked and thought we'd be ok by September as we didn't need accommodation as such, however I rebooked as requested to Bataleur (we were already there the night after so we are now there for two nights), then I received another email after I had paid saying that Shingwedzi will be reviewed July and our booking may be ok.... I don't want to take the risk of leaving it late to find out as no doubt there will be a lot of people trying to book elsewhere so I am leaving us now at Bataleur for two nights. I think with everything going on they are trying to pre-empt bookings and manage them as best they can which is understandable. I think it's a mammoth task and they are doing brilliantly and have been as efficient as ever with our bookings, all of which I've done by email from the UK. Given the current situation I am really impressed.

Hey Moddyminder! Great to see you around on the forum!

I just know you guys will be sorted, Shing or Bateleur by September, you know both are great!
We are on our way again next month and I just can't wait!

Hi 'mites
Please see below the KNP Flood Update. There have been various changes to some of the gravel roads and Balule reopens today and Bateleur tomorrow (14 February 2013).


Camps Open:

Balule - Access via Balule Causeway still closed. Use S89 & S90.
Berg- en- Dal
Biyamiti
Boulders
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Mopani
Olifants - Pump infrastructure washed away and on emergency boreholes
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza

Camps Closed:

Bateleur - Camp to reopen on Thursday 14 February 2013
Maroela - Waterlogged and inaccessible
Shimuwini - Flood damage and inaccessible
Shingwedzi - Severally flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public
Sirheni - Flood damage
Talamati - Flood damage and inaccessible
Tamboti - Fence breached and inaccessible
Tsendze - Inaccessible

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 - Closed Flood damage
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
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 - Closed Temporary ablutions provided no other services

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).
H1-8 (H13-1 intersection to Pafuri) Luvuvhu Bridge closed and severe damage to tar road (open from H13-1 to S63 turnoff to borderpost) Pafuri borderpost flooded and closed.
H1-9 (Pafuri Gate to Luvuvhu Bridge).
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)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed)
S44 (Letaba /Olifants confluence Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S52 (Shingwedzi River Road) (only section on southern bank of Shingwedzi River open)
S53
S56 (Mphongolo Road)
S61 (Klopperfontein Loop)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (northern riverside section closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S79 (Nwatimhiri Loop)
S84 (Nwatindlopfu Loop)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S99 (Mahogany Loop) (Partially open from both ends)
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
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:

Pafuri
Pafuri Border Facility - Severe flooding

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: Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753/ lucy.nhlapo@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

Kruger National Park flood update as as 08:00 on 18 February 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 - Pump infrastructure washed away and on emergency boreholes
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shimuwini - Flood damage and inaccessible
Shingwedzi - Severally flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public
Sirheni - Flood damage
Talamati - Flood damage and inaccessible
Tamboti - Fence breached and inaccessible

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 - Closed (Flood damage)
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)
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 (Temporary ablutions provided no other services)

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)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed)
S44 (Letaba /Olifants confluence Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S52 (Shingwedzi River Road) (only section on southern bank of Shingwedzi River open)
S53
S56 (Mphongolo Road)
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)
S99 (Mahogany Loop) (Partially open from both ends)
S114 (Old Malelane Skukuza Road; Open except at the Biyamiti Weir Causeway)
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

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: Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753/ lucy.nhlapo@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

Txs Les
In a nutshell: Maroela and Bateleur are open again

Hi Les

Any idea when the Pafuri Picnic area will open again, and the S63?

We drove between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop this weekend and that road is open as well

KNP Flood damage update on 20 February 2013

The key changes are the opening of Tshokwane Picnic Spot, which is now fully operational, as well as the opening of S99 (Mahogany Loop) near Punda Maria.

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 - Pump infrastructure washed away and on emergency boreholes
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shimuwini - Flood damage and inaccessible
Shingwedzi - Severally flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public
Sirheni - Flood damage
Talamati - Flood damage and inaccessible
Tamboti - Fence breached and inaccessible

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 - Closed (Flood damage)
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)
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 (Temporary ablutions provided no other services)

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)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed)
S44 (Letaba /Olifants confluence Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S52 (Shingwedzi River Road) (only section on southern bank of Shingwedzi River open)
S53
S56 (Mphongolo Road)
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)
S114 (Old Malelane Skukuza Road; Open except at the Biyamiti Weir Causeway)
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

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: Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753/ lucy.nhlapo@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