January 2013 Rains/Floods in Kruger

[Ifubesi]

Wildtuinman: The fact of the matter is, SANP is going to have to re-assess the high water levels of these rivers and re-design most affected camps and picnic spots accordingly.

Agree with you 100%. Especially Shingwedzi which lies in a floodplain.

[alf]

Wildtuinman,

By the looks of how wide the letaba river and how high the water level at letaba camp was yesterday im sure half of shimuwini could be under water which would be sad. But lets wait and see

[DinkyBird]

These are from Grant Knight's facebook page, also on SANParks facebook page, so they have the copyright.


shing1 people on roof by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing3 by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing5 by dinkybird, on Flickr


highwater bridge by dinkybird, on Flickr

More to come ...

[Rooies]

When one look at the picture of the empty Kanniedood dam (taken a while ago), it is clear that the dam will eventually silt up like some of the other dams in Kruger. It will be a guess as to what effect all this water will have on the dam. The dam may be gone, less silt up or perhaps more.

The strength of water is also evident on a much smaller scale. At my office there is a small pipe that discharges water from the aircon onto the paving Over the years, the drip-drip-drip has made a hole in the paving, something that hundreds of feet could not do.

Another aspect that we have to keep in mind is that all this water must eventually go through Moz. Now consider this; The Klaserie, Nhlaralumi, Timbavati, Olifants, Shingwedzi, Levuvhu, Sashe rivers, and also all the smaller streams and rivers, flow into the Limpopo and together they will hit Moz.

It must be a flood of Biblical proportions.

[DinkyBird]

I assume that is the bridge at shingwedzi?

Yes, I forgot to copy the caption off facebook. It is the highwater bridge.

[DinkyBird]

More from SANParks/Grant Knight:


shing6 Staff quarters in front in the picture and on the horizon side the camp by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing7 by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing8 by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing9 resturant by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing10 by dinkybird, on Flickr

More to come ...

[DinkyBird]

SANParks/Grant Knight's pics:


shing11 staff made holes in thatch to escape wash away by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing13 by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing12 - flood water line by dinkybird, on Flickr


Sirheni bridge by dinkybird, on Flickr


shing15 by dinkybird, on Flickr

[DinkyBird]

:lol: Those uncomfortable outdoor chairs and tables of park are not going anywhere. Floodline up by doors and chairs and tables still standing in their position and upright. They will be around for another 100 years.

Bet they do not even insure them

[threedogs]

Totally shocked by the photos of Shingwedzi and thinking of Shimuwini, Pafuri and everywhere else so badly affected.

Feeling for the staff and their families who have lost possessions and been displaced.

It must be so devastating for Sanparks to have to face the process and costs of damage repair to infrastructure and loss of revenue once again.

I wonder at how staff who have no work for the coming days or weeks will cope? Is there a need for financial help? Could we forumites help in any way?

Best wishes to all who are dealing directly with this in the park.

[DinkyBird]

These pics are from Ecojunkie :


Flooded Letaba river bridge Phalaborwa-Mopani road 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Flooded bridge on Phalaborwa-Mopani road 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Floods near Pafuri pump house 17th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Flooded road at Pafuri pump house 17th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Letaba river from camp 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Letaba river 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr

More to come ...

[DinkyBird]

More pics from Ecojunkie - thank you EJ for sharing these!:


Olifants river at bridge 21st Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Letaba river from restaurant 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Olifants river below camp morning 21st Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Olifants river below camp evening 20th Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Olifants river morning 21st Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr


Olifants river from bridge 21st Jan 2013 by dinkybird, on Flickr

[weesy]

WOW we sit from afar and cry for our beloved Kruger and all she represents.. The animals will go to higher ground and nature will take its course with the weakest. Yes most of us know its mankind fault for messing up the ozone layer but that does not explain human suffering. Those pics of the helecopters dropping off the staff is so poignant..and i feel for them all. Thank you SAAF for intervening in times of need and our thoughts are with those who have lost everything. You have your lives...and we can only wish u well...there will be those who help. lets rally together to support them and their families..
See you Kruger in 14 weeks time..... God bless all

[DinkyBird]

Grant Knight/SANParks' pic that weesy refers to:


shing2 staff rescued by SAAF by dinkybird, on Flickr

[spargish]

Shocking Pictures Well Done to the SAAF and all the Kruger staff that worked to save lives at Shing

[RosemaryH]

The pic's are devastating - what the folk at Shingwedzi must have gone through????

RobertT, the exact thought about the chairs went through my mind They have been around for years and they always seem to stay put. I noticed the exact same thing (the chairs) at Tshokwane in the 2012 floods. It was closed they were rebuilding just about everything and the old faithful chairs were waiting on the outskirts of Tshokwane to be put back in their places - amazing!!

indeed spargish. A huge to each and everyone of them!!