March 2014 Rains/Floods in Kruger

[alf]

Split from January 2013 Rains/Floods in Kruger.

Now i heard that Limpopo is getting heavy rains. Hopefully this won't cause them to open the gates at Tzaneen dam again. I must visit the park in 17 days time.

[johanrebel]

Got another 26mm at Johnniesdale overnight. The N'waponi river in front of camp came down in flood at 4 a.m., and is still flowing swiftly. It must have rain a lot more to the south, as the much bigger Nhlaralumi River has risen to a level where you can only just get a proper 4x4 through. The N'waponi flows into the Nhlaralumi, which in turn flows into the Olifants.

I'm stuck here, because the incompetents at Avis gave me VW Transporter instead of the SUV I booked.

Johan

[Elsa]

After 2 very heavy storms in the Orpen area we couldn't believe how much the Timbavati river had risen.
What was just a slow moving stream yesterday had changed overnight into a fast flowing river wall to wall.
Now at Satara and just some thunder about earlier but seems to have gone away for now.

[MATTHYS]

And thanks from me too, EJ and Elsa.

More rain @Orpen this evening.

[Toddy]

Lots of rain at Talamati last night but away drive up to Orpen this morning. The Timbavati river is a raging torrent though, have never seen it like this. Currently overcast and humid but no rain. Booked into Bitamiti from Saturday which could prove interesting.

[Safari Gal]

Friends currently at Tamboti have advised that the river is lapping at the fence

[DinkyBird]

Roads Closed in Kruger National Park due to Heavy Rain

Due to heavy rains in and around the southern part of Kruger National Park (KNP) several roads have been closed. Guests are advised not to use any gravel roads and to stay on the tar roads.

The Crocodile Bridge Gate is closed due to the flooding of the Crocodile River. Guests are advised to use the alternative route from Lower Sabie to access Crocodile Bridge Camp.

The Wolhuter trail, Bushman trail and the Sweni trail are also all closed due to the rain. Guests booked at these Wilderness trails are advised to contact Hester van den Berg 012 426 5117; [email protected] for changes to bookings.

For tourist enquiries please contact Lucy Nhlapo on 082 908 4753 or [email protected].

Important Notes

Guest are hereby notified that opening or travelling on a road that has been closed constitutes an offence and such offenders can be fined. Also please note that it is dangerous to cross low level bridges due to the possibility of being washed away.

****Ends****
For previous media statements please go to http://www.sanparks.org

Issued by: South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications: Tel: 012 426 5170

Media Enquiries:
Gabrielle “Gabby” Venter: SANParks Manager: Media and Stakeholder Relations. Tel: 012 426 5065; Cell: 083 825 9435 or Email: [email protected]
or
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli: SANParks General Manager: PR, Media and Stakeholder Relations. Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999 or Email: [email protected]

Tourist Enquiries:
Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753 [email protected]

[MATTHYS]

From lion queen's TR :

connection in BnD is not of the best, will try and quickly post some photos of early morning here in BnD!!

Camp Fence is down on a lot of places!! "River" came all the way up into camp infront of out chalet......





I'm sorry photos are terrible but that was just after 5 this morning!!!

Fence down in front of *** GH.....

S110 river.........

I don't have time now to check spelling of all the river going north on the H3

First bridge.......



Second bridge

Lower Sabie bridge 10H27 just before we crossed........



Lower Sabie bridge 11H03..........



A very brave buffalo!!

He did make it if you wondered!!!

[MATTHYS]

Fence in BnD at chalet 82



And down towards Chalets 70(???)

[judik]

Staying at Letaba- it poured buckets last night with lots of thunder and lightning. Clear in the morning and much much cooker as it was oppressively hot and humid yesterday
Gravel roads not passable with anything but a 4x4- our car is not car enough to make it.
At Oliphants now- power out, river raging but not raining
Not staying here though
Really worried about access to Biyamiti on Sunday with our car

[Elsa]

We drove up to Olifants today and were shocked at the level of the Olifants river, raging chocolate brown bank to bank.
We also popped into the Timbavati picnic spot and were equally stunned by the water levels there.

[Toddy]

Have finally arrived in Satara after been trapped in Talamati for most of the day. The official word is that guests were airlifted out but alas we ended up driving our own vehicle through Manyeleti and up to Orpen. At least we still have our car and possessions as it we were airlifted we wouldn't. The river came right up the the units porches but had subsidled by 3pm when we finally left. The Timbavati river has also subsided greatly since yesterday.

[Safari Gal]

Believe the concrete causeway over the Mlambane on the S25 has been washed away?

[Elsa]

The Sabie river is down considerably this afternoon but most of the sand roads all the way down from Satara are closed.

[Toddy]

Kite, the river only reached the staff residences and units 14 and 15. Not sure if any damage was done though. We ended up evacuating on a no entry road into Manyaleti reserve but I do believe that by 4 pm others were able to cross over the bridge towards Orpen so the bridge is not damaged.
We are due in Biyamiti tomorrow but have just managed to change it for Berg n Dal