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13 February 2023

Update on Kruger National Park Floods

Various parts of the Kruger National Park (KNP) are expected to receive more rain in the coming week (13 – 17 February 2023). This has led to park management temporarily closing some of the remote camps and evacuating staff members to nearer safer camps until the situation improves.

“As a precautionary measure, gravel roads and remote camps have been temporarily closed including those used to evacuate guests from Lower Sabie, Biyamiti and Crocodile Bridge out of the KNP yesterday. Closures are necessary to ensure everybody’s safety during this time and we would like to advise guests to keep to the tar roads whilst driving inside the Park. A disaster management team is in motion and periodic updates will be released until the situation improves,” said the KNP Managing Executive, Oscar Mthimkhulu.

He further reported that tar roads are open although the teams had to temporarily close some of them for a short period yesterday (the route between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza as well as the one between Malelane and Skukuza) for guests’ safety, but these were reopened as soon as flash floods stopped. Skukuza Airport is operating but advises passengers to contact their lodges to get information before flying to Skukuza. The airport is currently processing passengers to and from the airport via Shelati Bridge; and all transfer companies, lodge representatives, and car hire should pick up and drop off in the Skukuza Day Visitors Site which is adjacent to the train/bridge because the Sabie low-level bridge is currently flooded.

The status of camps and roads in the Park is as follows:

  • Gravel roads in the South remain closed
  • All tar roads in the Park are open; except the main road between Skukuza and Lower Sabie
  • Talamati Bush Camp is closed
  • Balule is closed
  • Biyamiti Bush Camp closed
  • Sable Hide closed
  • Shimuwini, Bateleur and Sirheni Bush Camps open
  • All Rest Camps are operational except Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie
  • All Entrance Gates except Crocodile Bridge are open

“Honorary Rangers and KNP roads teams continue to clear debris on the bridges and anywhere else when necessary. We advise guests to avoid all roads with ‘No Entry’ signs or blocked with other objects. We also urge visitors who want to enquire or send communication related to the rainfall to contact our Emergency Centre Numbers 013 735 0197/4325 or 076 801 9679,” concluded Mthimkhulu.

Issued By

South African National Parks: Kruger National Park

Media enquiries:
Isaac Phaahla
Communications and Marketing, KNP
Telephone: 013 735 4363, cell 083 673 6974 or email: [email protected]