Kruger flood chaos abating
2013-01-24 08:22
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As Mpumalanga and Limpopo experience high rainfall, entire towns have been affected by extensive flooding. See the pictures.
Game reserves, lodges and resorts are assessing damage to their properties after 450mm fell in the Limpopo province, causing the Limpopo River to burst its banks, leaving much of the region flooded.
According to a Sapa report Limpopo Tourism Agency spokesman Mike Tauatsoala said some of its resorts were left inaccessible after a bridge leading to the area was washed away.
"The most affected include Mphephu Resort, Makuya (Singo) Park, Eclipse Tented Camp and Nwanedi Resort," he said.
While the extent of the damage had not yet been established, Tauatsoala predicted it would have a great impact on the province's tourism sector.
At the Kruger National Park, gravel roads and some camps were closed at the weekend due to the heavy rains.
SANParks have, in the mean time, announced that a number of Kruger's camps, gates and roads have been reopened, but that Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site remain closed until order had been restored.
Mapungubwe spokesperson Divhani Maremba told Tourism Update that the park is full of water, and the Limpopo River is still full to capacity. Maremba said that clean-up operations had started and that camps will be open to the public from January 26.
Here is a full update regarding Kruger's camps, roads and gates:
Camps Open:
Berg-en-Dal
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Mopani (via Letaba only)
Olifants
Orpen (only accessible from Orpen Gate - no internal access from KNP)
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria (only accessible from Punda Maria Gate - no internal access from KNP)
Skukuza
Camps Closed:
Bateleur (flooded & access),
Balule (services)
Biyamiti (access)
Maroela (access)
Roodewal (access)
Shimuwini (partially flooded & access)
Shingwedzi (major flood damage)
Shipindane Hide (access)
Sirheni
Sable Dam Hide
Talamati (partially flooded & access)
Tamboti (fencing & access)
Tsendze
Picnic Spots Open:
Afsaal
Masorini
Nkuhlu
Nwanetsi
Tshokwane
Picnic spots closed:
Babalala (access)
Makhadzi (access & flooded)
Mlondozi (access)
Muzandzeni (flooded & access)
Nhlanguleni (access)
Pafuri (flooded & access)
Timbavati (access)
Access Roads Inside the Park:
All tarred roads except the following, are open:
Skukuza to Pretoriuskop (H1-1) breach at Transport Dam.
Olifants River causeway at Balule is still closed.
Causeways over Sabie and Sand Rivers between Skukuza and Tshokwane (H1-2) still overflowing and closed. Guests to use alternative via H4-1 and H12.
Orpen to Satara (H7) breach over Phelwani River.
Shingwedzi Camp and Day Visitor Site is not accessible to the public.
Shingwedzi to Punda Maria/Pafuri (H1-7) (Shingwedzi & Nkulumbeni bridges and water over road in various other areas).
Tshokwane to Lower Sabie has been reopened (causeway over Sabie River below camp has been cleared).
All gravel roads are closed.
Gates Open:
Crocodile Bridge
Malelane
Orpen (only Orpen Camp can be accessed - not into the rest of Kruger)
Numbi
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria (only Punda Maria Camp can be accessed - not into the rest of Kruger)
Kruger
Giriyondo Border Post (4x4 vehicles only)
Gates Closed:
Pafuri
Important Notes:
SANParks urged guests to use water sparingly as camps/ gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.
