Below is the latest update from SANParks on the flood damage in the Kruger National Park following the heavy rains and resultant flooding in the area in January.
Reynold Thakhuli SANParks GM: Media Liaison & Stakeholder Relations, said due to heavy rainfall, the status of roads could change without notice. He advised visitors to be especially cautious when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges.
Thakuli cautioned that opening or travelling on a road that had been closed constituted an offence and such offenders would be fined. He urged visitors to use water sparingly at camps/gates and picnic spots as many areas operated on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.
Changes to previous update:
The S114 (old main road, Malelane to Skukuza) has been reopened.
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
•Orpen
•Pretoriuskop
•Punda Maria
•Roodewal
•Sable Dam Hide
•Satara
•Shimuwini
•Shipindane Hide
•Skukuza
•Talamati
•Tsendze
Camps closed:
•Shingwedzi - severely flooded; camp and day visitors area out of bounds to public
•Sirheni - flood damage
•Tamboti - scheduled to reopen on March 21
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 - open
•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
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) (open from S1 to H1-1; closed from H11 to S1)
•S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
•S30 (Salitje Road)
•S32 (Orpen Dam Loop) Only open from H10 to Orpen Dam
•S33 (Vutomi Road)
•S34 (Munywini Road)
•S36 (Nhlanguleni/Muzandzeni Road) H1-2 to S125 closed
•S50 (Shawu Road) Open from south to S143 turn-off
•S57 (Sirheni Road)
•S63 (Luvuvhu Road) northern riverside section closed
•S64 (Nyala Drive)
•S90 (Old Main Road) Open from south until S89 turn-off – Balule causeway still inaccessible
•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
