SANParks ON ALERT AS MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO FALL
According to reports from the South African Weather Services, various parts of the Kruger National Park (KNP), will continue to receive rainfall as from Friday, 10 February until Friday, 17 February 2023. Disaster management teams in the park and external role players are on alert and monitoring the impact of this rainfall.
An evacuation operation is underway to assist guests who were staying at Lower Sabie, Talamati, Crocodile Bridge and Biyamiti with available safe passage out of the park. This is an evacuation route, and no guests will be able to travel through to those camps. Guests with bookings at affected camps are advised to amend their dates through Central Reservations number 012 428 9111.
Although there were no injuries or fatalities, there was an incident yesterday wherein a tourist vehicle got stuck in the water at one of the bridges in the Park.
“We would like to once again urge guests not to attempt to cross any bridges that are overflowing as the dangers of being washed away remain high. Guests are further advised not to open or travel on any roads which have been closed and not to use gravel roads. As a precautionary measure, the teams have closed gravel roads in the south as well as flagged camps (Talamati, Lower Sabie, Crocodile Bridge and Biyamiti) since the fall of heavy rains in the evening of 8 February 2023.
Meanwhile, emergency teams are also closely monitoring the situation in the northern part of the park as rivers have also started rising in various parts of Limpopo Province,” said the KNP Managing Executive, Oscar Mthimkhulu.
Also read: Six (6) life terms handed down by Evander court
Camps/ Lodges
All are open except Lower Sabie, Biyamiti, Crocodile Bridge and Talamati.
Gates/ Ports of Entry
All Gates and Ports of Entry are open except Crocodile Bridge.
Access roads inside the park
All tarred roads are open except:
The route directly from Lower Sabie to Skukuza remains inaccessible
The route between Satara and Skukuza has been restored and is operational.
The water flowing into the Lonely bull bridge is rising; the tar road between Phalaborwa and Mopani will be affected; please be cautious.
“We request tourists to be extra cautious during this period and to call our emergency number for any assistance only on 076 801 9679 or 013 735 0197/4064. We will also continue to update the public through mainstream as well as social media platforms in order to ensure guests are informed. We encourage those who have access to social media platforms to also assist by posting valuable updates on SANParks – Kruger National Park Facebook group,” concluded Mthimkhulu.
