Day visitors to the Kruger National Park have been temporarily barred from entering the park due to persistent heavy rainfall affecting Limpopo and Mpumalanga, SANParks confirmed on Thursday.
The precautionary decision follows ongoing severe weather conditions that have led to rising river levels, flooded roads and increased safety risks within the park.
Unable to exit
Earlier this week, SANParks was forced to manage a challenging situation after several day visitors were unable to exit the park when a bridge at Crocodile Bridge Gate became submerged.
While all visitors were safely assisted, the incident underscored the dangers posed by the current weather.
In a statement, SANParks said the suspension of day visitors is intended to ease pressure on operational and emergency response resources, allowing teams to focus on genuine emergencies and the safety of guests, staff and surrounding communities.
“The decision to restrict day visitor access is a preventative safety measure and will be reviewed continuously as weather and road conditions change,” SANParks said.
The organisation added that it would rather prioritise safety than respond to avoidable incidents linked to non-essential travel during this period of extreme weather.
Evacuations and Gate Closures
Meanwhile, Letaba Rest Camp is in the process of evacuating both staff and guests after water from the Letaba River overflowed into the camp.
In addition, Phalaborwa Gate has been closed for at least 24 hours while conditions are closely monitored.
As a result, there is currently no access to the northern parts of the park.
Apologised for the inconvenience
SANParks apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their understanding and cooperation.
“The safety of all visitors and staff remains our highest priority,” the organisation said.
Further updates will be issued as the situation develops and conditions within the park change.
