KNP evacuates guests from flooding camps to safer ones

Different parts of the KNP, specifically the far north, received heavy rain that forced the Kruger Park management to temporarily close all the gravel roads and remote camps.

Helicopters flew to flagged camps to move guests to safer camps. Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks’ acting head of communications, commented,

“These closures are necessary to ensure visitors’ safety during this time and we would like to advise guests to stick to tar roads while driving inside the park.”

Els-Katrien Vantieghem, a guest at Nyalaland Wilderness Trail Camp, said, “It was an exciting time. I never thought they would fly from Skukuza to us, but they did.” She thanked the two SANParks helicopter pilots that evacuated them.

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Park management advised guests to avoid all roads with “No Entry” signs or those that are blocked with other objects.

By Thursday morning the water levels had reduced.

“Both the Letaba and Olifants are still running nicely today, but the levels have dropped,” said Dalene Preston, social media administrator, KNP.

“Many of the smaller rivers have stopped running, or are at just a trickle. Interestingly, as soon as the rainfall in the catchment areas stops, the rivers slow down quickly. The N’waswitsontso is still running strongly. This river runs past Tshokwane, into Orpen Dam and out into Mozambique.”

No injuries or extreme damage have been reported.  SANParks have not yet confirmed when the camps will be reopened.

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This month, exactly 20 years ago, the KNP experienced devastating floods.

The 2000 flood in the KNP left an imprint that may influence river ecosystems for decades to come, according to research by the Centre for Water in the Environment at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Flood damage was estimated at more than R67 million at the time.

In places, more than 500 millimetres of rain was recorded in 24 hours. More than 300 tourists and staff members had to be rescued from rivers.

The old railways bridge at Crocodile Bridge could not bear the brunt of the debris and water.

One of the middle pillars was pushed over, resulting in the two steel sections crashing into the flooded river.

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Letaba Camp was evacuated on February 24, although the river of 490 kilometres never broke its banks.

Gerhard Smit, a visitor shortly after the floods, recalled that it was a shock to see the damage. “But at the same time I realised this was the way of nature to clean up the river.”

It was impossible at the time of the flood to ascertain the extent of the mortality among the wildlife. Some carcasses were spotted and baboons were seen clinging to debris. Many of the animals gathered on roads.