Foreign Office travel advisory issued as ‘severe flooding’ hits Kruger National Park

The Foreign Office issued a travel advisory for South Africa after flooding forced the closure of Kruger National Park to day visitors.

Several rivers that run through the vast park in the northeast of the country burst their banks as the result of days of heavy rains.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “Kruger National Park is currently experiencing severe flooding. 

“Evacuations have taken place and flights to and from Hoedspruit Airport have been cancelled.” 

Travellers were advised to check with their travel or accommodation provider about options “and reconsider your itinerary if necessary”. 

The FCDO added: “Plan your route in advance and ensure routes are safe and accessible. Be aware roads may close at short notice. Follow guidance from local authorities and SANParks [South African National Parks].”

SANParks said: "Due to persistent and heavy rainfall affecting the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, the park has taken a precautionary decision not to allow day visitors into Kruger National Park until conditions improve.

“Earlier this week, the park was faced with a challenging situation in which several day visitors were unable to exit the park after a bridge at Crocodile Bridge Gate was covered by water because of rising river levels. 

“While all affected visitors were safely managed, the incident highlighted the risks posed by the ongoing weather conditions.”

The decision to restrict day visitor access was described as a “preventative safety measure” and will be reviewed continuously as weather and road conditions change.

"SANParks sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused by the persisting rainfall and appreciates the understanding and cooperation of the public during this time. The safety of all visitors and staff remains our highest priority," a statement added.

"In the meantime, Letaba Rest Camp is busy evacuating both staff and guests as the water has moved into the rest camp, breaking from the Letaba River.

"Phalaborwa Gate will also close for at least 24 hours – as we monitor the situation closely. This means at the moment there is no access into the northern parts of the park."