By Mogamat Ameen Strydom
Day visitors to Kruger National Park have been temporarily barred as persistent heavy rainfall continues to affect parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
SANParks confirmed that the precautionary measure will remain in place until weather and road conditions improve. The decision, the organisation said, is aimed at reducing risk and allowing it to focus its limited operational and emergency resources on real emergencies during the current severe weather conditions.
According to SANParks, ongoing rainfall has placed a strain on response teams, and restricting non-essential travel within the park is necessary to ensure the safety of guests, staff, and surrounding communities. The suspension of day visits will be reviewed continuously as conditions change.
Meanwhile, the situation in the northern regions of the park has worsened. 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 as authorities closely monitor developments, effectively cutting off access to the northern parts of the park for now.
SANParks has apologised for the inconvenience and urged the public to remain patient and cooperative during this period. The organisation reiterated that the safety of visitors and staff remains its highest priority and added that further updates will be communicated as the situation evolves.
VOC News
Photo: Letaba Rest Camp
