All entrance gates to the Kruger National Park(KNP) are open after the heavy rains and flooding caused by subtropical depression Dando on January 18 and 19, 2011.
Balule, Talamati, Biyamiti and Tamboti camps are closed due to severe damage. According to the press statement, Tamboti will be closed for several months.
Tshokwane picnic site had also been very hard hit by the storm and is closed as well, including the ablutions. At Lower Sabie, six tents have been damaged, but the camp is open and operational.
The Letaba Camp's day visitors' site was also closed, as well as the Makhadzi, Nhlanguleni, Mlondozi and Timbavati Picnic sites. Lake Panic bird hide near Skukuza and Sable Dam near Phalaborwa have been closed until further notice.
Park management requested visitors to use water sparingly and issued a special request to do the same with electricity at Satara Camp, as the Eskom supply line at Balule washed away and the camp is operating on a standby generator.
The Letaba Camp's day visitors' site was also closed, as well as the Makhadzi, Nhlanguleni, Mlondozi and Timbavati Picnic sites. Lake Panic bird hide near Skukuza and Sable Dam near Phalaborwa have been closed until further notice.
Park management requested visitors to use water sparingly and issued a special request to do the same with electricity at Satara Camp, as the Eskom supply line at Balule washed away and the camp is operating on a standby generator.
"Temporary repairs have already started and we will only start with replacements of the whole infrastructure once a full damage assessment has been completed," says Laura Mukwevho, spokesperson for the KNP.
Roads: All tarred roads were open except the following:
- T-junction to Olifants at H8 to the high level bridge had a section of the road washed away and there was a short gravel detour.
- Olifants River causeway at Balule is still closed.
- Tshokwane to Skukuza is open via H12. Sand River Causeway on H1-2 still closed.
- Tshokwane to Lower Sabie has reopened (causeway over Sabie River below camp has been cleared)
- Skukuza to Malelane is fine, via detour to S114. Causeway at Delaporte Waterhole washed away.
- Pretoriuskop to Skukuza - closed. Causeways at Transport Dam and Delaporte Waterhole washed away. Alternative route via S3 to Phabeni/ Skukuza road.
- All gravel roads south of Letaba Riverclosed except following have been reopened: S3, S23, S25 (from S114 to T-junction at S139), S26, S27, S28, S36 (from H7 to S125 turnoff), S37,S39, S40, S41, S51, S62, S82, S89, S90 (causeway over Olifants still closed), S91, S92, S95, S96, S100, S106, S108, S114(from H1-1 to Biyamiti Causeway), S125, S126, S127, S130, S131, S132, S133, S137, S145.
Dando moved inland from the coast of Mozambique and struck hardest in the Hoedspruit area, the KNP, and Nkomazi south of Kruger. In Hoedspruit, more than 300 people had to be airlifted or evacuated. Food and emergency parcels are being distributed to affected families.
The town's water supply is not fit for human consumption and tankers with drinking water are being carted from neighbouring towns.
This help guide to the Entrance Gates of the Kruger National Park includes info on the Southern, Central and Northern entrance gates, as wel...