Persistent rainfall in South Africa has submerged roads, leaving Kruger National Park inaccessible to visitors

South African officials temporarily shut Kruger National Park to visitors on Thursday after days of relentless rain caused rivers to overflow their banks, submerging roads and cutting access to large parts of the reserve. 

Persistent heavy rainfall in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces has filled river channels and covered park roads, prompting South African National Parks (SANParks) to bar entry until conditions improve. 

More than 600 guests, including 67 children, and staff were evacuated by SANParks from several rest camps as floodwaters rose and key routes became inaccessible.  

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 warning for disruptive rain in parts of the region, indicating severe rainfall, which has totaled more than 500mm in some areas. 

Rainfall is expected to continue intermittently over the coming days, "with further localised flooding possible in low-lying areas," according to Willie Aucamp, minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment. He added that while conditions may improve in some southern parts of the park, northern areas remain at risk. 

According to SAnews, at least 19 people have died in other parts of the region since the rains began last month.  

However, the water level of the Letaba River has fallen and there is no longer any water inside the nearby Letaba camp, the park's press service said in a post on X on Friday. However, the camp remains closed, and guests will be contacted to arrange the collection of belongings left behind once risk assessments are completed.

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January falls within South Africa's summer rainy season, which typically runs from October to March, according to SANParks. In October 2024, intense rainfall in Eastern Cape province caused severe flooding that killed at least 10 people and displaced more than 3,000 residents.  

In February 2025, heavy thunderstorms and rain across multiple provinces including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo resulted in flash floods that disrupted transport and damaged properties.