Africa Wild

This from today's Lowvelder...quite an extensive article, will translate the salient points later:













Bottom line is all camps/spots should HOPEFULLY be open by end Feb. except for Shing, Sirheni and Pafuri picnic spot. (End September)
Motivation is that they are losing money.

"Visitors are complaining that flood damage from 2012 had not even been repaired by the 2013 floods. KNP replies not a cent of R27,5 Million applied for to the National Disaster Management Fund was received.

Blake Schraade, Head of Technical Services, says R32 milion worth of damage was done to buildings and powerlines. Most damage was to roads and bridges...uninsured...R28.5 Million.

The Park did it's own minimal repairs, specifically to allow access to camps, which eventually tallied R14 Million. (All South of Timbavati)

In January's floods, insured infrastructure...Sirheni and Shingwedzi...suffered R64 mil. damage, and insured roads/bridges R32.5 mil. Estimated damage to uninsured infrastructure runs at R89.9 mil., including fencing both East and West.

Hopefully all will be repaired by end September, but uninsured infrastructure will depend on cash income.

Pafuri Entrance Gate should have be opened to all visitors yesterday, and while Pafuri Border Post is open again, it is still inaccessable from the Moz side,

Wow RP - what is amazing is that the Park has 89m infrastructure un-insured.

Kruger National Park flood damage update

Date: 18th February 2013

Kruger National Park flood update as as 08:00 on 18 February 2013.

Camps Open:

Balule - Access via Balule Causeway still closed. Use S89 & S90.
Bateleur
Berg- en- Dal
Biyamiti
Boulders
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Maroela
Mopani
Olifants - Pump infrastructure washed away and on emergency boreholes
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shimuwini - Flood damage and inaccessible
Shingwedzi - Severally flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public
Sirheni - Flood damage
Talamati - Flood damage and inaccessible
Tamboti - Fence breached and inaccessible

Picnic Spots / Viewpoints:

Afsaal - Open
Albasini Ruins - Open
Babalala - Open
Bobbejaan Krans - Open (Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712)
Crooks Corner - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible)
Eileen Orpen Memorial - Open
Gardenia Hide - Open
Kanniedood Hide - Closed (Inaccessible)
Lake Panic Hide - Open
Makhadzi - Closed (Flooded)
Masorini - Open
Matambeni Hide - Open
Mathekeyane - Open
Mlondozi - Open
Mooiplaas - Open
Muzandzeni - Closed (Flood damage)
Nhlanguleni - Closed (Roads closed)
Nkuhlu - Open
Nkumbe - Open
Nthandanyathi Hide - Open
Nwamanzi - Open
Nwanetsi - Open
Nyawutsi Hide - Closed (Roads closed)
Olifants River on S44 - Open
Orpen Dam - Open (Accessible from H10 only Tshokwane Lower Sabie tar road)
Pafuri Picnic Spot - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible)
Paul Kruger Tablets - Open
Pioneer Hide - Open
Rabelais Museum - Open
Ratel Pan Hide - Open
Redrocks - Open
Sable Dam - Open
Shibyatsangela - Closed (Roads closed)
Shipandani Hide - Open
Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial - Open
Sweni Hide - Open
Timbavati - Open
Tshanga - Open
Tshokwane - Open (Temporary ablutions provided no other services)

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:

H1-1 (Skukuza to Pretoriuskop) breach near Transport Dam (Temporary detour is available).
S63(Pafuri Port of Entry Road).
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only).

All gravel roads open, except:

S3 (Albasini Road)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed)
S44 (Letaba /Olifants confluence Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S52 (Shingwedzi River Road) (only section on southern bank of Shingwedzi River open)
S53
S56 (Mphongolo Road)
S57 (Sirheni Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (northern riverside section closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S99 (Mahogany Loop) (Partially open from both ends)
S114 (Old Malelane Skukuza Road; Open except at the Biyamiti Weir Causeway)
S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

Crocodile Bridge
Giriyondo - 4x4 vehicles only
Kruger
Malelane
Numbi
Orpen Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712 light vehicles only
Pafuri
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:

Pafuri Port of Entry - Severe flooding

Important Notes:

Please keep in mind that, due to heavy rainfall, the status of roads can change without notice. Guests are urged to take special caution when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges.

Guest are hereby notified that opening or travelling on a road that has been closed constitutes an offence and such offenders can be fined.

Guests are kindly urged to use water sparingly as camps/ gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.

Emergency Numbers:

Media enquiries: Reynold Thakhuli 073 373 4999 / Ike Phaahla 083 673 6974

Tourist Enquiries: Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753/ lucy.nhlapo@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

For changes to bookings: Please contact our Reservations offices on 012 426 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org or on the web at www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations

News24
2013-02-18 12:40

Johannesburg - The cost of damage caused by recent flooding in the Kruger National Park has exceeded R153m.

Beeld reports that staff who experienced the latest flood said it was much worse than the one that happened in February 2000.

While most of the camps, gates and picnic spots that were closed have been reopened, there are still a few that will remain closed for a while. These include Bateleur, Shimuwini, Si-rheni and Talamati.

Tamboti tented camp and the Maroela caravan site, which are both located close to the Orpen gate and on the shores of the Timbavati River are also still closed.

Shingwedzi suffered the most damage and is only expected to be opened to the public in May, Laura Mukwevho, a spokesperson for the park told the paper.

The cost of damage to rest camps, picnic spots and lookout points alone is an estimated R64m.

As far as roads are concerned, the H1-1 between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop is very badly damaged, but a temporary detour has been constructed. Check out the latest update from SANParks for full details.

Reynold Thakhuli SANParks GM: Media Liaison & Stakeholder Relations, said visitors must please keep in mind that, due to heavy rainfall, the status of roads could change without notice.

He urged visitors to be particularly cautious when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges.

He also urged visitors to use water sparingly at camps/gates and picnic spots as many areas operated on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.

Hoping against hope that Shimuwini and Tamboti will be reopened by early part of April. Going to be some disappointed people if they aren't. See below

2013-02-19 08:37

Cape Town - Despite heavy flooding in the Kruger National Park, some access has returned to the park, but many roads and camps remain closed.

On Monday, the South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that several camps had opened after flood damage, but some roads remain closed.

The Shimuwini, Shingwedzi, Sirheni, Talamati and Tamboti camps remain closed due to flood damage from heavy rain in January that saw 15 tourists having to be airlifted to safety.

SANParks said that the road from Skukuza to Pretoriuskop (H1-1) is closed as well as the Pafuri Port of Entry Road and gate, and the route from Orpen to Satara (H7) has been severely damaged.

Visitors to the park should be aware that submerged may represent a danger as the depth of the water may be misjudged.

"Guests are urged to take special caution when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges," SANParks said.

Several gravel roads in the park are also closed SANParks advised visitors to use water sparingly.

"Guests are kindly urged to use water sparingly as camps/ gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity."

Some confusion here, as Mr Schraader said he hopes Talamati, Shimuweni, Boulders, Bateleur and Balule will be open by the end of this month!?

Kruger National Park flood damage update

Date: 20th February 2013

Kruger National Park flood damage update as at 08:00 on 20 February 2013

Camps Open:

Balule - Access via Balule Causeway still closed. Use S89 & S90.
Bateleur
Berg- en- Dal
Biyamiti
Boulders
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Maroela
Mopani
Olifants - Pump infrastructure washed away and on emergency boreholes
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shimuwini - Flood damage and inaccessible
Shingwedzi - Severally flooded - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public
Sirheni - Flood damage
Talamati - Flood damage and inaccessible
Tamboti - Fence breached and inaccessible

Picnic Spots / Viewpoints:

Afsaal - Open
Albasini Ruins - Open
Babalala - Open
Bobbejaan Krans - Open (Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712)
Crooks Corner - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible)
Eileen Orpen Memorial - Open
Gardenia Hide - Open
Kanniedood Hide - Closed (Inaccessible)
Lake Panic Hide - Open
Makhadzi - Closed (Flooded)
Masorini - Open
Matambeni Hide - Open
Mathekeyane - Open
Mlondozi - Open
Mooiplaas - Open
Muzandzeni - Closed (Flood damage)
Nhlanguleni - Closed (Roads closed)
Nkuhlu - Open
Nkumbe - Open
Nthandanyathi Hide - Open
Nwamanzi - Open
Nwanetsi - Open
Nyawutsi Hide - Closed (Roads closed)
Olifants River on S44 - Open
Orpen Dam - Open (Accessible from H10 only Tshokwane Lower Sabie tar road)
Pafuri Picnic Spot - Closed (Major flood damage and inaccessible)
Paul Kruger Tablets - Open
Pioneer Hide - Open
Rabelais Museum - Open
Ratel Pan Hide - Open
Redrocks - Open
Sable Dam - Open
Shibyatsangela - Closed (Roads closed)
Shipandani Hide - Open
Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial - Open
Sweni Hide - Open
Timbavati - Open
Tshanga - Open
Tshokwane - Open (Temporary ablutions provided no other services)

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:

H1-1 (Skukuza to Pretoriuskop) breach near Transport Dam (Temporary detour is available).
S63(Pafuri Port of Entry Road).
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only).

All gravel roads open, except:

S3 (Albasini Road)
S21 (Nwatimhiri Road)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S36 (Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni Road)(H1-2 to S125 closed)
S44 (Letaba /Olifants confluence Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S52 (Shingwedzi River Road) (only section on southern bank of Shingwedzi River open)
S53
S56 (Mphongolo Road)
S57 (Sirheni Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (northern riverside section closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S114 (Old Malelane Skukuza Road; Open except at the Biyamiti Weir Causeway)
S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

Crocodile Bridge
Giriyondo - 4x4 vehicles only
Kruger
Malelane
Numbi
Orpen Orpen to Satara road breached at S24.404923 E31.549712 light vehicles only
Pafuri
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:

Pafuri Port of Entry - Severe flooding
Important Notes:

Please keep in mind that, due to heavy rainfall, the status of roads can change without notice. Guests are urged to take special caution when travelling in heavy rain and not to cross submerged roads or flooded causeways and bridges.

Guest are hereby notified that opening or travelling on a road that has been closed constitutes an offence and such offenders can be fined.

Guests are kindly urged to use water sparingly as camps/ gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity.

Emergency Numbers:

Media enquiries: Reynold Thakhuli 073 373 4999 / Ike Phaahla 083 673 6974

Tourist Enquiries: Lucy Nhlapo 082 908 4753/ lucy.nhlapo@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

For changes to bookings: Please contact our Reservations offices on 012 426 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org or on the web at www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations

Eish!

Lots still closed, but better to wait for rains to stop!

Wonder what Crooks' Corner looks like?