Africa Wild

Sprocks and Rob - I am moving your chit-chat to the Sports thread.

Flutterby wrote:Sprocks and Rob - I am moving your chit-chat to the Sports thread.

That would be the best Fluts. I don't think these 2 old timers know where to post anymore

Thanks for those pictures, Amazing to see how fast it started flooding.

Latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage

Posted: 20th May 2013


The latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage as at 11:00 on 17 May 2013.


Changes to previous update:
The opening of the beloved Pafuri Picnic Spot
The partial opening of the S63 (Luvuvhu River Road) in northern Nxanatseni.

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
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shimuwini
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Talamati
Tamboti
Tsendze

Camps Closed:
Shingwedzi - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public. Camping to be reopened by 15 June 2013, B-circle units (EH3, BD2, BD2Z & BG2) gradually reopened by end of June 2013 and remainder of camp open by 31 August 2013.
Sirheni - Severely flooded - 5 units open by 26 April 2013 and remaining 10 units by 31 May 2013.

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 - Open
Masorini - Open
Matambeni Hide - Open
Mathekeyane - Open
Mlondozi - Open
Mooiplaas - Open
Muzandzeni - Open
Nhlanguleni - Open
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 - Open (Can only be accessed from Luvuvhu Bridge on western portion of S63 or link road to Border Post tar road. S63 east of Picnic Spot to Crooks Corner remains closed.)
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

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:
H1-1 (Skukuza to Pretoriuskop) breach near Transport Dam (Temporary crossing is available)
S63 (Pafuri Port of Entry Road) (Port of Entry flooded and closed).
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) (Open from S1 to H1-1; closed from H11 to S1)
S32 (Orpen Dam Loop) (Only open from H10 to Orpen Dam)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S57 (Sirheni Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (Portion from Luvuvhu Bridge to Pafuri Picnic Spot and link road to Pafuri Border Post tar road open – S63 eastwards and Crooks Corner remain closed)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:
Crocodile Bridge
Giriyondo - 4x4 vehicles only
Kruger
Malelane
Numbi
Orpen (Orpen to Satara Road (H7) breached at S24.404923 E31.549712. Alternative available (S106 15 km gravel) light vehicles (under 4 tons) only.) Expected to open by October 2013.
Pafuri
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:
Pafuri Port of Entry - Severe flooding. Possibly reopened by 30 June 2013

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.

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

Tourist Enquiries: Michelle van der Merwe 082 601 9354/ michelle.vandermerwe@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

Tx vinkie!

Wonder when the H7 will be reopened?

Thanks vinkie

Latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage

Date: 28th May 2013

The latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage as at 20:00 on 27 May 2013.

Changes to previous update:

The Nwamuriwa Road (S32), east of Tshokwane and leading to Orpen Dam viewpoint, has been reopened.

Camps Open:

Balule - Access via Balule Causeway still closed. Use S89 & S90. Reopening planned for December 2013.
Bateleur
Berg- en- Dal
Biyamiti
Boulders
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Malelane
Maroela
Mopani
Olifants
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Roodewal
Sable Dam Hide
Satara
Shimuwini
Shipindane Hide
Skukuza
Talamati
Tamboti
Tsendze

Camps Closed:

Shingwedzi - Camp and Day Visitors area out of bounds for public. Camping, Reception and filling station to be reopened by 15 June 2013, B-circle units (EH3, BD2, BD2Z & BG2) gradually reopened by end of June 2013 and remainder of camp open by 31 August 2013.
Sirheni - Severely flooded - Camp to reopen 1 June 2013.

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 - Open
Masorini - Open
Matambeni Hide - Open
Mathekeyane - Open
Mlondozi - Open
Mooiplaas - Open
Muzandzeni - Open
Nhlanguleni - Open
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 - Open (Can only be accessed from Luvuvhu Bridge on western portion of S63 or link road to Border Post tar road. S63 east of Picnic Spot to Crooks Corner remains closed.)
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

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:

H1-1 (Skukuza to Pretoriuskop) breach near Transport Dam (Temporary crossing is available)
S63 (Pafuri Port of Entry Road) (Port of Entry flooded and closed).
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only). Expected to reopen by October 2013.

All gravel roads open, except:

S3 (Albasini Road) (Open from S1 to H1-1; closed from H11 to S1)
S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S50 (Shawu Road)(Open from south to S143 turnoff)
S57 (Sirheni Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (Portion from Luvuvhu Bridge to Pafuri Picnic Spot and link road to Pafuri Border Post tar road open – S63 eastwards and Crooks Corner remain closed)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

Crocodile Bridge
Giriyondo - 4x4 vehicles only
Kruger
Malelane
Numbi
Orpen (Orpen to Satara Road (H7) breached at S24.404923 E31.549712. Alternative available (S106 15 km gravel) light vehicles (under 4 tons) only.) Expected to open by October 2013.
Pafuri
Phabeni
Phalaborwa
Punda Maria

Gates Closed:

Pafuri Port of Entry - Severe flooding. Possibly reopened by 30 June 2013
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.

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

Tourist Enquiries: Michelle van der Merwe 082 601 9354/ michelle.vandermerwe@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55538

Shingwedzi re-opens some of its facilities to toursits

June 13, 2013, 9:36 AM

The Kruger National Park (KNP)’s Shingwedzi Rest Camp will re-open some of its facilities to tourists tomorrow, 14 June 2013; after it was temporarily closed in January due to floods that saw the whole Rest Camp under water.

“The Park experiences heavy rains at the beginning of each year with most of our infrastructure such as tourist roads, bridges, picnic spots and bush camps badly affected; however this year we were completely devastated when the whole of Shingwedzi submerged,” said the KNP’s General Manager: Communications & Marketing, William Mabasa.

Although no human life was lost in the Park due to the floods, staff members and tourists at Shingwedzi lost all their belongings, had to pick up the pieces and move on. The repair process, to hopefully restore the Camp’s essence of the bush and rustic feel is on course.

The facilities and services at Shingwedzi which will be open to tourists for now are: the Reception, Temporary Tuck shop, Filling Station, Camping Site and units found at B circle that will gradually be reopened before 30 June 2013.

The following facilities are still closed:
Day Visitors areas (new and old site), bird Hide at Kanniedood dam (to open by the end of August 2013), swimming pool (to open by the end of August 2013), restaurant (to open in September 2013), A Circle units (to open by the end of August 2013). The S50 road alongside the Shingwedzi River via Kanniedood dam and Dipeni outpost will open on 20 June 2013.

There will be a special welcome for guests checking-in at Shingwedzi tomorrow; and to book or find out availability of accommodation, please call the central reservations on 012 428 9111.

Latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage

Date: 21st June 2013

The latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage as at 10:00 on 21 June 2013.

Changes to previous update:

The opening (albeit partially) of Sirheni and Shingwedzi Camps.
The reopening of some key roads, namely S50 (Shawu Road past Kanniedood Dam, S134 (Shingwedzi Round Road) and S57 (Sirheni Road).

Camps Open:

All camps have reopened. However, please take note of the following:
Access to Balule Camp via Olifants River Causeway is still closed and camp can only be accessed via the S89 & S90.
The Shingwedzi Rest Camp has been partially opened. However, the Day Visitors Area, Shop, Restaurant, Swimming Pool, A-circle and Eastern Gate remain closed. There is a small tuck shop with very limited supplies. The Filling Station has reopened, although diesel is not yet available. The Camp Site is fully operational and B-circle will be reopened by the end of June 2013 while A-circle and Rentmeester Guest House is expected to reopen by 1 September 2013.

Picnic Spots / Viewpoints:

All picnic spots and viewpoints have reopened, with the exception of:

Crooks Corner
Kanniedood Hide

***Please take note of the following:
Pafuri Picnic Spot can only be accessed from Luvuvhu Bridge on western portion of S63 or link road to Border Post tar road. S63 east of Picnic Spot to Crooks Corner remains closed.

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:
S63 (Pafuri Port of Entry Road) (Port of Entry flooded and closed).
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only). Expected to reopen by October 2013.

All gravel roads open, except:

S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (Portion from Luvuvhu Bridge to Pafuri Picnic Spot and link road to Pafuri Border Post tar road open – S63 eastwards and Crooks Corner remain closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

All gates and ports of entry have been reopened, with the exception of:
Pafuri Port of Entry

***Please take note of the following:
Orpen to Satara Road (H7) breached at S24.404923 E31.549712. Alternative available (S106 15 km gravel) light vehicles (under 4 tons) only. Expected to open by October 2013

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.

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

Tourist Enquiries: Michelle van der Merwe 082 601 9354/ michelle.vandermerwe@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org

Latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage

Date: 2nd July 2013


The latest update on the Kruger National Park flood damage as at 11:00 on 2 July 2013.

Changes to previous update:

The latest developments at Shingwedzi Rest Camp - inter alia, diesel available again.
The closure of a small section of the H1-8, near the Luvuvhu Bridge, due to repair works.

Camps Open:

All camps have reopened. However, please take note of the following:
Access to Balule Camp via Olifants River Causeway is still closed and camp can only be accessed via the S89 & S90.
The Shingwedzi Rest Camp has been partially opened. However, the Day Visitors Area, Shop, Restaurant, Swimming Pool, A-circle and Eastern Gate remain closed. There is a small tuck shop with very limited supplies. The Filling Station has reopened, although diesel is not yet available. The Camp Site is fully operational and B-circle has partially reopened ansd is expected to be fully reopened by the end of July 2013 while A-circle and Rentmeester Guest House is expected to reopen by 1 September 2013.

Picnic Spots / Viewpoints:

All picnic spots and viewpoints have reopened, with the exception of:
Crooks Corner
Kanniedood Hide

***Please take note of the following:
Pafuri Picnic Spot can only be accessed from Luvuvhu Bridge on western portion of S63 or link road to Border Post tar road. S63 east of Picnic Spot to Crooks Corner remains closed.

Access Roads Inside the Park:

All tarred roads except the following, are open:
S63 (Pafuri Port of Entry Road) (Port of Entry flooded and closed).
H1-8 (short section between S63 and S64 near the Luvhuvhu Bridge). Guests can use the S63 or S64 loops to circumvent the construction that is expected to be completed by 31 July 2013.
H7 (Orpen to Satara) major breach at S24.404923 E31.549712 (S106 to be used as alternative by light vehicles (under 4 tons) only). Expected to reopen by October 2013.

All gravel roads open, except:

S33 (Vutomi Road)
S34 (Munywini Road)
S63 (Luvuvhu Road) (Portion from Luvuvhu Bridge to Pafuri Picnic Spot and link road to Pafuri Border Post tar road open – S63 eastwards and Crooks Corner remain closed)
S64 (Nyala Drive)
S90 (Old Main Road) (Open from south until S89 turnoff – Balule causeway still inaccessible)
S135 (Shingwedzi Causeway Loop)

Gates Open:

All gates and ports of entry have been reopened, with the exception of:
Pafuri Port of Entry

***Please take note of the following:

Orpen to Satara Road (H7) breached at S24.404923 E31.549712. Alternative available (S106 15 km gravel) light vehicles (under 4 tons) only. Expected to open by October 2013

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.

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

Tourist Enquiries: Michelle van der Merwe 082 601 9354/ michelle.vandermerwe@sanparks.org or Joep Stevens 082 802 8093/ joep.stevens@sanparks.org