Floods Cause Devastating Damage to South Africa’s Kruger Park

South Africa’s Kruger National Park has suffered heavy damage to key infrastructure after severe flooding, with repair costs expected to exceed 30 million dollars, officials said on Thursday. Intense rainfall and rising rivers last week forced the globally known safari park to suspend day visits and evacuate tourists and staff by air. Large areas of the park, which is almost the size of Wales, were submerged as floodwaters spread across roads, camps, and facilities.

Although no lives were lost inside the park, several sections remained underwater days later. Fifteen camps were still closed, and more than 500 staff members were unable to leave, waiting for water levels to drop, according to SANParks CEO Hapiloe Sello.

Environment Minister Willie Aucamp said early estimates show that damage to critical infrastructure in Kruger alone could exceed half a billion rand, around 30.6 million dollars. The floods destroyed staff housing and tourist accommodation and caused serious damage to bridges, roads, water systems, and electrical networks.

SANParks, the public agency that manages South Africa’s 21 national parks, also warned of financial strain. Loss of tourism income from Kruger, its most important park, could affect the organisation’s overall operating budget and put pressure on the wider national parks system.

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