Kruger National Park Floods: Access Severely Restricted, Camps Closed, and Tourism Suspended
Prolonged and intense rainfall continues to disrupt large areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with Kruger National Park facing some of its most severe flooding in recent memory. As of 16 January 2026, multiple sections of the park remain inaccessible, and critical infrastructure has suffered significant damage, prompting SANParks to maintain a strict suspension of day visitor access until further notice. This decision is rooted in ongoing adverse weather, waterlogged and damaged roads, and compromised facilities, all of which pose heightened safety risks for both visitors and staff.
Access to Kruger National Park is now strictly limited. Only essential delivery and service vehicles, airport transfers with proof of confirmed flight bookings, guests holding valid overnight reservations at Berg-en-Dal, Pretoriuskop, and Skukuza rest camps, and essential SANParks staff are permitted entry. All other visitor access, including day visits, remains suspended. The northern regions of the park are particularly hard-hit, with extensive flooding and road damage rendering them completely inaccessible.
Among the most affected areas is Letaba Rest Camp, where the Letaba River’s water level has dropped, but the camp remains closed due to the absence of water inside and ongoing safety assessments. Guests will be contacted to arrange collection of any possessions left behind once risk assessments are complete. The Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge crossings have seen water levels subside slightly, but both bridges remain closed due to safety concerns and structural assessments.
In a new development, Satara Rest Camp has also been temporarily closed after staff residential quarters were inundated. All affected staff have been safely evacuated, and no injuries have been reported. Disruptions to water supply and electricity have made it impossible to continue operations at Satara until further notice.
All tourism-related activities within Kruger National Park are currently suspended. This includes guided game drives, bush walks, and all organised safari or wilderness experiences. Many internal roads are saturated, damaged, or completely inaccessible, making it unsafe to conduct any tourism activities at present.
Guests departing the park are strongly advised to remain vigilant and monitor road conditions outside Kruger, as several provincial and regional routes across Limpopo and Mpumalanga have also been affected by flooding. Conditions may change rapidly, and caution is essential.
SANParks continues to monitor the situation closely in cooperation with disaster management authorities and will provide regular updates as conditions evolve. The safety of guests, staff, and surrounding communities remains the highest priority for park management [[1]](https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2026-01-15-kruger-national-park-closed-to-day-visitors-amid-heavy-flooding-in-limpopo-mpumalanga/).
For Africa’s tourism professionals, these developments highlight the critical importance of robust crisis management, clear communication with clients, and the need for flexible contingency planning in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather events. As the situation unfolds, the industry will be watching closely for updates on reopening timelines and infrastructure recovery, which will be key to restoring confidence and resuming normal operations in one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations.
