Severe flooding forces closure of Kruger National Park

South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park has been closed to visitors after severe flooding caused by weeks of intense rainfall left at least 19 people dead across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Park authorities announced the closure on Thursday as a safety measure, warning that floodwaters continue to rise and that further heavy rain is expected over the next 48 hours.

Earlier, several visitors and staff members were airlifted to safety after floodwaters submerged one of the park’s camps.

The South African Weather Service issued its highest-level weather alert for parts of the country’s northern regions, forecasting between 100 and 200 millimetres of rainfall.

The agency described the conditions as highly unusual and unprecedented.

Persistent rainfall since December has caused rivers to burst their banks, destroying roads and cutting off access to several communities.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited affected areas in Limpopo on Thursday as emergency and search-and-rescue operations intensified.

The South African National Defence Force confirmed that helicopters and aircraft are being deployed to evacuate residents stranded by the floods.

Kruger National Park, which covers nearly 20,000 square kilometres along South Africa’s borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is Africa’s largest game reserve and home to the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.

Park officials said wildlife is expected to cope with the conditions by moving to higher ground.

Explaining the decision to evacuate visitors, park spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said safety was the primary concern.

“We had to take proactive steps to evacuate certain camps, especially bush and rustic camps,” he said, adding that authorities are monitoring the situation daily as there is no clear indication of when the rains will ease.

Beyond South Africa, neighbouring Mozambique has also been affected by unusually heavy rainfall, with evacuations underway in low-lying areas.

Officials there have warned that more rain and strong winds are forecast in the coming days, including around the capital, Maputo.