PHALABORWA- Happy Mhlari and Johnson Mbungele, two general workers from Mopani rest camp in the Kruger National Park (KNP), were less than happy when they had to spend the night on a bridge with no communication or protection.
Mhlari and Mbungele had returned to the KNP via the Phalaborwa gate late on May 23 after a visit to a nearby hospital for medical reasons.
Upon reaching the Letaba bridge, almost 40km from the gate, the unexpected appearance of a hippo caused Mbungele to swerve and leave the road, landing the SANPark’s owned Toyota Hilux in the riverbed after 2 meter fall.
Neither sustained serious injuries, but the hapless workers were stranded without cell phone signal or any means of protecting themselves from wild animals.
They managed to start a fire on the bridge and spent the night huddled close to the flames, hoping that it would keep danger at bay.
A search party was launched the next morning as soon as the absence of the vehicle was noted.
SANParks spokesperson, Ms Gabrielle Venter confirmed that Mbungele had not been speeding at the time of accident, “All fleet vehicles are equipped with a tracker to monitor speed. The maximum allowed for staff is 65 km/hour and they travelled at 50 km/hour.”
This is not a usual occurrence, said KNP spokesman, Mr William Mabasa.
In April 2013, a couple from the Cape, Meghan Opperman and Keegan Steward, spent a night in their car near Orpen Rocks after getting stuck in a dry river bed. They were rescued the following day when they also discovered to their horror, the carcasses of poached rhino within 500m of their vehicle.
Lowvelder reported in 2012 about a couple that were stranded after ignoring a no-entry sign on a gravel road. These visitors had decided to abandon their car and brave the wild by foot to find help, walking more than 20 kilometers before encountering other visitors and finding assistance.
