The tourism sector has taken a huge hit after several hospitality establishments and tour operators were forced to close their doors and turn away local and international guests because of heavy rainfall.  

Last week, widespread rains across Limpopo and Mpumalanga caused severe flooding and damage to infrastructure. 

As the heavy rainfall intensified, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a level 10 warning. It is, however, forecast that the weather should clear up from today.  

In a statement, Oupa Pilane, special attaché for Tourism Development and Transformation at the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, and co-founder of the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, expressed his deep concern over the devastating impact of persistent heavy rainfall in Mpumalanga.  

“These extreme weather events come at a time when our tourism businesses were already navigating significant challenges in a post-pandemic recovery,” said Pilane.  

“Many operators, lodges, guides, craft sellers, and supporting enterprises in the Lowveld and Panorama Route areas depend heavily on summer visitor numbers. The closures and inaccessibility have brought operations to a standstill, resulting in heavy revenue losses that threaten livelihoods and the broader local economy,” he said.  

Pilane added that preliminary assessments indicate substantial financial strain, with direct impacts on employment in a sector that serves as a critical economic lifeline for Mpumalanga communities.  

“Businesses are bracing for additional costs related to post-rain maintenance, infrastructure repairs, and site rehabilitation once conditions improve and waters recede,” said Pilane.  

He added that they are currently exploring the full extent of these losses, which are running into significant revenue shortfalls.  

“Accurate quantification will only be possible once the rains subside and thorough inspections can be conducted. In the meantime, many operators face immediate cash flow pressures and uncertainty about when visitors can safely return,” he said.  

Pilane urged government, private sector partners and tourism stakeholders to collaborate on rapid response measures, including: 

• Expedited damage assessments and recovery funding for affected attractions and businesses 
• Targeted support packages for small and medium tourism enterprises 
• Co-ordinated marketing efforts to rebuild visitor confidence once safety is assured 
• Long-term investments in climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate future weather-related disruptions 

“Mpumalanga’s natural wonders, from the Blyde River Canyon to our world-class wildlife reserves, remain unparalleled. This is a temporary setback, but we must act decisively to protect jobs, support our entrepreneurs, and ensure the sector emerges stronger,” Pilane said.  

“We call on all role-players to stand together and make hope happen for our tourism communities,” he said.  

Financial impact 

Brendon Steele, the CEO of Elephant Herd Tours and Safaris, said his business has taken a ‘knock’. 

“Financially, we had to close our doors due to there not being any access to the Kruger [National Park]. The bulk of our client base is international and we had lots of cancellations. We are compelled to refund them. This loss is something we cannot recover from,” said Steele.  

He added that some of his colleagues were still recovering from the losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

“During the pandemic, our industry took a hammering. I have a colleague who just paid off his Covid loans and now is hit with another disaster.”    

Anthony Colia, the CEO of MoAfrika Tours, described last week’s heavy rainfall as ‘hectic’.  

“A lot of guests had to be evacuated, and reserves cancelled game drives due to some roads being washed away. The damages to the Kruger National Park is still being assessed,” said Colia.  

He added that the majority of his guests were international, and so far, his company has managed to reschedule 60% of its bookings.  

“About 20% of our clients had travel insurance while the other 20% did not. We are assessing each day as it comes,” he said.  

Nonkululeko Shongwe, one of the managers at the Shingalana Guest House, said while the establishment did not incur any damage, it suffered financial loss. 

“December and January are our peak season, and we had a large number of local and international guests booked for the month. But due to the weather, many guests cancelled and we had to give some of them refunds. At this stage, I am not sure how long it will take us to recover from this loss,” added Shongwe.  

Damage to infrastructure 

SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said increased rainfall overnight has resulted in further damage to park infrastructure. 

“The Kruger National Park has implemented a gate quota system with immediate effect in the interest of visitor safety and effective traffic management. A gate quota system will apply at the following open gates: Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate and Paul Kruger Gate, and all open safari vehicles will form part of these gate quotas. Guests are requested to ensure that their vehicles have fuel as the filling stations at camps might be affected by the persisting rain,” he added.  

Louw said essential delivery vehicles, airport transfers with proof of a valid flight ticket, and officials will be allowed entry through Paul Kruger Gate only. 

“The Skukuza to Phabeni Gate route is currently closed due to flooding, as a stream has cut off access along the S1 road. Phabeni Gate is therefore inaccessible via Skukuza at this stage. Orpen Gate will remain closed until further notice due to safety concerns. The northern part of the KNP remains inaccessible, and as a result, all gates in the north are closed,” he said.                                                                                                                     

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