Repair work is underway in both the Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mozambique, with damaged roads, bridges and tourism facilities being addressed. 

KNP is working on accessibility to the park, while Mozambique focuses on restoring National Highway Number One (EN1), one of the country’s most vital routes for tourism and trade. 

In a statement, JP Louw, the SANParks spokesperson, said restoration efforts are ongoing and visitor safety remains its highest priority. 

“The park’s H7 route (Orpen Gate to Satara) is now open to traffic. Due to significant flood damage at [the] Nsemani Dam area, only one lane is currently accessible. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when passing through this section. Heavy vehicles exceeding eight tonnes are not permitted,” said Louw. 

The Lowvelder reported that SANParks is constructing a bypass via the S12 and S40 routes. 

“This bypass will serve as an alternative route during dam repairs and reconstruction, ensuring continued accessibility,” Louw added. 

The Tsendze Rustic Camp, Masorini Ruins – a late Iron Age site – and Mooiplaas and Babalala picnic sites were opened yesterday. 

“Guests are reminded that gravel roads marked with ‘no entry’ signs must not be accessed under any circumstances. Orpen Gate is now accessible for open safari vehicles. A quota system will apply to manage traffic flow and ensure visitor safety,” he added. 

Louw said SANParks acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the floods and appreciated the patience and co-operation of visitors during this period. 

“Our teams are working tirelessly to restore infrastructure and ensure that Kruger National Park remains a safe and enjoyable destination for all,” he said. 

Waiting game

Kruger National Park isn’t the only tourism hotspot affected by the extreme weather – private lodges along its borders have also taken a hit. 

One of the worst-affected lodges was the Kambaku 2 Boat Safaris and Lodge on the banks of the Olifants River in the Greater Kruger National Park, just south of Phalaborwa in Limpopo.   

The lodge, which is owned by Leon du Plessis (55) and his 56-year-old wife Brenda, was submerged in water. The couple fled the lodge with just the clothes on their bodies. 

Tanya van Eeden, the couple’s daughter, said her father and some staff members have been able to do little more than begin cleaning debris. 

“We are unable to access the lodge to do a complete assessment on the damage because we are waiting for the Selati bridge to be repaired. For now, it is a waiting game,” she said.  

Urgent repairs in Mozambique  

After being severed in six places, Mozambique’s EN1 highway reopened to limited traffic on Friday. The damage, concentrated on the stretch linking Maputo and Gaza, had halted the flow of essential goods and led to widespread food shortages. Provisional repairs now allow for about 60% of normal traffic flow. 

In a statement, João Matlombe, the country’s minister of transport and logistics, said the contractor who secured the road connection is mobilising to position itself in Xai-Xai and Chibuto to carry out emergency repairs. 

“There is still additional work to be done; however, the main objective was to ensure the road was reopened, and, contrary to the initially approved schedule, we doubled the work teams. As a result, the contractor managed to complete the restoration work in seven days,” he said. 

Matlombe added that traffic is currently restricted, and a stop-and-go system is in place. 

“Work will continue as the road was severely affected, especially on the sides, so the expectation is that, over the next three months, until the end of the rainy season, the contractor will be on site carrying out repair work to ensure the road is back in good condition, while work is underway to finalise the detailed design for that section,” he said. 

Matlombe said that the government is conducting an assessment to present an alternative road to the N1 by the end of the rainy season. 

Impact on tourism

Chris Grobler, a co-owner of Lugar Do Mar in Macaneta, around 30kms from Maputo, is originally from South Africa. He said that while the rain has eased and the highway has reopened, there is still uncertainty about when the tourism industry will get back on its feet.  

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