POLOKWANE, South Africa — Severe flooding in South Africa’s northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga has forced the temporary closure of the famed Kruger National Park, with authorities evacuating guests and staff by helicopter as the death toll from weeks of torrential rain rose to at least 19 people.
Officials said flooding swept through parts of the park overnight on Thursday, submerging staff accommodation and rendering several access routes impassable.
Emergency teams airlifted affected workers to safety as park management suspended visitor activities until conditions stabilise.
The flooding is part of a wider humanitarian emergency that has battered Limpopo and Mpumalanga, destroying thousands of homes, washing away roads and bridges, and cutting off access to schools and health facilities.
Among the victims was a five-year-old boy who died in Giyani town, Limpopo. President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled to the region this week to assess the damage and personally offered condolences to the child’s family.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 10 red warning, its highest alert, forecasting continued heavy rainfall across the already affected areas and urging residents to remain vigilant.
“If possible, stay indoors and off the roads,” the agency warned. “Never drive on a road covered by water. If the vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.”
Residents were advised to move valuables above flood levels, switch off electricity at the mains, and relocate livestock to safer areas to minimise losses.
Helicopters and military units have been deployed to rescue stranded residents and support emergency response efforts.
Soldiers are also assisting with rebuilding washed-out roads and low-lying bridges, many of which are critical to rural mobility and service delivery.
Local officials say dozens of schools and health clinics remain either destroyed or inaccessible, compounding the humanitarian impact in already vulnerable communities.
Limpopo Governor Phophi Ramathuba said the province would allocate 4 billion rand (about $244 million) to restore vital infrastructure, including electricity and water supply systems.
“I share in the grief and distress of my fellow citizens,” Ramathuba said on Friday, while appealing for additional funding from the national government.
“The sheer scale of the damage to the road network has made it impossible for the province and affected municipalities to handle this disaster alone,” she added.
Despite the scale of flooding, rangers at Kruger National Park said wildlife was not believed to be at significant risk, noting that animals typically move instinctively to higher ground during extreme weather events.
Kruger, one of Africa’s largest and most visited game reserves, straddles Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces and is a key pillar of South Africa’s tourism economy.
According to Reuters, flooding across south-eastern Africa has become increasingly frequent and severe, with scientists attributing the trend to climate change, which is intensifying storms forming over the Indian Ocean.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, authorities warned that further rainfall could worsen conditions, prolong displacement, and delay the reopening of critical infrastructure — including one of Africa’s most iconic national parks.
