Summary
- Kenya Wildlife Service has temporarily closed Sala Gate at Tsavo East National Park due to heavy rains and flash floods.
- At least 15 tourist vans were stranded inside the park before being safely rescued.
- Authorities have advised visitors to use Bachuma and Voi gates as alternative entry points.
NAIROBI, Kenya— The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has temporarily closed the Sala Gate at Tsavo East National Park after heavy rains triggered flash floods that rendered several roads inside the park impassable.
In a statement issued on Sunday, March 8, KWS announced that tourists will not be allowed to access the park through the gate until further notice as authorities assess the situation.
The decision follows heavy downpours in the area that caused flooding in parts of the park, prompting a public advisory from the wildlife agency.
Tourist Vans Stranded in Flooded Park
The closure comes after videos circulated online showing about 15 tourist vans stranded inside the wildlife park due to the flooding.
According to KWS, the vehicles were trapped along flooded sections of the park’s road network.
However, by Sunday, all the vehicles had been safely extracted, and no injuries were reported.
“Additionally, Sala Gate has been notified to temporarily suspend further entry of tourists into the park through this gate until further notice,” KWS said in its statement.
The agency urged visitors and tour operators to stay updated through official travel channels.
“Visitors and tour operators are kindly requested to take note of this update and liaise with the relevant umbrella travel agencies for further communication. We appreciate your cooperation,” KWS added.
Alternative Gates for Park Entry
KWS had earlier warned that some park access points could become dangerous due to the ongoing rains.
Among those flagged were Sala Gate and Malindi Gate, which officials said could become impassable.
In an earlier advisory issued on February 27, the wildlife agency encouraged visitors to use alternative entry points, including:
- Bachuma Gate
- Voi Gate
“Visitor safety remains our highest priority, and we sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding,” KWS said in the earlier notice.
Flood Crisis Across Kenya
The advisory comes as several parts of Kenya continue to grapple with severe flooding caused by ongoing heavy rains.
According to the National Police Service, at least 23 people died after heavy downpours on Friday night, with the floods causing widespread destruction, road closures, and displacement.
Authorities say poor drainage systems in some areas have worsened the situation.
In response to the crisis, William Ruto ordered the immediate deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) alongside a multi-agency emergency response team to support rescue and relief efforts.
“I have directed the immediate deployment of a multi-agency emergency response team led by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, working closely with the Kenya Defence Forces and other emergency response agencies,” Ruto said in a statement on Saturday.
The team is expected to coordinate rescue operations, support affected communities, and relocate residents from high-risk flood zones.
