[category]
[title]
While some form of flooding is not uncommon within the Kruger National Park during the January/February wet season, this year's flooding is particularly severe, with a new Level 10 warning issued on Thursday afternoon, heightening concern in the region.
'Due to the combination of very high amounts of rainfall already accumulated over the past several days, and the expectation of further heavy rainfall, the risk of widespread flooding remains critically high. As a result, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 Warning for Disruptive Rainfall for areas most at risk,' a SAWS statement reads.
The weather is set to improve from January 19th, but the last few days, coupled with what is predicted for January 16th, 17th, and 18th, are concerning.
Kruger rest camps, including Crocodile Bridge, Olifants, and Letaba, have been evacuated. At the same time, access to the Park has been restricted, with no day visitors allowed as of Thursday, 15 January (this is expected to continue).
In addition, the Crocodile Bridge and Phalaborwa entrance gates have both been closed, and many tourist bridges within the Park have been blocked off.
Earlier in the week, Shingwedzi, Sirheni, and Bateleur were also evacuated.
If you have a Kruger trip planned for the coming days, please get in touch with SANPARKS on 012 428 9111 to ensure it is safe to visit.
READ: Kruger under water - why your bush break just became a Joburg staycation
Crazy scenes in Kruger
Video footage of the flooding has been going viral on social media. Check out some of the incredible footage below:
@lowvelder Heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding in parts of the Kruger National Park, particularly in and around the Letaba Rest Camp, where water levels have reached those recorded during the catastrophic floods of 2000. Parts of Sabie and the Olifants area have also been affected.#2026floods
♬ original sound - Lowveld Media
View this post on Instagram
@safonsafari Letaba River over the February 2000 level 😱 The Letaba River is in full flood, with water now over the February 2000 level #ExploreKruger #SouthAfrica #NatureLovers #StormSeason #WildAndFree ♬ original sound - Safraaz Suliman
@safonsafari Pafuri Region - Kruger Park 13 January 2026 #Pafuri #PafuriRegion #KrugerNationalPark #LuvuvhuRiver #LimpopoRiver ♬ original sound - Safraaz Suliman
@safonsafari Sabie River roaring at Low Water Bridge near Skukuza The bridge is now officially closed due to rising water levels. An intense and unforgettable sight inside Kruger National Park. Nature in its rawest form. 📍 Low Water Bridge, Skukuza Tag these pages (for reshare): @sanparks @krugernationalpark @latestkruger @africageographic @natgeo @bbcearth @earthpix @ourplanetdaily @discoverearth #SabieRiver #LowWaterBridge #Skukuza #KrugerNationalPark #Kruger ♬ original sound - Safraaz Suliman
@snowreportsa According to a post by SANParks today at 12:30pm, Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park is being evacuated. See our website for details of the LEVEL 10 warning with a HIGH likelihood of severe flooding related impacts that has been issued for today and tomorrow. Video: SANParks Whatsapp photos/videos to 081 251 8029 See https://snowreport.co.za for weather forecasts. #weather #flooding ♬ original sound - Snow Report Southern Africa
Flooding beyond Kruger
Beyond the impact in Mpumalanga, the crisis has deepened significantly across Limpopo (another popular bush break destination for Joburgers), where local municipalities like Maruleng, Ba-Phalaborwa, and Greater Giyani are battling some of the worst flooding in recent memory.
The current situation is not just a standard wet season event; the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 warning for the first time in nearly 4 years, signalling a severe risk to life and the potential for total infrastructure failure. This historic alert comes as the region’s catchments reach a breaking point.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the province’s water systems are under unprecedented pressure, with 14 of 19 monitored dams in Limpopo now exceeding 100% capacity. Major structures like the Nsami Dam (128%), Tzaneen Dam (108%), and Nandoni Dam (105%) are actively discharging massive volumes of water, creating unpredictable hazards for any communities downstream as riverbanks continue to overtop.
Schools have been forced to remain closed, and essential services like water and electricity have been disrupted as saturated ground causes infrastructure to fail.
Flights to Hoedspruit suspended by Airlink
This regional paralysis has now extended to the skies; Airlink has officially suspended all flights to and from Hoedspruit after flooding rendered key access roads to the airport impassable. The airline is currently working with SANParks and private lodge operators to coordinate assistance for stranded passengers, but flights will only resume once the airport is declared safe for ground operations.
RECOMMENDED:
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram!