Wednesday, January 18, 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

 TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CROCODILE BRIDGE ENTRANCE GATE AND TOURIST ROADS IN THE KNP

 Due to heavy rains received since yesterday, the low water bridge over the Crocodile River in the Kruger National Park (KNP) is currently overflowing. No vehicle will be allowed entry/exit through Crocodile Bridge Entrance Gate until further notice. Giriyondo Border Gate and other several KNP tourist roads have been affected as well; mostly those with low water crossings/bridges.

 “Closures are necessary to ensure visitors’ safety during this time and guests are advised to exercise caution and use alternative roads (tarred roads with high water bridges), said the KNP Managing Executive, Abe Sibiya.

The following routes/areas are not accessible at the moment and have been temporarily closed:

 - Crocodile Bridge Entrance Gate – please use Malelane Gate as an alternative

- Giriyondo Border Gate

- Makhadzi Picnic Spot

- Shimuwini Bush Camp

- 9km road to Olifants Camp from main road (all access roads to Olifants closed)

- Road between Olifants and Satara

- Sirheni Bush Camp

- Tsendze road between Phalaborwa and Mopani – (guests advised to use Phalaborwa-Letaba)

- Letaba Nhlanganini bridge

- Letaba Camp – filling station and camping site affected

-  H25 gravel road – between Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge Camp

- S145 –  to Talamati Bush Camp

- H1/2   – between H4/1 and H12 (low water bridges at Sabie and Sand Rivers)

- S23 Biyamiti Loop

- H1-3 – Nwa’sitsotso (Tshokwane high water bridge)

- Lower Sabie dam (low water bridge)

- Tshokwane Picnic Site flooded

- Routes to Imbali, Tinga and Shishangeni Private Lodges (Concessions)

- Gravel road to Balule Bush Camp

- Most of the gravel roads have been affected and are closed.

- Data lines (e.g. telephones, emails) at various workstations have also been affected.

‘There is a possibility that more roads might be closed due to more water coming in; Technical Services team is monitoring the roads situation and will find access routes for guests who are affected. Guests coming in at the affected camps, in the next few days have been informed of the situation. On behalf of management, we also take this opportunity to apologize to all our guests for the inconveniences which they may have suffered as result of this situation,” concluded Sibiya.

Issued by:

Laura Mukwevho, Media Relations Practitioner, KrugerNational Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4262, cell: 082 807 1441 or email: laura.mukwevho@sanparks.org

 Enquiries:

Reynold ”Rey” Thakhuli, General Manager: Media, Events and Stakeholder Relations on Tel: 012 426 5203/5170, Cell: 073 373 4999 or email rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

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