Overview
- Authorities estimate repair costs will exceed 500 million rand, with full restoration of roads, bridges and utilities likely taking up to five years.
- Fifteen tourist camps remain closed and large sections of the park, particularly in the north, are still inaccessible after key routes and low-water crossings were washed away.
- Southern access points at Malelane, Numbi and Paul Kruger gates are open under visitor quotas, and Crocodile Bridge reopened for day visitors on 22 January with the caveat of short-notice closure if conditions change.
- All guests and staff were evacuated safely with no deaths reported inside the park, and officials say wildlife largely moved to higher ground with no carcasses observed.
- The SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund is now accepting donations under independent audit, with officials warning to use only official channels as the revenue-dependent agency reports a 41% drop in recent guest entries.