Deadly Floods Force Full Evacuation of Kruger National Park in South Africa

South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park has been completely closed and is undergoing a full evacuation of staff and guests after weeks of torrential rainfall triggered life‑threatening floods across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

At least 19 people have died since December 2025 as rivers burst their banks, roads were destroyed, and communities stranded.

Park officials announced the precautionary shutdown as the South African Weather Service issued its highest‑level warning for an additional 100–200 mm (4–8 inches) of rain over the next 48 hours, describing the forecast as “quite unprecedented.”

Key Details:

• Helicopter rescues were carried out after one campsite flooded.
• Spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said: “We had to proactively start evacuating certain camps, particularly bush camps and rustic camps… There’s no prediction when the rain will stop, so we are monitoring on a daily basis.”
• Wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo), are expected to adapt by moving to higher ground.

Kruger spans nearly 20,000 km² (roughly the size of Israel) and borders Mozambique and Zimbabwe, making it one of Africa’s premier wildlife tourism destinations.

Regional Crisis:
Record rains have also devastated neighboring Mozambique, prompting evacuations from low‑lying areas including the capital Maputo, with more heavy rain and damaging winds forecast. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Limpopo on Thursday, where South African National Defense Force helicopters and aircraft are assisting stranded residents.