REBUILDING STRONGER: When the rivers came for Kruger, the waters took everything
At Letaba, a wall of brown water turned an orderly camp into an evacuation zone. At Pafuri, the river tore the ground away. Four camp leaders remember the cold, the roar – and the tourists who would not leave.
In January 2024, Kruger National Park experienced devastating floods that resulted in extensive damage. The Letaba and Pafuri camps were among those severely affected. At Letaba, a wall of brown water turned an orderly camp into an evacuation zone. Water lifted fridges from bungalow verandas and sent them floating through the camp, causing extensive damage to furniture, food, and electrical systems.
Staff were ordered to move quickly, with little time for fear or hesitation. Even tourists who claimed their units were safe were evacuated. The flood also breached the high-level bridge, forcing the staff to take an alternate route. Olifants camp, which looked safe from its high ridge, faced severe consequences as its river pump vanished, power failed, and the camp had to be cleared.
Pafuri Tented Camp, located near Crook's Corner, suffered catastrophic damage when the Luvuvhu River burst from Lanner Gorge, tearing away the ground beneath the camp. The flood was not a slow drowning; it was a violent and destructive event that left behind severely compromised facilities and infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
