Kruger National Park’s Letaba Camp trades submerged chalets for a sleek new facelift and open gates
After relentless floods submerged Letaba, Kruger National Park rebuilt its crown jewel stronger.
On 10 January, relentless rains submerged Kruger National Park (KNP), forcing Letaba Rest Camp manager Mpho Mudau (44) to prioritize evacuating 15 guests. SANParks programme manager Bharat Gulab recalled the terrifying moment when the Letaba River burst its banks, with guests initially resisting the evacuation. Within 45 minutes, Mudau successfully evacuated all guests, emphasizing that her belongings were of no consequence.
The January deluge caused an estimated R950-million damage bill across Kruger, affecting roads, bridges, culverts, and structures. SANParks launched a climate-resilient engineering overhaul, reconstructing the H4-1 Road with protective barriers and drainage systems. Letaba Rest Camp's 25 tourism units, including 10 family cottages, were fully restored and reopened, with further 64 units scheduled for completion by late November.
The restoration of the Letaba High-Level Bridge reconnected the northern and southern sections of the park, officially celebrated by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister David Maynier.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
