Up in the Hoedspruit region which includes the Kruger Park, the rain, which began on Tuesday night only started to ease off late yesterday afternoon. The flooding that ensued forced authorities to close gates and evacuate guests from flooded camps as roads 'turned into rivers'.
Outside the park, flooding in the Hoedspruit area also left many stranded.
According to the SA Weather Service a 60% chance of rain is predicted for today, 30% tomorrow and no rain on Saturday.
Footage from 18 January 2012
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Evacuations
The Hoedspruit weather station, close to the Kruger Park's gates, measured 267mm of rain between 8am on Tuesday and 8am yesterday. A further 100mm of rain fell in six hours yesterday, between 8am and 2pm.
Around 30 people were evacuated from lower Sabie yesterday and a number of guests were also evacuated from Phinda and Tinga private game lodges, while the Skukuza and Letaba camps have been cut off.
Road and Gate Closures
Part of the road between Satara and Orpen has been closed.
The road between Letaba and Phalaborwa was closed most of yesterday but reopened in the late afternoon. The Crocodile Bridge gate and Giriyondo border post have been closed as well as the Biyamiti, Shimuwini and Talamati bush camps.
(info from The Sowetan Live website)
