Deadly floods force closures and evacuations at South Africa’s Kruger National Park: South Africa Floods

Mid-January 2026 floods in northeastern South Africa led authorities to close parts of Kruger National Park (including to day visitors) and evacuate people from flood-hit areas, as rivers burst their banks and rescue operations expanded across Limpopo and Mpumalanga. After days of intense rainfall, swelling rivers and washed-out roads disrupted communities across northeastern South Africa and spilled into one of the country’s most iconic landmarks: Kruger National Park. Park authorities restricted access, suspended day visitation, and moved visitors and staff out of the most affected zones as emergency teams carried out rescues in surrounding provinces. The wider flooding emergency was reported to have caused significant loss of life and major infrastructure damage, with officials warning that further rain could worsen conditions.