There is more good news for Kruger-craving wildlife enthusiasts. This follows the latest media release from SANParks’ Head of Communication and Spokesperson, JP Louw, issued on 26 January, 2026.
Partial reopening
As floodwaters retreat and with ongoing safety assessments, Kruger Park management has decided to reopen certain gates and facilities to the public.
Members of the public eager to return will welcome the news, even though the park is not yet fully functional.
Gate access restored
With weather conditions improving and safety assessments and clean-up operations underway, officials announced the following updates:
Camp scheduled for reopening
Out of an abundance of caution, authorities closed numerous camps and safely evacuated visitors and staff during the floods.
The good news is that one of these, Bateleur Bush Camp, will reopen to visitors with bookings tomorrow, Wednesday, 28 January.
A little south of that, one of the park’s largest camps, Mopani, will reopen on Friday, 30 January.
However, Letaba and Shingwedzi Camps, along with Pafuri Border Post, remain inaccessible and closed.
According to Louw’s statement, both Satara Rest Camp and N’wanetsi Picnic Site are also open. Meanwhile, access to overnight accommodations at Orpen, Tambotie, and Maroela camps is possible for overnight visitors via Orpen Gate.
However, he cautioned those heading to the gate to take care on the R40 near Dwarsloop after receiving reports of protest action.
Further south, both Talamati and Biyamiti Bush Camps remain closed until further notice.
Shop reopenings
Offering further glimmers of hope for those eager to return to the park’s northern reaches, shops at the following camps will reopen on the dates indicated:
Roads access
At the time of writing, all gravel roads within the park remain closed to traffic. Following the rains, water has saturated or eroded them.
Teams continue to assess safety and infrastructure, and officials will inform the public when roads reopen.
In the meantime, “SANParks strongly urges visitors not to remove barricades or attempt to access closed roads, as these measures are in place to ensure visitor safety and to allow for continued infrastructure assessment and recovery work.”
You can view a detailed Register of Road Closures here.
Louw reiterated management’s gratitude to visitors for their understanding and cooperation in what continues to be an extremely challenging period.
The public is reminded that the situation on the ground is dynamic, and is advised to get the latest updates from the SANParks Website or their official X feed.
How can you help?
Given the scale of the disaster, the road to recovery will be both long and expensive. Furthermore, the losses already incurred will likely be compounded by lost revenue through cancellations and temporary accommodation limits.
Since the South African government is unable to foot the bill for relief and rebuilding efforts, it recently created the Kruger Recovery Fund. They appeal to both the national and international community to contribute.
Concurrently, donations of humanitarian aid have also been received. Those wishing to contribute can do so by following the link above or contacting SANParks Honorary Rangers.
It was previously reported that there are two funds managed separately. However, we wish to clarify that there is only one.
