Persistent rain continues to hamper operations at KNP

Persistent rain continues to hamper operations at the Kruger National Park.

Earlier this week, SAN Parks closed the park to all day visitors while dozens of travellers and staff were evacuated due to flooding.

Spokesperson JP Louw advises that the Phabeni Gate is at risk of being closed at short notice owing to inclement weather.

"As a precautionary safety measure, all game drives and walking trails remain suspended until conditions improve. SANParks continues to monitor the situation closely and will communicate any changes as they occur," Louw added.

Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund has advised that South Africa needs to better prepare for severe weather impacts.

Senior Manager James Reeler says the flooding in parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, which are also affecting the Kruger National Park, are consequences of global warming.

 The Copernicus Climate Change Service, together with the World Meteorological Organisation, released the latest global climate data showing average temperatures have risen by 1.4 degrees.

Reeler says increased funding needs to be directed to helping people adapt to an increasingly unstable climate.

"All too often, the conversation is around the cost of putting measures into place to limit climate change, but it's clear there's an even higher human and economic cost attached to inaction."