Newsflash - 18 January 2012

Dear Valued Partners in Travel

Please be advised that a tropical cyclone in Mozambique has caused heavy rainfall in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces.

It has been said that today's rainfall is supposed to be the most severe with a forecast of conditions bettering tomorrow.

Thus far, the affected areas that Welcome Tourism Services are aware of are as follows:

Kruger National Park

Rivers in Flood:

Entrance gates closed until further notice:

Roads affected:

Road between Letaba and Olifants is inaccessible
Road between Letaba and Phalaborwa is flooded
Causeway on road between Skukuza and Malelane/Pretoriuskop (6km from Skukuza) is flooded
Crocodile L/L bridge flooded and closed
Lower Sabie Dam Bridge flooded and closed
Sabie River L/L and Sand River L/L Bridge closed
S25 Closed (between Malelane and Crocodile Bridge)
Biyamiti L/L Bridge flooded and closed
Olifants Rest camp cut off between camp and main road
Olifants L/L Bridge closed
Letaba L/L Bridge Flooded (Mopani-Phalaborwa road H14 closed)
Talamati camp cut off
Shimuwinni camp cut off
All gravel roads and low level bridges must be avoided.

Currently, the following camps are closed:

Letaba Camp is without electricity due to the generator room flooding.

The following lodges have all been affected and are not accepting bookings:

Kings Camp
Kapama Karula
Royal Malewane
Shumbalala
Singita Ebony & Boulders
Leopard Hills
Lion Sands River & Ivory Lodge
Rattrays on Mala Mala
Sabi Sabi
Londolozi Lodges
Mala Mala (closed for a week, starting today)
Makalali Private Game Lodge has no road access.
Simbambili is currently pending a decision to stay open or not
Ulusaba has no road access, however, clients can get from the airstrip to the lodge but cloud cover is delaying flights.
Chitwa Chitwa is not accessible by road
The Tinga Private Lodge is currently being evacuated and guests that were on the Sweni Wilderness Trail have already been evacuated.
Camp Jabulani has reported that all guests are safe in the camp's living area. However, should the water level rise any further, guests will be evacuated to the stables for safety.
Ngala Safari Lodge and Ngala Tented Camp road access into and out of both properties has been restricted, and telephone and internet communications at Ngala Safari Lodge have been interrupted. Guests with air arrangements have also been affected.
Dulini Safari Lodge, Exeter River Lodge, Leadwood Lodge and Kirkman's Kamp: Access is currently only possible by a 4X4 vehicle. Guests have been advised to rather stay at the Lodges.

The Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport is closed and inaccessible by either road or air.

The National Parks helicopter is currently being used for evacuations where necessary.

Travel Consultants are handling each of the affected bookings and are making alternative arrangements accordingly.

Welcome Tourism Services will continue to send updates as more information becomes available.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any queries on tours@welcome.co.za or on +27 11 676 3300