Disaster declared as Kruger National Park among flooded regions

Heavy rain and flooding in tourism areas including the Kruger National Park has seen the South African Government declare a state of disaster.

The response came after ongoing catastrophic weather has ravaged multiple provinces mainly in the north of the country since late December 2025, local media reported. 

The declaration came after weeks of torrential rain, lightning, and damaging winds that have devastated Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the North West.

It was confirmed in a statement by Dr Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre,

IOL online reported. 

"I regard this occurrence as a disaster and, in terms of Section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002. I classify the disaster as a national disaster," Sithole said. 

He noted that the severe weather has "resulted in the loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services."

Sithole has called upon all organs of state to "further strengthen their support to the disaster management structures" and to ensure that contingency plans are fully activated to deal with the ongoing effects of the floods.

The worst impact is in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where the fatalities occurred, as well as in parts of neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe. 

Tourism drawcard the Kruger National Park was closed and Hoedspruit, the airport that serves the wildlife zone, shut down. 

The park is one the biggest game reserves in the world. 

Image: Kruger National Park, Winsor Dobbin   

Mozambique has designs on reviving mass tourism

Once upon a time - a lifetime ago - Lourenco Marques was one of the hottest tourism destinations in Africa.

South Africans, particularly, flooded to the capital of Mozambique for sun, surf and piri piri prawns.

LM, as it was universally known, is now Maputo (above). 

And moves are underway to bring mass tourism back to the African nation, some 30 years after the former Portuguese colony was ripped apart by a bloody civil war.

LAM (Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique), the flag carrier of Mozambique, recently launched flights between Maputo and Cape Town, which the airline says is part of its strategy to be a “strong competitor in the region”.

LAM has undergone a recent restructuring process and is currently expanding its routes and connections. Also recently launched was a Maputo-Lisbon flight, which will help bring European tourists to Maputo, South African website Tourism Update reported.

LAM commercial director Firmino Naftal says the three times weekly Maputo to Cape Town flight targets both the leisure and the business segments.

Cristovao Gemo, Consul General of Mozambique in Cape Town, said the launch of the route was more than just a convenient mode of transport, but was a bridge between the two nations, fostering greater cultural exchange, trade and tourism.

“Cape Town, known for its breath-taking landscapes, rich history and warm hospitality, has long been a sought-after destination for travellers from all corners of the globe," he said. 

"On the other hand, Maputo with its pristine beaches, vibrant markets and rich culinary diversity offers an experience that is both enriching and unforgettable.” 

In its bid to grow its regional presence, LAM has established flights between Johannesburg and holiday destinations Inhambane, Vilankulo and Beira, with plans to launch a flight between Johannesburg’s Lanseria Airport and Mozambique’s Xai Xai.

It has also recently launched flights to Lusaka in Zambia with a stop-over in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Naftal also said work was underway to introduce flights to Nairobi, Kenya, and Lilongwe in Malawi.

A new 20,000 sqm cultural centre, built by Chinese contractors, was inaugurated in Maputo late last year.

The Mozambique Ministry of Culture and Tourism has called the Mozambique China Cultural Centre in the grounds of the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, a “key project that will greatly contribute to the development of cultural exhibition and dissemination, as well as to the promotion of cultural creative industries from all over the country and the world”.

The centre boasts a variety of rooms for theatre productions, musical shows and corporate events, including a 1,500-seat auditorium.

Anantara, and Beyond and Radisson Blu are among the high-end international hotel brands operating in Mozambique, along with South Africa's Southern Sun.    

Mozambique plans fast rail link with South Africa

While Australia fiddles around but delivers nothing concrete, the African nation of Mozambique has unveiled plans for a fast rail experience.

Mozambique’s publicly-owned ports and rail company (CFM) has announced the introduction of an express train to South Africa and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), to facilitate the mobility of people and goods.

It should also be hugely popular with tourists.

Miguel Matabele made the announcement in the Mozambique capital of Maputo (above, formerly Lourenco Marques and once a holiday hotspot for South Africans).

The step comes after CFM signed agreements with South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and with Eswatini for the elimination of the rail borders an agreement for direct rail links for the transport of goods.

Trains operated by CFM and TFR will now cross the border at Ressano Garcia without the need to change rolling stock.