Virus alert: COVID-19 outbreak at Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park management has been forced to temporarily close the Lower Sabie camp and Skukuza Airport, which is located within the park, as 10 staff members at the rest camp have tested positive for COVID-19.

It is believed that the outbreak may not be limited to just the Lower Sabie camp, with fears that other rest camps in the park may also be affected.

MANAGING THE KRUGER PARK OUTBREAK

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on Thursday 14 January that 10 of its employees at Lower Sabie tested positive for the virus. Park management responded by temporarily closing the camp in a bid to limit the spread of the virus among staff and guests.

Affected staff members have been placed in isolation while guests at the Lower Sabie camp have been accommodated at other rest camps in the park or offered postponement options for their trips.

Contact tracing is being conducted to inform all potential contacts of possible risks of infection.

LOWER SABIE CAMP CLOSED FOR DECONTAMINATION

The Lower Sabie rest camp has been closed temporarily for decontamination of all camp premises. After a thorough assessment by a task team, a reopening date will be announced in due course.   

“The spike in infections among our staff has necessitated swift action from our side. We are busy with contact tracing while the employees are in isolation, and will advise the public on the reopening date after a thorough assessment and decontamination of the rest camp has been made by the task team,” Kruger National Park executive manager Gareth Coleman told Tourism Update.

SKUKUZA AIRPORT SHUT FOR 14 DAYS

Skukuza Airport is the main gateway for many visitors to the park. The airport has been closed until 28 January, in an effort to stem the flow of visitors into the Kruger National Park and to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Airlink, which operates direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg, has been forced to suspend its daily flights to Skukuza for two weeks.

Airlink’s Rodger Foster told Tourism Update: “In order to protect our customers, crews and personnel from exposure to the virus, we have decided to halt all operations at the Skukuza Airport until January 28.  We apologise to ticketholders for any inconvenience this might cause.”

KRUGER PARK VISITORS AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURES

Current guests at Lower Sabie Camp have been offered accommodation at other rest camps in Kruger Park. Guests who declined to be moved to alternative accommodation will be allowed to postpone the remainder of their booked accommodation.

Guests holding future reservations at Lower Sabie camp will be contacted by SANParks reservations staff to reschedule their trips or to arrange accommodation at alternative rest camps.

KRUGER PARK REASSURES VISITORS

Kruger Park management apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closures, and was quick to assure guests and visitors that all health and safety protocols were being adhered to so that the park remained a safe place for staff and visitors.