Heavy rains in the Kruger National Park have resulted in temporary closure of bush camps and most of the roads in the northern part of the park, according to a statement released by SANParks.

“We took the decision to close bush camps so that we do not compromise the safety of our guests. On behalf of management, we apologise to all the guests for the inconvenience that might occur as a result of this temporary closure,” said KNP Managing Executive, Abe Sibiya.

The bush camps and roads that are currently closed are:

Aah the open road... My little Golf has carried me from coast to coast, from Jo'burg-to-Durban-to-Cape Town and from A to Z more times than I can count. I have always enjoyed discovering a different route and in the past this has lead me to the marvels of a Karoo gem like the Owl House, or the pleasant surprise that Bloem actually has a bubbly nightlife!

 Although the Kruger National Park is a beautiful destination to visit year round, in my mind, winter has always been the season it wears best.

The days are warm and sunny in a t-shirts-and-shorts kind of way, departing from the cloying sultriness of their summer counterparts, while evenings are cool, crisp, and utterly perfect for fireside tales, braaied marshmallow and coffee in tin cups.

 This story was originally posted on National Geographic's blog by Marcus and Kate Westberg, a Swedish-Australian freelance writer/photographer team with a passion for Africa and its wildlife. They just completed a year in Kenya's Masai Mara where they conducted a research project on wildlife tourism and community-based conservation, including working on projects such as Elephant Voices and Living with Lions. They came across Nicky the little blind rhino while on safari in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya.

 Cape Town - This Christmas, Table Mountain Cableway is trying to make festive season shopping as stress-free as possible by offering visitors gift vouchers and Cable Cards that can be purchased online.

 Jenman African Safaris has adopted Orwa, a two-year-old orphaned elephant.  Orwa was adopted through The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a small, flexible charity, established in 1977 to honour to memory of famous Naturalist, David Leslie William Sheldrick, the founding Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. 

 Lions and leopards and rhinos, oh my! Upon arrival in Africa we got right down to business and drove from our landing point in Johannesburg to Kruger National Park for safari fun. This expansive frontier in the northeast corner of South Africa is about the size of Massachusetts with the most notable and profound difference being there are wild animals roaming around.

 The Kruger National Park will introduce a gate quota system during the festive season and is advising day visitors to make prior booking arrangements to secure entry. 

 Thompsons Africa has introduced two new bridge tours of the Victoria Falls: the Victoria Falls Tram Morning Bridge Tour and the Victoria Falls Tram Champagne Sunset Bridge Tour.

 Johannesburg - Comair Limited, operator of British Airways in southern Africa will commence with scheduled services between Maputo International Airport and Johannesburg, O.R Tambo International Airport in May next year.