The Kruger National Park's bush camps will remain closed owing to continuing floods in the area, South African National Parks (SANParks) said on Tuesday.
The Talamati, Biyamiti, Balule, Sirheni, Bateleur and Shimuwini bush camps would be closed until next Monday, said SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli, despite water levels in the Limpopo, Letaba, Levuvhu and Crocodile rivers dropping.
"All main camps are not affected, the park is still accessible."
The main camp and picnic sites were encouraged to use water sparingly.
All gravel roads in the Marula region of the park were closed.
"Crocodile Bridge Gate is still closed and expected to be closed for the rest of the week," he said.
The Wolhuter, Boesman and Olifants trails camps were also closed.
The Berg-en-Dal rest camp had erected a temporary fence. No camps in the park had been damaged, Thakuli said.
More heavy rain was expected in the region.
Drownings
Six people have drowned in various parts of Mpumalanga because of the heavy flooding, according to the police.
A 12-year-old boy from Ermelo drowned on Monday, Mpumalanga diving unit spokesperson Captain Joey Potgieter said.
She suspected the boy might have been swimming in the area.
Two bodies were recovered over the weekend in Amersfoort and Hendrina. Both were men.
On Friday, three men aged 20, 30, and 46 drowned in Schoemansdal, Lydenburg and Amersfoort.
A man who fell into the Crocodile River in Schagen, Nelspruit, at around 9pm on Friday while crossing a bridge was still missing, she said.
A 50-year-old man who presumably drowned while crossing a river on Schoeman's farm in Badplaas on Monday was still missing.
Two men were rescued in Hazyview and Siyabuswa, said Potgieter. – Sapa