Tropical cyclones Eline and Gloria and the floods that followed affected people in the Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape, and many thousands in the adjacent countries of Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. South Africa put the restoration of the income producing Kruger National Park high on the priority list, and it was designated as a Presidential Reconstruction Project. The project workers restored schools, roads, lodging, and built emergency shelters. Five rivers cross the park from west to east. Visitors are drawn to the park to see elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, lions and a wide variety of antelopes and herds of zebras.
Accommodation covers the full spectrum from camping to luxury cottages.
Mbeki thanked the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who helped to fund the reconstruction of the park by recognizing the UAE ambassador to South Africa who was present in the park for the reopening ceremony. Tourism is an important source of income for South Africa. Kruger Park will be part of a joint transfrontier initiative that includes South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the creation of a large Transfrontier Park. This includes the preservation and protection of the wild life, the vegetation and the water resources of the Park. All Rights Reserved.