Vaalwater, March 17, 2025 – Serious and sustained rainfall throughout the Welgevonden Game Reserve since mid-February, causing structural damage to primary access roads and making it impenetrable, and Welgevonden Game Reserve extended the closure of the reserve until March 31, 2025.
Since November 2024, the reserve has recorded the highest rainfall since 2000, making it the second west year on record (30 years). Rain continues to decline in the area, making repairs and road reconstruction impossible until things start to dry out.
Welgevonden Game Reserve COO Neil Davison confirmed:
“Most of our roads remained badly breached and in many cases it is unsafe. Our team has been working around the reserves to maintain safe emergency access routes above the reserves, but as the progress continued, continued rainfall has led to the difficult decision to extend the reserve closure.”
He adds:
“Working with our neighbors will be able to tackle the worst roads in the reserves. Negotiations are underway to repair the state roads that can access the four access gates of reserves. It is important to maximize this time while all visitors remain closed.”
The Welgevonden Game Reserve will remain closed to all visitors until March 31st, when the situation is reassessed. Updates will be provided as the roads continue to dry out, but once this is possible, it could take weeks to affect the repairs needed.
