Limpopo, in northern South Africa, home to 6.6 million people, several large mines and the Kruger National Park (one of Africa’s largest game reserves), experienced unusually severe floods in mid-January 2026. Rural villages remained cut off from the world following the week-long heavy rains. The Kruger National Park was evacuated after camps and roads were flooded. The flooding caused an estimated R1.7 billion (US$106 million) worth of damage to homes, schools, roads and bridges. Climate change adaptation researcher Ephias Mugari explains that the impact of the floods was worsened by the poor shape of key infrastructure and limited plans for community-level evacuation. Clearer warnings, simple community measures and better flood preparedness could have saved lives.
Why was the Limpopo flooding so severe?
The recent flooding was unusual in its severity and impact. However, it wasn’t unexpected, given the fluctuating rainfall trends in Limpopo. I was part of a team who studied extreme rainfall and flooding patterns in parts of Limpopo in 2024. We found that extreme rainfall (in excess of 40mm per day) is becoming more common. Periods where it rains for more than five consecutive days are becoming more frequent. There’s also more intense rainfall over a short time in Limpopo. All are linked to flooding.
