Heavy rains have caused flooding at the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park, affecting Ebb & Flow Camp.

Yesterday, Tuesday, April 9, SANParks sent out a release warning that initial reports indicated there had been over 200mm of rain over a six-hour period and a spring high tide. SANParks standby personnel were physically onsite from 02h00 yesterday. The rain later subsided and the Touws River was breached and was flowing strongly from the mouth directly into the sea.

SANParks says all campers were safely evacuated to the Forest Cabins and the park’s management team was evaluating damage to infrastructure and tourism facilities. The Ebb and Flow rest camp was closed and mop up operations continue.

SANparks says it has communicated with all visitors with planned trips to the Ebb and Flow rest camp and the public will be updated when the camp and activities will be reopened.

All the hiking trails including the trails at Ebb and Flow, Swartvlei, Woodville Big Tree, Farleigh and Goudveld - Outeniqua hiking trail and Circles in the Forest are closed until further notice.

The release says that the park is experiencing power cuts and the technical team are working together with the municipality to resolve the matter.