As most of you may know, we had mjor floods between 17 & 19 January 2012…
In just short of 48 hours we measured 346.5 mm (13.64 inches) of rain. We only average 400 – 450 mm per year! This was caused by Cyclone Dando.
Due to the heavy rain and floods the main access into the reserve eroded out and it caused a few massive 20 – 30 m ‘gorges’ and no vehicles can reach camp for major deliveries like diesel at this point. Smaller things we carry across from suppliers to the Land Rovers.
We lost our main electricity and our main water pump. At this point in time we run our generator (5 hrs per day as we are having difficulty to get diesel in), a stand-by water pump and skeleton staff to limit usage on available resources. Everything in camp is at this stage still very damp but we are very fortunate not to have excessive structural damage caused.
They are predicting more rain towards next week (Cyclone Funso) which may miss, but we are prepared and buffered the rooms by moving everything out of waters reach. We are currently busy with damage control and are busy fixing the main access into the lodge.
We’ll keep you updated on our progress when we have enough power to work with!
Take Care!
Morné Hamlyn and ALL at KINGS CAMP.
Oh my goodness you have had it rough the past few days! So sorry to hear this! Here in the Fraser Valley of BC, Canada, we have had unusually cold weather and lots of blowing snow which has now turned to freezing rain, but next 5 days predicts heavy rain so we too could have some flooding, but nothing like what you have experienced. Keep safe! I know the place will be looking its usual gorgeous self in no time! We enjoyed our stay immensely from Nov 13 – 16
Morné, thanks for this very interesting post, and the illustrative images. I think this has been the most revealing of all the flood articles I have seen so far.
I am really pleased to hear you guys are ok though, and hope life will return to normal for you guys soon.
Please stay safe everybody!
Mother nature is cruel and in the years I have been to Kings Camp I have never seen the river full, always dry!! We hope everything can get sorted soon and the main thing is that Warren, Lisha, kids and all staff stay together and safe, love Rachael, Roy and Ella xx
Sounds like you’ve all been working like trojans to safeguard as much as possible but the main thing is to keep youselves safe!! Glad you managed to have a bit of fun too. Really hope Cyclone Funso misses or at the very least does’nt do much more harm. Much love to you all xoxoxo
Morné, great situation report and pictures. You’ve had quite a time! So glad no injuries reported. Thinking about you all. Take great care.
Phil
Amazing pictures,good to see you having fun.Hope everyone is ok.
I guess the animals coped alright and there was’nt any losses?
Take care,
Sally Ansell.
Wow, very disturbing post. So sorry everyone at Kings is going through this awful situation. Keep your heads up, this too will pass. -Joe
Glad everyone is safe with no injuries and hope the wildlife have faired ok too. Pleased there has been no structural damage to such a great place Regards Chris Parker
Glad you all got back to camp safe
thanking of you all
lots of hard work now to get back to normal ,hope th nxt lot miss you
take care
Bob Glyn Newman
Morné, We are thinking of all of you at King’s Camp, glad you are safe and hope any future storms miss. It must be really hard on the wildlife. You all are a great team and know you’ll get everything back up and running. Thanks for sharing. We have great memories of King’s Camp and will return. Take care and our best wishes to all. Binth and Normand
Glad you are all ok and good luck with the clean-up operation! Thank for the update, we were beginning to wonder if you were all safe. Let’s just hope the next one gives you a miss!!! Take care all
Lynda
Is it true that Patrick is giving swimming lessons, and Tristan is giving riverside massages?! Seriously, thank goodness everyone is safe and hopefully the animals, too….Take care
OMG! Mother Nature unleashing.
Glad to hear you are all ok and coping, even having some fun in such a challenging situation….indicitive of the great team at Kingscamp!
Lets all hope and pray the next one stays out at sea.
Thanks Morné, your report and pics really tells it all…wow. Hope all gets back to normal there soon.
Stay well, stay safe.
Kindest regards.
Moira.
OMG! Looks like California when we have our flash floods! The watering hole now looks like a lake…and the river…. Amazing. Glad to learn that you all are OK.
Joy
So sorry. We have huge rainstorms in Houston but 13 inches is above and beyond! Hope life has improved….no power is tough….even with auxilloray for a few hours it is awful. Stay safe
CD
We are currently busy with damage control and are busy fixing the main access into the lodge.
So sorry to hear about the flooding. I so treasure the memories of my visit there with my daughter. Looking at all the pictures makes me wish to visit all of you again.