Unprecedented Flooding in the Lowveld – A Season You Have to See to Believe

Posted in: The Wild Side

Watching Nature Unfold in Real Time

If you’ve been tuning into the Africam Livestreams recently, it’s impossible to miss the dramatic changes sweeping across the Lowveld. Rivers that are usually calm and serene are now swollen and fast-flowing, waterholes are brimming and overflowing, and areas that were once dry are fully saturated. The sudden rise in water levels visible on the Africams is a clear sign that this summer’s rainfall is truly extraordinary.

This prolonged period of heavy rain across the Lowvel, from Mbombela (Nelspruit) to the Kruger National Park, is being described by meteorologists and long-time observers as one of the most significant rainfall events in nearly 45 years. Within Kruger National Park and the broader Greater Kruger region, rivers such as the Sabie and Olifants are reaching levels rarely seen, flooding low-water bridges and spilling far beyond their usual banks. Such widespread flood conditions are rare, making this a unique moment in the Lowveld – one that is actively reshaping the landscape right before our eyes.

The impact on the bushveld is both striking and unsettling. Rivers are carving new channels, floodplains are expanding, and saturated soils are transforming familiar terrain into a network of temporary wetlands. Areas once separated by dry land are now connected by fast-moving water, while grasslands are soaked and reshaped by persistent rainfall. 

This dramatic transformation is particularly evident along the Sabie River beneath the Skukuza Bridge, which not long ago meandered low and slow through the landscape. Today, it carries an enormous volume of water, surging relentlessly with a force and speed that is almost unimaginable. Banks that were once easily accessible to wildlife are now submerged, and familiar bends and pools have been reshaped into powerful, churning currents, a vivid reminder of just how quickly nature can change.  

Further north, the Olifants River has surged to unprecedented levels, powerful enough to uproot massive trees and carry them away like twigs. Traditional animal crossing points have become formidable barriers, and what is perhaps most astonishing is the speed of these changes – almost overnight, familiar river systems have transformed into overwhelming, almost surreal sights. On the evening of 14 January, around 7:30 pm SAST, we watched the river rise rapidly, fully aware of what was likely to follow. Sadly, the water levels continued to climb, and our camera equipment was eventually submerged. You can catch up on these dramatic changes by checking out our latest highlight: Historic Flood Hits Olifants River – Our Camera Didn’t Survive!

As the landscape shifts, wildlife is adapting in real time. Elephants cautiously negotiate deep, fast-moving water where traditional routes are flooded, often hesitating at crossings or turning back in search of safer ground. Antelope attempt to embrace the rain, but are soon forced to move from inundated plains, navigating waterlogged terrain as rising rivers block familiar paths. Hippos concentrate in deeper, more stable channels, while surging currents displace aquatic species like catfish into unexpected areas. These are not scenes of abundance, but of animals responding instinctively to a landscape in flux.

With storm clouds rolling across the bushveld and vegetation lush and saturated, breathtaking scenes unfold daily. Swollen rivers surge past their banks, wetlands shimmer where dry ground once lay, and animals navigate a rapidly changing environment. Extreme rainfall is a vivid reminder of nature’s force and resilience. Rivers reshape the land, ecosystems adjust, and wildlife responds with remarkable adaptability.

Keep an eye on the Africam Livestreams for a front-row seat to one of the most remarkable rainy seasons the Lowveld has seen in decades. Water levels can change rapidly, and animal behaviour continues to evolve with the landscape – this is real-time, unfiltered bushveld drama: rare, powerful, and ever-changing.