Chaos in the Kgalagadi

On 7 April, about 130 mm of rain fell at Nossob in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – in one hour! Hail fell along with the rain. The hailstones, some the size of golf balls, pelted cars, campers, trees and animals, breaking windows and shattering car windscreens. (Our car was so badly damaged that it was written off by the insurance company.) Tents were shredded, gazebos were mangled, and tables were flung as far as 50 m by very strong gusts of wind. Unfortunately, some of the camp’s resident ground squirrels drowned in their burrows, and a puff adder and several birds were found dead. SANParks staff helped the people worst hit by the storm with spare tents, and the laundry was used to store bedraggled clothes, blankets, and equipment. Other campers moved their camps to higher ground for the night. The road between Dikbaardskolk waterhole and Nossob became a river. Cars struggled to get through and some had to turn back to Twee Rivieren. People travelled in convoy, ready to assist with a tow if a vehicle got stuck in deep water. I went to the hide and saw that the Nossob River was flowing! An awesome sight indeed. The experience has given me a new respect for nature – I’m just thankful that nobody was seriously injured. AMANDA WALDEN, Johannesburg Send your letters to editor@gomag.co.za – please include your name, surname and where you live. Please also include a photo if you have one. We reserve the right to edit and shorten letters, and use your photos elsewhere in the magazine, on our digital platforms and in our marketing material.