SHINGWEDZI - The Kruger National Park management has been flooded with accommodation inquiries from tourists from all parts of the world wishing to view the unique December 4 total solar eclipse.

The Shingwedzi camp has been identified as one of the prime spots from which to observe the freak phenomenon. There will be total darkness at 8 am on December 4, along an 80 km wide corridor stretching from the park's eastern boundary through Shingwedzi and Thohoyandou to Messina.

South African National Parks in Pretoria has confirmed that all the park's tourist camps north of Satara have been fully booked for the first week of December. A special task team has been appointed in the park, to regulate the flow of day visitors expected to use the Orpen, Phalaborwa and Punda Maria entrance gates on December 4.

"A bumper-to-bumper procession of cars in the northern section of the park on that day is just not on, and for this reason elaborate plans are being put in place to manage the movements of tourists in an orderly way, " said SA National Parks Public Relations Manager, Florence Masebe.

She added that the provision of temporary tented accommodation, as well as the operation of one-day bus excursions into the park for eclipse chasers, are among the plans under consideration.

In a related development, the Limpopo Province's Tourism and Parks Board has concluded a cooperation agreement with the Kruger Park management. Apart from obvious advantages for both parties during the eclipse rush period, the announcement is seen as a huge plus factor generally for the tourism industry in the north of the country.