Lynne Dowd was bushwalking with her husband Bruce and four other friends at Limpopo last week when the weather turned on them, the website iAfrica reported.
They were struck by a bolt of lightning at Brawn`s Knob, about 22 kilometres outside Haenertsburg.
Everyone in the group suffered burns, but Dr Dowd (51) was the only one who didn`t regain consciousness and the mother of two died on Friday.
Dr Dowd had worked at a medical practice in Gladesville, in northwest Sydney, for 22 years.
She had been popular among staff and patients, fellow GP Louis Gallo said.
"She was a caring doctor, she will be sadly missed by myself and the patients," Dr Gallo told AAP on Tuesday, adding that the practice had been inundated by calls of support from patients.
Dr Gallo said Dr Dowd was "happy go lucky" and bubbly and was held "in very high regard from everyone in the community".
In addition to her work at the medical centre in Gladesville, Dr Dowd was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor (RFD) Service every eight weeks to visit the small central NSW town of Lake Cargelligo.
She was needed there because the town doesn`t have a female doctor.
"She would fly in for two days. She dealt mostly in women`s issues," said Sheree Quinn, a program coordinator for the RFD.
The Lake Cargelligo trips had been part of Dr Dowd`s routine for four-and-a half years.
"She was always looking for something else to do," Ms Quinn said.
"She would ask if there were more clinics she could go to.
"She was well respected. Every one (at Lake Cargelligo) is deeply sad."
Dr Dowd had a special interest in indigenous communities and often went to the Northern Territory to do additional work, Ms Quinn added.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the government was working to bring Dr Dowd`s body home.
"The High Commission in Pretoria is liaising with the funeral director who is responsible for the repatriation of the woman`s body to Australia," the spokeswoman said in a statement. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
