There is no better place to view African wildlife than Kruger National Park, South Africa's oldest and most popular national park. This fact is attested to by the one million or so visitors who tour the national park annually. Kruger National Park has its origin in the Sabi Reserve, which was set up in 1898 to stem the effects of over-hunting, and is named after Paul Kruger- once president of the Transvaal Republic that later became part of the Union of South Africa.
Kruger stretches from the Crocodile River in the south, to the Limpopo River in the north and runs for 350 km along the Mozambique-South Africa border. The park is fed by six rivers and has a wide variety of ecosystems; it carries 16 vegetation zones. Kruger is generally flat with an average height of 269 metres above sea level.
The southern part of the 20,000 sq kilometer park, which is located in the Mpumalanga region, is more lush and wooded. This area is very popular with visitors and is accessed though the five gates at Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Numbi, Phabeni and Paul Kruger. On the other hand, the northern and central sections are more arid and fall in the Limpopo region. Fewer visitors come here; giving rise to an air of mystery that beckons the adventurous. You get there via the Orpen and Phalaborwa gates.
Kruger is the most celebrated national park in South Africa due to its wide variety of game and bird life. Hundreds of different species can be found here: 507 birds, 336 trees, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 34 amphibians. It offers an unforgettable wildlife experience that can rival the best in Africa. In South Africa, this is the best place to see the fabled big five- lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino.
Other animals to see include cheetah, zebra, giraffe, baboon, hippo, impala, and warthog. The prolific mix of animals, including the presence of complete food chains, attracts scientists researching animal interaction.
Kruger has an extensive road network connecting the nine access gates in the national park. Pafuri gate in the north for example is a 414 km drive away from Malelane gate in the south. Within the national park, one activity you must engage in is a game drive. You can take a ranger guide to enhance your game watching experience, or you can also navigate yourself. Night game drives in Kruger give you the opportunity to observe nocturnal wildlife like Leopards, owls, bushbabies, nightjars, and hyenas.
Most visitors take game drives aboard a vehicle on regular trails. But ranger guided walking safaris are available to more adventurous spirits. On any of the seven guided wilderness trails for walkers, you take in nature's aromas as you view game up close. The trails include three nights stay in a wilderness camp. This option is quite popular and early booking is advised.
There are several means of getting to Kruger national park including scheduled flights from Cape town, Johannesburg, or Durban. The main airports where Kruger flights land are Kruger/Mpumalanga International airport, Phalaborwa airport, and Hoedspruit airport. Chartered flights are also available to the above airports and to the East Gate airport, from where you can also hire rental cars for your safari. Accommodation in Kruger ranges from self-catering and camping sites to more expensive luxury lodges, catering to different likes and budgets of travelers.
Kruger stretches from the Crocodile River in the south, to the Limpopo River in the north and runs for 350 km along the Mozambique-South Africa border. The park is fed by six rivers and has a wide variety of ecosystems; it carries 16 vegetation zones. Kruger is generally flat with an average height of 269 metres above sea level.
The southern part of the 20,000 sq kilometer park, which is located in the Mpumalanga region, is more lush and wooded. This area is very popular with visitors and is accessed though the five gates at Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Numbi, Phabeni and Paul Kruger. On the other hand, the northern and central sections are more arid and fall in the Limpopo region. Fewer visitors come here; giving rise to an air of mystery that beckons the adventurous. You get there via the Orpen and Phalaborwa gates.
Kruger is the most celebrated national park in South Africa due to its wide variety of game and bird life. Hundreds of different species can be found here: 507 birds, 336 trees, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 34 amphibians. It offers an unforgettable wildlife experience that can rival the best in Africa. In South Africa, this is the best place to see the fabled big five- lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino.
Other animals to see include cheetah, zebra, giraffe, baboon, hippo, impala, and warthog. The prolific mix of animals, including the presence of complete food chains, attracts scientists researching animal interaction.
Kruger has an extensive road network connecting the nine access gates in the national park. Pafuri gate in the north for example is a 414 km drive away from Malelane gate in the south. Within the national park, one activity you must engage in is a game drive. You can take a ranger guide to enhance your game watching experience, or you can also navigate yourself. Night game drives in Kruger give you the opportunity to observe nocturnal wildlife like Leopards, owls, bushbabies, nightjars, and hyenas.
Most visitors take game drives aboard a vehicle on regular trails. But ranger guided walking safaris are available to more adventurous spirits. On any of the seven guided wilderness trails for walkers, you take in nature's aromas as you view game up close. The trails include three nights stay in a wilderness camp. This option is quite popular and early booking is advised.
There are several means of getting to Kruger national park including scheduled flights from Cape town, Johannesburg, or Durban. The main airports where Kruger flights land are Kruger/Mpumalanga International airport, Phalaborwa airport, and Hoedspruit airport. Chartered flights are also available to the above airports and to the East Gate airport, from where you can also hire rental cars for your safari. Accommodation in Kruger ranges from self-catering and camping sites to more expensive luxury lodges, catering to different likes and budgets of travelers.
About the Author:
The author works with Africapoint - Online travel agents for Africa. Visit the Africapoint website for South Africa flights reservations and South Africa accommodation booking.
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