The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa.
Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights.
The park stretches 350 km from north to south and 60km from east to west - a massive playground of bush, grassland and thornveld, bordered in the east by Mozambique and in the west by private game parks.There is no reserve in Southern Africa with more animal species, and there are few places on earth that can match its huge network of magical rest camps - attracting more than 700.000 visitors each year
Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. The array of mammals include most of the cats of Africa in breathtaking numbers approx 2000 lion stalk the grasslands in the company of approx 1000 leopards and approx 200 cheetahs. But the real pride of Kruger is its elephants approx 7630. You may also see any number of Krugers 100 000 impala, 30 0000 zebra , 21 880 buffalos or several thousand giraffe. Less often seen are the wild dogs, which number just under 400, roan antelope, tsessebe and black rhinos.
Plan if you can to come in winter ( May - September ) when the vegetation is sparse and it's much easier to spot game. The shoulder "fall" months of April and October are also good and less crowded. If you can stand the heat then visit in the summer when the park looks its best, there are young animals everywhere, and the migrant birds return
Krugers main camp Skukuza is about 500km from Johannesburg and easy eight hour drive. You can also make use of a fly in safari if you don't feel up to driving or self catering. The safari and game lodges range from artistically elegant to super luxurious with en-suite bathroom facilities. The expert game rangers whisk you off on game drives and walking safaris, tracking the wildlife in their natural habitat. Prices at these private lodges include all meals and in many cases, alcoholic beverages, as well as two three- to five hour long game viewing expeditions a day.
Occasionally high end lodges offer extra services such as spa treatments, boat trips or special occasion meals served alfresco in the bush. Prices range from USD 350 - USD 1600 per person sharing a double room. Booking a private Kruger safari in the off season can save you a bundle of money. The only airline running regular flights to Skukuza is SA Express, but Airlink run regular flights to Nelspruit.
There are also direct flights from Cape-Town to Nelspruit on www.flysaa.com and there are various charter companies that fly to the nearest airstrip of the various private game lodges in and around Kruger. Visiting Kruger is likely to be one of the great experiences of your life. The park is a place to safari at your own pace, choosing from private camps or simple campsites.
The park stretches 350 km from north to south and 60km from east to west - a massive playground of bush, grassland and thornveld, bordered in the east by Mozambique and in the west by private game parks.There is no reserve in Southern Africa with more animal species, and there are few places on earth that can match its huge network of magical rest camps - attracting more than 700.000 visitors each year
