Kruger National park
Top Attractions in Kruger National park
Spanning over a radius of 19,623 square kilometers, Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. The national park is situated in the north-eastern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in South Africa. The park extends 360 kilometers north to south and 65 kilometers from east to west.
The headquarters of Kruger national park are located in Skukuza. The park was first established as a game reserve in 1898 by the government and later in 1926, it was declared a national park.
The national park is bordered by Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east. Kruger national park is part of the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park which links it with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and also with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. There are nine main entry gates to Kruger national park and these gates lead visitors to different camps in the national park. Main entry gates to the park include Pafuri gate, Crocodile Bridge gate, Malelane gate, Numbi gate, Phabeni gate, Paul Kruger gate, Orpen gate, Phalaborwa gate and Punda gate.
Kruger national park in South Africa hosts all the big five game animals including rhinos, African savannah elephant, leopard, lion and the Cape buffalo. The park also has more species of large mammals than any other game reserve in Africa.
There are said to be over 420 recorded archaeological sites in Kruger national park which proves that there were earlier settlers in the park. The national park is named after Paul Kruger-a former president of the South African Republic.
Much of the northern parts of the national park are characterised by open savannah grasslands with stunted mopane trees while the south-western part of the park is dominated by mixed thorn and marula woodlands. The south-eastern parts of Kruger national park are mainly open, flat and dense savannah lands.
Attractions and activities in Kruger National park
Wildlife In Kruger National park
Some of the commonly sighted wildlife animals in Kruger national park include Black and white rhinoceros, blue wildebeests, zebras, bushbuck, African buffalo, African Bush elephant, giraffe, common elands, the Greater Kudu, hippos, impala, hartebeests, Nyala, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, cheetah, African wild dogs, Nile crocodile, leopards, lion, and spotted hyenas to mention but a few.
Bird in Kruger national park
The national park also hosts about 517 species of birds, with 253 species which are endemic to the park, 117 are non-breeding migration birds and 147 nomads. Kruger national park hosts the ‘Big six birds’ which include the lappet-faced vulture, saddle-billed stork, martial eagle, Kori bustard, ground hornbill and Pel’s fishing Owl.
Game drive in Kruger
Game drives in Kruger national park will offer you an easy way to search for animals in the park. The park offers visitors both day and night game drives and animals commonly spotted during these game drives include elephants, giraffes, lions, and impala. Game drive safaris in the national park last between two to three and a half hours.
Bird Watching
Kruger national parks is one of the best destinations for bird watching safaris in South Africa. With over 517 bird species to look out for, Kruger national park is the place to be if you are a bird lover.
Guided Nature Walks in Amboseli
Visitors with multiple days in the park can explore longer trails like Wolhuter and Nyalaland on foot. However, the park also offers shorter bush walks around the park and leading to some rivers which are wildlife hotspots. Nature or bush walks in Kruger national park can take two to four hours for the short walk; while longer trails can take an entire day or even more. Bush walks are mainly conducted at lower Sabie and Satara areas of the park, and offer visitors marvellous sightings of large game and birdlife in the park.
Wolhuter Trail
The Wolhuter trail is located in Marula region in the southern part of the national park. This trail offers visitors spectacular views of the landscape and wildlife in the park. Commonly sighted wildlife in the area includes elephants, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of historic relics that date back to the Stone and Iron Age periods of ancient civilizations.
