Geography
The 20,000 sq km park stretches from the Crocodile River in Mpumalanga Province all the way to the Limpopo River in the Limpopo Province.
History
In 1926 the Kruger National Park was the first national park to be proclaimed in South Africa. The size of a small country, the park is about 20 000 square km with a length of about 380km.
It was named after President Paul Kruger of the Transvaal Republic, who was a great campaigner for the creation of such a reserve. During 2001, the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area was formed.
This ‘peace park’ now incorporates the Kruger with Gaza (Mozambique) and Gonarezhou (Zimbabwe) making it the largest conservation area in Africa and when complete will be roughly the size of Portugal.
Art and Culture
The Kruger National Park is often regarded as the emblem of South African tourism, and offers a lot of what overseas tourists want to see when coming to the country. Visitors to the park will be able to buy curios, mementos and local crafts from the many curio shops available at all camps.
Science and Nature
The park is a nature lover’s dream holiday resort, as it has an unsurpassed variety of wildlife and birds that find sanctuary here. The climate is subtropical with hot summers and warm, dry winters, and visitors are advised to take malarial precautions prior to a visit - consult your doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic.
The northern part of the park incorporates nine of Africa’s major ecosystems, and more than 23 000 plant species have been identified. This is Big Five territory, and the park has more recorded species of wildlife than any other African game reserve.
Entertainment
Let nature entertain you while staying in a luxury game lodge. Mpumalanga Province up to the Limpopo River provides quite a large stretch of land, offering tourists local wildlife sightings on short nature walks, game drives, 4x4 overland drives to overnight wilderness trails.
There are interpretative activities which guide visitors through the wilderness, as well as night game drives which afford the visitor the opportunity to experience the activities of the Kruger Park at night. Visitors can also enjoy bushbraais and breakfasts in the bush with insects, birds, and wildlife ambling by.
There are 4x4 trails and picnic sites, and there is nothing better than cooling off in one the swimming pools after a hot day’s game viewing. Facilities for tourists include 14 public rest camps, five small and select private camps, a large bush camp, a caravan park, and campsites. The Kruger National Park's outdoor activities offer the visitor the ultimate experience of the African bush.
Sport
The Big Five, a variety of birds and countless animals are the spectators at the wonderful 9-hole Skukuza Golf Course, which will provide a unique natural golfing experience.
Did you know?
The roar of a lion can be heard up to five miles away.
Run a search for the accommodation in the Kruger National Park or make a book order for the AA's detailed travel guides
