Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is located in the low veld in the North Eastern region of South Africa and spans across two provinces – the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces. It is not only the largest national game reserve in South Africa, it is also the most prestigious and impressive. This world-renowned park occupies and area of around 2 million hectares (20 000 square kilometres) and is home to a large variety of fauna and flora. The Kruger Park boasts the richest assortment of life forms in Southern Africa and as such offers one of the best Safari and game viewing experiences possible.

The park is about 360 kilometres long (from North to South) and about 65 kilometres wide (from East to West) and about the same size as Wales. The Kruger was formerly proclaimed a national park in 1926 and today it forms part of the Great Limpopo Frontier Park. This massive peace park links the Kruger with the the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Zimbabwe lies to the North and Mozambique to the East of the Kruger Park. The Kruger Park is famous for its abundant wildlife and it is also a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques.

Several rivers flow through the Kruger in an easterly direction, including the Sabie, Olifants, Crocodile,Letaba, Luvuvhu and Limpopo Rivers.

It is about 4.5 hours drive from Johannesburg to the southern part of the Kruger.

Areas of the Kruger Park

The Kruger Park can be divided into 3 main areas

• The Northern Part
• The Central Part
• The Southern Part

Kruger Park Southern Region

The southern region lies in the Mpumalanga province and is more lush and wooded than the drier central and northern regions. The region is densely vegetated with Marula, Leadwood and Acacia trees, while the river sides are dominated by Sycamore and Jackalberries.
Large concentrations of game and wildlife are found in the Southern regions and most of the camps and private lodges are also located in southern parts. Smooth granite koppies, scarce trees and grass plains define the southern region’s topography. Here you will also find many rhino. The south central region is densely populated by predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas as well as grazing animals such as zebra, wildebeest and antelope.

Kruger Park Central Region

The central region’s geography is defined by grassland plains and is alive with grazing animals such as the zebra, giraffe and wildebeest. These herbivores attract the usual predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard. The Central Region in the Kruger Park is by far the most game-rich of the three regions and also offers some of the best scenery.

Kruger Park Northern Region

The northern regions are more arid and flat and covered by mopane shrub and trees. In some parts of the north the landscape is defined by craggy sandstone hills and the unusual Baobab trees. Best game viewing is along the river networks which are home to almost half of the Parks hippo population. Buffalo and Elephant are abundant while predators like Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are seen often. The most Northern regions are best for spotting rare birds and other animals such as the Nyala, Sable, Roan and Eland buck
All the Big Five game animals are found throughout Kruger National Park, which has more species of large mammals than any other African Game Reserve.

Climate in the Kruger Park

The Lowveld has a subtropical climate with hot humid summers and generally mild winters. In summer, temperatures can rise to 40 °C (104 °F). The rainy season is usually starts late October and lasts till May. June through September is the dry winter season some consider this the best time to visit the Park. During the mild winter season the sparser vegetation makes it easier to spot game. During the winter the days are milder and there is less chance of contracting malaria.

Wildlife in the Kruger National Park

The Kruger Park is home to more species of mammals than any other reserve in Africa. Here you will find the BIG FIVE (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo) as well as zebra, giraffe, cheetah, hippo and countless antelope. Apart from mammals, the wide ranges of life forms found here include species of trees, plants, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

Archaeological sites in the Kruger

The Kruger Park is steeped in legend and history man’s interaction with this region is evident and preserved in sublime archaeological sites such as Masorini and Thulamela.

Safaris and activities in the Kruger National Park

You are virtually guaranteed to see the BIG 5 during a 2 or 3 day Kruger Safari. Let Safari With Us help you explore the marvels and wonders of the iconic game reserve. During a private guided safari you will experience first-hand the vast landscapes and the spectacular wildlife that is part of the Kruger Park. Our game rangers and guides will help to make your Safari experience an unforgettable one.
You will enjoy adventurous game drives, intense walks in the wild as well as comfortable accommodation combined with great food, excellent service and memorable occasions.

Apart from traditional safari attractions there are also many other optional activities that you can partake in and enjoy. These include activities such as hot air balloon flights, horse riding and animal rehabilitation centers. However not everything is wild and you can spoil yourself with celebrity styles spa treatments, massages, facials or you can visit shops, restaurants and more.
You can select accommodation according to your budget, needs and preferences. We offer private lodge accommodation, treehouse accommodation or tented accommodation for the ultimate camping experience.

We accommodate you in one of the private lodges surrounding the Park. These lodges now share unfenced borders with the Park and for all practical purposed are part of the park.

Poaching in the Kruger Park

The KNP is home to between 8500 and 9500 wite rhinos and between 580 and 650 black rhinos. Poaching is a serious threat to wildlife and Rhino poaching in particular is a big problem. The use of rhino horns is becoming increasingly popular, pushing the species closer to extinction. Ruthless and highly organised criminals are butchering South Africa’s rhinos at an alarming and escalating rate. Some 630 rhinos were killed by poachers between January and August 2014, and a shocking amount of 408 were killed in the Kruger National Park.
The Kruger National Park’s eastern border is currently the most threatened part of the park and shares a border with South Africa’s neighbouring country, Mozambique. Most perpetrators cross into the Park from the Mozambique side. Some anti-poaching campaigns and possibilities:

• Legalize the rhino-horn trade so that it can be regulated.
• Relocate some rhino to safe havens
• In May 2014, South Africa had signed a cross-border hot pursuit agreement with Mozambique, granting each country the right to follow through in an attempt to capture suspected perpetrators
• Kruger border fence between SA and Mozambique
• Global efforts are being made to spread awareness on this illegal trade