The Kruger National Park is South Africa's oldest, largest, and
best-known wildlife conservation area, home to a huge variety of
wildlife and most famous for its Big Five viewing opportunities.
Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing lion, elephant,
leopard, buffalo, and rhino among the enormous variety of wildlife,
including over 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, and
numerous reptiles and amphibians.
The park had its beginnings in 1898, when President Paul Kruger
established a protected area for wildlife after hunters came close
to wiping out the rich game of the region. The South African War
(1899-1902) stopped further progress until the development of the
Sabie Game Reserve by the British, which later expanded into
today's Kruger Park.
The park was opened to visitors in 1927, and at present
stretches for 236 miles (350km) from the Crocodile River in the
south up to the Limpopo River, and is about 40 miles (65km) wide,
roughly the size of Israel.
Situated on South Africa's northeastern border, Kruger is a
sensational destination for international tourists, and is visited
by close to a million local and international tourists every year.
These tourists are attracted to the different safari options as
well as the park's excellent range of visitor facilities and choice
of accommodation, from luxurious game lodges to cottages and
camping. The park is criss-crossed by over a thousand miles of
roads and offers excellent opportunities for self-drive safaris as
well as guided drives.
Bush walks with armed and experienced rangers offer a more
thrilling safari option where animals like lion and elephant are
tracked through the bush on foot. Visitors may only traverse the
park between sunrise and sunset. When darkness descends it is best
to be safe in a fenced rest camp. It is possible to take night
drives with professional game rangers from the different camps
though.
The park has other restrictions that must be adhered to, such as
a total ban on pets and firearms, and strict regulations on where
visitors may get out of their cars. Visitors should also be aware
that Kruger, unlike most of South Africa, is a malaria zone.
This vast sanctuary is a must-see for every visitor to the
country. The south is teeming with wildlife and as a result is the
most popular area, while the remote northern region is little
visited by game or people, but provides some of the best birding
opportunities in southern Africa as well as an abundance of
historic Iron Age and bushmen (San) sites. Rivers interrupt the
extensive grassy plains towards the centre of the park, and the
region provides an excellent setting for predators and
birdlife.
Kruger's subtropical climate means hot, wet summers and warm,
dry winters. Summer temperatures between October and March can
climb to 104°F (40°C), while daytime winter temperatures from June
to August are much more pleasant at around 79°F (26°C), but nights
are cold. The best time for game viewing is winter, when wildlife
is easier to spot.
