The Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the greatest game reserves in the world, untouched, unhurried and humbly preserved for us and many generations after us to experience and enjoy.
Situated in the Tropical and sub-tropical lowveld between the Northern Drakensberg in the West and the Lebombo mountains, which forms the National border with Mozambique. Its southern perimeter is the Crocodile river and North the Limpopo river which is SA's border with Zimbabwe.
The Kruger National Park is the leading Game reserve in terms of animal diversity and size. Covering 19 445 km of the most accessible piece of pristine wilderness with a road network of over 2000km's and 30 camps ranging from basic to luxury accommodation. Kruger Park is the cornerstone of the Limpopo Transfrontier Park which includes the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonerazhou in Zimbabwe. When they are eventually entigrated they will form the world's biggest Game reserve, covering over 30 000km.
The Kruger National Park is home to an astonishing variety of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 520 birds and 147 mammals, including the famous 'big 5'. Interestingly, the term 'big 5' refers not to the 5 biggest mammals in the Park, but it dates back to the early days of hunting when the buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant and rhino where considered the most dangerous animals to hunt (in that order). There are not many pristine, untouched wilderness areas in the world that are as well preserved and yet also as accessible as the Kruger National Park.
The Park has an excellent network of well-maintained roads, connecting the 12 main rest camps and a similar number of smaller camps. Each rest camp is safely fenced with an electric fence, and offers a variety of accommodation, including comfortable bungalows with bathroom and air-conditioning, permanent safari tents, luxury guesthouses as well as camping facilities. Most camps also have a basic shop and restaurant, as well as petrol station, internet, laundry facilities, public telephones, clean tap water, and clean flushing toilet facilities.
The park is 350km (about 220 miles) from North to South, and it is impossible to see it all in one trip. There is so much to see and experience. The Kruger Park is truly a place you learn to love, and many people return to the park year after year for their annual family holiday. That said, it is possible to experience the best of what the park has to offer in 3 or 4 days, if you go with a tour operator who knows the park well.
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