Kruger National Park (KNP) is a massive game reserve covering 7,580 square miles (19,633 square kilometers) of the northeast region of South Africa. Surrounding the reserve are Zimbabwe to the north, Mpumalanga to the south, Mozambique to the east and Limpopo to the west. The national parks of Kruger, Gonarehou and Limpopo make up the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a protected area set aside to preserve the area's biodiversity.
The reserve is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, which UNESCO recognized and registered in October 2001. It the largest of South Africa's six biosphere regions and ranks third largest on the planet. It consists of land that is a combination of forest, grassland and Savannah.
The Kruger National Park has an abundance of life, plant and animal. Three hundred different types of trees grow here, and an amazing parade of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and a lot of different insects and other bugs also make their home here. Conservationists the world over has applauded the reserve for implementing environmental management policies and techniques. There is evidence of the presence of man going back thousands of years in the rock paintings scattered all over the area, which in itself is reason enough to declare the park a national treasure deserving government protection.
All of Africa's big five animals make their home at KNP. Big game hunters are responsible for the ranking, which refers to how difficult the animal is to bag due to it ferocious response when cornered. They are the lion, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the elephant, and the Cape buffalo. Many safari tour operators now use the term for marketing purposes. Antelope are plentiful in the region and easy to spot even for untrained trackers.
Self drives during the day is also very popular and quite safe. There are a few camps all over the park and they offer guided tours of their own as well. All guided tours are accompanied by armed, experienced rangers, for safety reasons. Walking around is not advised, however.
While all the roads and smaller trails are dirt and not tarred, it is still an easy drive, even if you are only driving a regular passenger vehicle. The smaller roads and tails, however, are better suited to Landover's and 4x4's only. Passenger vehicles will get stuck.
Speed limits ensure the safety of the animals and their human visitors. Various types of wildlife often wander onto the roads and the larger species, such as the elephants and rhinos, can do severe damage to a vehicle if spooked. Slower speeds are also more conducive to wildlife sightings.
The reserve has thirteen camps. Visitors can find everything from rustic tent accommodations to luxury facilities with swimming pools, laundry facilities, and cafeterias. The largest camp is Skukuza, which is a 20-minute journey from the Kurger Gate and serves as the KNP headquarters. Among the many amenities are a gas pump, a post office, a grocery store, a library and the world's hottest 9-hole golf course. Its location alongside the Sabie River makes it a prime location for animals to find water.
The BaPhalaborwa society of forgers occupied the region in the eighteen hundreds. The village dates back to the Iron Age and is called the village of Masorini. The village huts and furnaces have been reconstructed as authentically as possible and even has the remains of and original furnace.
Thulamela sits on a plateau in the northern region of the reserve, just a few kilometers west of Pafuri. This royal citadel is among the most historically significant archaeological sites in the country. The site remained undiscovered until 1993, and its oldest stone ruins date back to the 1400s. Additional dwellings lay scattered across the nearby hillsides. Archaeologists believe excavated tombs found there contain the remains of the royal couple who ruled over the region during the 1500s. Named by the excavation team, King Ingwe and Queen Losha, the fact that the remains were adorned with gold lends credence to the belief the individuals enjoyed royal status.
The weather is sub-tropical, meaning it is typically hot and dry in the summer and cold and wet in the winter. This is the exact opposite to the European countries and North America. The rainy season is usually between September and April because of its location south of the border. Visitors from EU countries find the end of summer the easiest to time to visit and ideal because animals are easier to spot in the low brush.
The reserve is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, which UNESCO recognized and registered in October 2001. It the largest of South Africa's six biosphere regions and ranks third largest on the planet. It consists of land that is a combination of forest, grassland and Savannah.
The Kruger National Park has an abundance of life, plant and animal. Three hundred different types of trees grow here, and an amazing parade of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and a lot of different insects and other bugs also make their home here. Conservationists the world over has applauded the reserve for implementing environmental management policies and techniques. There is evidence of the presence of man going back thousands of years in the rock paintings scattered all over the area, which in itself is reason enough to declare the park a national treasure deserving government protection.
All of Africa's big five animals make their home at KNP. Big game hunters are responsible for the ranking, which refers to how difficult the animal is to bag due to it ferocious response when cornered. They are the lion, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the elephant, and the Cape buffalo. Many safari tour operators now use the term for marketing purposes. Antelope are plentiful in the region and easy to spot even for untrained trackers.
Self drives during the day is also very popular and quite safe. There are a few camps all over the park and they offer guided tours of their own as well. All guided tours are accompanied by armed, experienced rangers, for safety reasons. Walking around is not advised, however.
While all the roads and smaller trails are dirt and not tarred, it is still an easy drive, even if you are only driving a regular passenger vehicle. The smaller roads and tails, however, are better suited to Landover's and 4x4's only. Passenger vehicles will get stuck.
Speed limits ensure the safety of the animals and their human visitors. Various types of wildlife often wander onto the roads and the larger species, such as the elephants and rhinos, can do severe damage to a vehicle if spooked. Slower speeds are also more conducive to wildlife sightings.
The reserve has thirteen camps. Visitors can find everything from rustic tent accommodations to luxury facilities with swimming pools, laundry facilities, and cafeterias. The largest camp is Skukuza, which is a 20-minute journey from the Kurger Gate and serves as the KNP headquarters. Among the many amenities are a gas pump, a post office, a grocery store, a library and the world's hottest 9-hole golf course. Its location alongside the Sabie River makes it a prime location for animals to find water.
The BaPhalaborwa society of forgers occupied the region in the eighteen hundreds. The village dates back to the Iron Age and is called the village of Masorini. The village huts and furnaces have been reconstructed as authentically as possible and even has the remains of and original furnace.
Thulamela sits on a plateau in the northern region of the reserve, just a few kilometers west of Pafuri. This royal citadel is among the most historically significant archaeological sites in the country. The site remained undiscovered until 1993, and its oldest stone ruins date back to the 1400s. Additional dwellings lay scattered across the nearby hillsides. Archaeologists believe excavated tombs found there contain the remains of the royal couple who ruled over the region during the 1500s. Named by the excavation team, King Ingwe and Queen Losha, the fact that the remains were adorned with gold lends credence to the belief the individuals enjoyed royal status.
The weather is sub-tropical, meaning it is typically hot and dry in the summer and cold and wet in the winter. This is the exact opposite to the European countries and North America. The rainy season is usually between September and April because of its location south of the border. Visitors from EU countries find the end of summer the easiest to time to visit and ideal because animals are easier to spot in the low brush.
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So now that you have discovered enough to successfully ignite your curiosity, why then not look at taking a getaway and explore this magnificent national park? E-mail us on our web site Cape Tours for even more information and facts and also tour pointers for the experience off a life time!
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