Kruger National Park – Boasts the Most Diverse Game Viewing Experience in Africa
Posted On July 22, 2011
Kruger National Park is one of the biggest game reserves in Africa that covers 18,989 square kilometers and extends approximately 65 kilometers from east to west and 360 kilometers from north to south. The two South African provinces Mpumalanga and Limpopo are to the south and west of Kruger National Park. To the east is Mozambique and to the north is Zimbabwe. Basically, it is now a part of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, peace park, which links KNP with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. It is also a part of Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, the region selected by (UNESCO) United Nations Education and Scientific Organization as International Man and Biosphere Reserve.
Kruger National Park features nine gates, which allow entrance to various camps. In the year 1985, Jakob Louis van Wyk launched in the Volksraad of old South African Republic, motion for creating a game preserve that would become Kruger NP. It was originally formed for controlling hunting and protecting reduced number of species in the park. The first warden of the preserve in 1902 was James Stevenson Hamilton. In the year 1926, Sabie Game Reserve, the neighboring Shingwedzi Game Reserve and farms were merged for creating Kruger National Park. After the announcement of KNP in the year 1926, first three traveler vehicles entered in 1927, which jumped to 180 vehicles in 1928 and 850 in 1929. In 2002, Kruger National Park, Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe were integrated into one Peace Park called Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
Some of the activities in Kruger National Park includes Explore The Echo Caves, Open Air Dining In Boma, Stopover At Pilgrim’s Rest Historical Village, Enjoy Sudwala Dinosaur Park, Self Drive Through The Kruger National Park, Picnic At Mac Mac Pools, View The Lovely Lowveld, Hike Along The Natural Bridge In Graskop, Take A Look Out God’s Window, Test Your Bravery On The World’s Biggest Swing, Wilderness Trails, Play Golf Kruger Park, Helicopter Flight Kruger National Park, Game Drives In Open Safari Vehicles, Sabi Sands Safari Lodges, Experience The Wonder At Wonder View, Luxurious Steam Train Trip South Africa, Bird Hides Kruger National Park, Mountain Bike Trails – Olifants and Discover Sudwala Caves.
The plant life in Kruger National Park consists of four main regions such as Thorn Trees and Red Bush willow veld, Knob-thorn and Marula veld, Red Bush willow and Mopane veld and Shrub Mopane veld. Out of 517 species of birds found in Kruger, 147 are nomads, 253 are residents and 117 non breeding migrants. Some of other species in the park are African Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Burchell’s Zebra, Cheetah, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Elephant, Blue Wildebeest, African Wild Dog, White Rhinoceros, Bushbuck, Common Eland, Greater Kudu, Lion, Spotted Hyena, Waterbuck and Impala.
There are around three different species of amphibians found in Kruger National Park along with 50 fish species. The gates to the park include Crocodile Bridge Gate, Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate, Phabeni Gate, Orpen Gate, Phalaborwa Gate, Punda Maria Gate and Pafuri Gate. You can trail at plenty of spaces, which includes Wilderness trail, Bushman trail, Metsimetsi trail, Napi trail, Nyalaland trail, Olifants trail, Sweni trail and Wolhuter trail. The Kruger National Park has various camps, which some provide accommodation, swimming pool facilities, super market, barbecue, restaurants, communal kitchen, park management office, laundry service, filling station and designated picnic areas. Overall you can do plenty of things in Kruger National Park.
