Kruger National Park, South Africa Plan a trip

A visit to Kruger National Park is the most well-known safari experience in South Africa. It’s an animal lover’s dream spot as you can see all of the big five here, as well as a few other indigenous creatures. Kruger is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse parks in Africa. There’s evidence of San hunter-gatherers scattered across the park, so it’s been a hive of activity for many centuries.

Kruger National Park stretches across almost 20,000 square kilometres and dedicates it all to conservation. This is an immense undertaking, but impressive and extremely worthwhile. The geography of the park can be a little tricky to get your head round. Kruger National Park covers most of the land and is managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). Great Kruger Park is on the western side of the national park and is made up of several private reserves, such as Sabi Sands and Makalali.

There are at least 147 species of mammals in the reserve, including lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants, African buffalo, giraffes, hippos and zebras. And it doesn’t stop there; there are 507 species of birds that call this park home for at least part of the year.

The flora in Kruger National Park is also impressive; there are 336 species of trees and 16 distinct habitats to explore during your stay. You might find it tough to fit all of them in within a few days! If you’ve been here before, and don’t want to go to the private reserves, you’ll know that the northern sector is the best place to see animals without being interrupted. It has a much wilder feel than the centre of the park as not many people drive that far up. You’ll be rewarded for it however, as you’re very likely to see herds of game, including antelope and elephants.

The southern sector is the most popular, and probably the best spot to see a leopard or two. But only if you’re very lucky, as they tend to stay away from the noisy tourists. Kruger National Park’s conservation efforts are phenomenal. They have ensured that several endangered species thrive in this environment and get a few steps further away from extinction.

Plan your trip to Kruger National Park today.