Kruger National Park is probably the best managed African National Park of Africa with a large number of tourists coming to this extremely popular national park each year. It is located in north-east of South Africa and covers a huge 20,000 square kilometers which is almost the size of a small country. It is divided in 14 different eco-zones, each supporting different wildlife. It's situated north of Johannesburg and takes about 5 hours to get to by car. This area has one of the best of African flora and fauna such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffalos often referred as the big five. This park has many safari options and several camps and lodges to make your visit a memorable one. Most of the park is situated in the Lowveld, that's what many people consider to be the 'REAL' Africa. The park does have a number of good accommodation options - which includes 21 rest camps, as well as 7 private lodge concessions, and 11 designated private safari lodges. Many lodges in Kruger even have attached wellness centers where you can fill in the time between morning and evening game drives with a massage and facial treatment. You can do Kruger as a self-drive, safari or as a guided tour.
Kruger National Park has 1,982 species of plants, 517 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. The northern part of Kruger park is more wild but has less animals than the south. There are 120 species of reptile, including approximately 5,000 Nile Crocodiles, 52 species of fish, and 35 species of amphibians. It has nine different wilderness trails, some are overnight and last several days. South Africa is located south of the equator and has therefore a reverse order of summer and winter than Europe and North America but its generally a dry and hot area throughout the year. The Kruger National Park has several camps, of which some of them offer accommodation, markets, restaurants, park management office, fuel/gas station, designated picnic areas, laundry service, communal kitchen, barbecue and swimming pool facilities. You can also play golf at the 9 hole golf course in Skukuza, originally designed for the local personal it was recently opened to the public.
Useful tips for Kruger National Park:
Respecting speed limits inside the park is mandatory. You are not allowed to drive at dark through the park. Firearms and personal pets are not allowed. Kruger National Park and surrounding areas are in a seasonal malaria zone so consult your doctor before visiting. The roads in Kruger are all good quality and there's no need to rent a 4x4 vehicle in most cases unless recommended by your guide or a park representative. There's wheelchair accessibility at most lodges and specialized safari vehicles for those with mobility impairments.
1. Self Drive Safari - A less expensive option and offer you the freedom to explore the area. When you come to the Kruger National Park, you can choose to hire a car and drive to the park or go right to your lodge.
2. Walking Trails - Until recently large areas of the Kruger Park were closed to the public. You can now see these areas on a guided walking package. You'll get to experience the bush up close and at your own pace.
3. Safari Packages - Experience the vastness of the Kruger Park on all day drives in an open vehicle with a private guide, they can take you to places where you can get one of the best views and wildlife experience, but tend to be expensive.
4. Overland Safari - An ideal choice if youre the kind of person who likes to travel in a group with like-minded people. It's also the most economical way to see the Kruger Park.
5. Luxury Safari - The Kruger Park and the surrounding private game reserves offer some of the most exclusive, luxurious and over-the-top safaris in the world. Accommodation and service levels at the lodges are incredible and the game viewing experiences are superb.
6. Off Beat Safari - You can also go for options like a remote tented safari with no electricity, or a cultural safari staying in a traditional Tsonga village.
It is recommended to visit the official site, www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/ for complete and up to date information.
