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Visit Africa's Kruger National Park

See Big Five Wildlife in South Africa's Largest Game Reserve

Aug 24, 2008 Gina Hartoog

A trip to South Africa is never complete without a visit to the Kruger National Park, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world.

Situated in the north eastern half of the country, the Kruger National Park boasts almost two million hectares of pristine African bushveld and is home to Africa’s Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Wildlife of the Kruger Park

Vegetation across the 350 kilometer length of the Park varies greatly from grassland to hilly terrain and rocky outcrops. The area around the main rest camp of Skukuza is a hilly territory teeming with wildlife from buffalo and lion to the majestic water buck and smaller antelope like impala and klipspringer.

Further to the north the vegetation changes to open grassland near the Satara rest camp. This part of the Park is known as lion country and visitors are often treated to special sightings of lion prides at their kills. Plains game like wildebeest, zebra and warthog found in great herds at waterholes and dams in the area.

Several eco-systems collide in the vicinity of the Olifants and Letaba rest camps. The expansive Olifants River is a favorite midday spot for the elephant herds. Hippopotami can be heard calling to each other and the Nile crocodile is a frequent visitor on the river’s sandy banks. Also situated in this part of the Park is an archeological site dating back to the Iron Age. It provides a fascinating look into pre-colonial Africa.

Game Drives

The Kruger Park is easy to navigate for those preferring a self-drive option. Details maps are available at entrance gates and camp shops and provide a wealth of information on the Park.

Organized game drives with trained guides are a highlight of any visit to Kruger. If you opt for the early morning game drive, you’ll leave the camp at dawn and experience Africa as she awakens from a night of slumber. Sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah or wild dogs are common in the early morning.

Late evening or night drives are also conducted from the camps and provide a peek into the lives of animals like genets, caracal, aardvark and bush babies that are seldom seen in during the day. Any sightings are likely to be most memorable.

Staying in the Kruger Park

The Park has 13 main rest camps, five bush camps, two bush lodges and eight luxury lodges. Main camps include a restaurant, takeaway facility for light meals and a shop for purchasing necessities and African curios. Bush camps and lodges provide a close-to-nature African experience. A bank and automatic teller machine are located at the Skukuza camp.

Accommodation varies from two person units to family cottages. All rooms, ablutions and camp kitchens are serviced daily by trained staff. Amenities such as cooking utensils, crockery and bed linen are provided. You can also request a unit with a fridge and air conditioning when you place your booking.

The Kruger Park is situated in a malaria area and tourists visiting the Park must take anti-malaria prophylactics. You should also avoid being bitten by keeping screen doors closed, wear a light sweater and socks at night and burn mosquito mats or coils in your unit. Periods of high risk are from December through the rainy season until the end of April. Consult your doctor or travel clinic for the necessary medication prior to traveling.

For more information on the Kruger National Park or to make reservations, visit SANParks.

The copyright of the article Visit Africa's Kruger National Park in Sub-Sahara Africa Travel is owned by Gina Hartoog. Permission to republish Visit Africa's Kruger National Park in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Kruger Lions are often seen in the early morning.