The Kruger National Park in South Africa is easily one of the most popular game reserves in Africa where the big five (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhino and leopard) can be spotted.
Covering a whooping 18,989 square kilometers (about the size of Israel) Kruger is home to many animal and plant species, including 147 mammals, 500 birds, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 336 trees. The national park has about 1,750 lions, 2,300 black and white rhino, 9,100 elephants, 25,000 buffalo and a significant number of leopards.
Kruger became a South African safari park in 1898 and it was, until recently, surrounded by huge electric fences preventing the animals from leaving the park. Northern Kruger is the most scenic section of the park, although the animal concentration here is a lower compared to the far south.
Location of Kruger National Park
The park is situated in the top eastern side of South Africa bordering the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. It is about the same size as Israel, 360 km wide and 65km from and they currently have over 500 species of birds, over 300 species of reptiles and over 140 species of mammals. The large inventory of animals makes it easy to spot them. It would be wise to get an expert guide to take you around the park, to increase your chances of seeing the most animals.
Within the national park there are five rest camps Skukuza, Satara, Berg-en-Dal, Olifants and Leteba rest camps. You can stop and have lunch at these camps or you can stay in the camp site for as little as $25 dollars per night for two people. Some of the camps have bungalows available too. Within Kruger National Park there are 13 other luxury lodges there are more expensive to stay in, ad they have various luxuries included to enhance your stay.
Lake Panic offers shaded viewing for birds, monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and other animals as they come to drink water. This place is often packed with tourists with binoculars and big lens cameras, who require that you maintain your silence so as to not disturb the animals. Waterholes like Lake Panic are the best places to view the wildlife at close range, especially during the dry season. They come out to these places to drink some much needed water.
If you want to see lions, you should go on a late afternoon safari this is when they usually come out and are ready to hunt. It is also the perfect time to catch one of those famous african sunsets. A full day safari however, usually leaves most visitors to the park fully satisfied.
The Kruger National Park has been open for over 100 years and is over the years it has become a very well organized park that employs over 600 people. They are the ones who maintain the park and keep its ratings high, as far as being one of the best places to go on an African Safari. You can drive in from Johannesburg and that is about a 9 hour drive. Alternatively you could fly into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport which is situated in the south of National Park.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the park is during the dry winter season (April to September) when the foliage is sparse and water is restricted to rivers and man-made waterholes. During this period, animals can be easily spotted as they come to the waterholes in the early mornings and late evenings.
However, some Kruger park safari goers prefer the lush vegetation of the hot rainy summer months (October to March). During this period, the park is full of vegetation that makes it harder to see the animals.
Kruger is filled with newborns towards the end of November and early December. Viewing wildlife with their young is an unforgettable experience. Autumn (April and mid-May) is likely the hardest time of the year to view game in Kruger as the grass is dense and high. However, autumn is the best time for birding in the park.
Where to Stay
There are many accommodation options available for individuals going on Kruger park holidays, ranging from small camps to luxurious lodges located inside the game reserve. If you chose accommodation outside Kruger Park, you will need to calculate in time for the drive towards the gates which can sometimes between 30 minutes and an hour.
When going on Kruger safari tours, you will likely arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport. Several domestic airlines link Johannesburg (1hr), Cape Town (2.5 hrs) and Durban (2.5 hrs) with Mpumalanga Kruger International Airport (MKIA) situated near Nelspruit town. Nelspruit is is well served by buses and minibus taxis to and from Johannesburg.