General Information
The Kruger National Park is situated in the northeastern
part of South Africa and straddles two provinces, namely
Limpopo and Mpumalanga. It borders on two neighbouring
countries. To the north it adjoins Zimbabwe and to the
east Mozambique. Malaria is endemic to this region and
it is advisable to consult your doctor or pharmacist
before visiting the area.
This vast national park covers
an area of approximately 20 000 square kilometers,
or 12 000 square miles of wilderness and wildlife.
It is one of the largest conservation areas in the
world. In metric terms, the total size is more than
two million hectares.
The variety of fauna and flora found here include about
500 species of birds, more than 118 reptile species,
more than 30 amphibians, more than 235 grasses, more
than 336 tree species and several thousands of insect
species.
Besides these, there are more than 50 species of fish
and more than 145 mammal species, which of course include
the legendary, BIG FIVE animals. These are the African
Elephant, Rhinoceros, Lion, Leopard and Cape Buffalo.
Own transport and normal cars can be used on the roads
in the Kruger National Park, which are tarmac and gravel.
Although as a rule it is not permitted to get out of
your vehicle in the Kruger (except of course at the
camps), there are enough designated areas spaced throughout
the Park, where you are allowed to leave your vehicle
(at your own risk).
Also spaced throughout the Kruger, there are picnic
spots where you may leave your vehicle and stretch your
legs. The picnic spots have ablution facilities refreshments
may also be purchased. Visitors can also enter bird
hides or game-viewing hides (shelters usually close
to water), at appropriate locations, where birds and
animals may be viewed at your leisure.
Several other viewpoints are situated throughout the
Kruger, where visitors may also leave their vehicles
at their own risk.
There is a large variety of accommodation types available,
varying from tented accommodation to luxury lodges.
In total there are 23 different camps including caravan
and camping accommodation, a tented camp, small camps
and large rest camps.
Activities include amongst others, game viewing (day
and night) from specially designed open vehicles, mountain
bike trails, bush braais (pre-arranged barbecues in
the bush) golf at Skukuza Rest Camp, day trails (hiking)
in the morning or afternoon as well as hiking along
wilderness trails. During these activities, qualified
guides (armed rangers) and trackers will accompany you.
In addition, there are seven concession areas in the
Kruger National Park, with 11 designated private luxury
lodges on these concession areas.
These accommodation
facilities are managed by private concerns and not
by SANParks.
There are 9 entrance or access gates to the Kruger
National Park from south to north.
The gates are: Crocodile
Bridge Gate, Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate, Phabeni Gate,
Paul Kruger Gate, Orpen Gate, Phalaborwa Gate, Punda
Maria Gate and Pafuri Gate. |
