Take a Trip to Exotic Kruger National Park
South Africa's Kruger National Park holds a surprise around every corner.
The immense Kruger National Park is truly a site like no other. The largest and most well-known of all of South Africa's parks, this four million acre natural wonderland is a haven for wildlife lovers and those who truly care about the environment.
Park Facts
The variety of species that can be viewed in this expansive national park is just staggering. There are 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 148 species of amphibians and reptiles, 507 species of birds, and 147 species of mammals.
The surface area of the park, established in 1926, is 7,580 square miles. Within the park, you'll find 254 identified cultural heritage sites and more than 100 rock art sites.
There is overwhelming evidence that both Prehistoric man and Stone Age man roamed here and visitors can find significant archaeological sites from these time periods. Amazing!
The park is extremely bio-diverse and boasts several different eco-systems including savannah, thornveld and woodland areas.
What You'll See
Overwhelmingly, tourists arrive here for the safari adventures that await them. The animals that most visitors are eager to spot are the ones the park generally refers to as the Big Five – elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion, and rhino.
But you can also spot much more unusual animals on your drive or guided tour around Kruger National Park. The insects and birds here are spectacular as well. Grab your binoculars and see if you can find a Rhino Beetle or a Ground Hornbill.
The natural and cultural features in the park are equally as enticing as the animals themselves. Visit the fascinating Letaba Elephant Museum, dedicated to raising public awareness of the importance of the elephant to the environment.
Spend some time at the Albasini Ruins, the remains of a 19th century trading post, or the Masorini Ruins, a site from the late Iron Age, where you'll find such remains as old clay furnaces used to smelt iron ore. There's also a small museum on site.
Things to Do
Hikers come to Kruger National Park for the incredible trekking experiences. The park boasts seven guided wilderness hiking trails, selected because of their natural beauty and accessibility to diverse plants and wildlife.
Some of the hiking trails take a day or less to traverse while others require overnight stays at campgrounds. A few include views of Bushman paintings and other archaeological sites.
The park is also home to five motorized adventure trails which can be explored via a 4x4 vehicle. These vehicles provide access to areas of the park that would otherwise be unexplored.
Mountain biking is popular as well and biking tours usually take from a half day to a full day. Bikes are provided if necessary and guides educate riders as to the flora and fauna along the way.
Guided bush walks (or drives) take small groups of people out into the bush where highly-trained guides toting back-up rifles help visitors track elephants, rhinos, and lions, and spout their knowledge of the bush for the guests' education and enjoyment.
Getting to Kruger National Park
There are no direct flights to Kruger National Park from major cities throughout the world. Most travelers will fly to Johannesburg and take a small plane to Phalaborwa Airport, Hoedspruit Airport, or the new Kruger/Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). Flights to KMIA also arrive from Cape Town and Durban.