South Africa - wildlife like nowhere else

History of The Greater Kruger National park

Areas of the park were first protected by the government in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926. It was the Boer Republic of Transvaals president, Paul Kruger, who was a passionate hunter, that in 1898 recognized the need for protection of the nature and the wild animals.

He started by establishing the Sabie Game Reserve. Then the Shingwedzi was created in 1906 and in 1926 the three areas were unified to create the Kruger National Park. The park has since then been expanded several times.

Recently, the fences to the adjacent private wild game reserves were taken down, so that the animals could move freely in an even bigger area. The so-called Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park of 35.000 sq km was created.

This area extends all the way into the neighboring countries Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and this work has meant that the population of animals of southern Africa is beginning to resume some of their original migration routes.

Diversity of animals

In the Kruger Park there are 147 animal species, 507 bird species, 34 amphibians, 116 reptiles, 1980 plants and tree species and 50 species of fish (which can be hard to get a glimpse of).

For example, there are 27.000 buffalos, 5.100 giraffes, 86.000 impalas, about 1.000 leopards, 1.500 lions, 5000 rhinos and around 12.000 elephants.

You will find large grasslands with big herds of antelope that attract predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs and we can almost guarantee that you will see many elephants as their favourite mopani trees grow here.

Around the rivers and the waterholes, you will see hippos, elephants, giraffes, buffalos and many antelopes. The northern part of the park is a bit wilder and more inaccessible, with a lot of buffalos, elephants, kudus and leopards.

An all-year destination

Kruger National Park can be experienced all year round. The climate here is hot subtropical and all four seasons have their highlights. You will not be disappointed regardless of what time of year you choose to visit the park. A lot of people prefer spring and fall, because it almost doesn’t rain and the days are sunny and warm.

The winter (April-August) has still warm and sunny days, but relatively cold nights and normally no rain. (A warm jacket or sweater will be necessary in the mornings and the evenings).

There are fewer leafs of the trees, less water in the rivers and consequently it is easier to spot the animals. The summer is warm, often really warm and humid. It rains more and the rain falls in short and heavy tropical showers, primarily in the afternoons and at night.