Kruger National Park is, with nearly 20.000 km square, South Africa’s largest and most famous national park located in the northeast of the country.
The Southern section is the most popular as there is an abundance of wildlife to find. There is a good chance to see basically any animal: elephants, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, kudu, zebra and many other mammal species. Landscape varies from shapes of granite koppies to more open savanna. Because it offers the ‘most sightings per hour’, and because it is the closest to Johannesburg, it can become rather crowdy with lots of vehicles and other tourists.
Activities available in the park include guided game drives, guided bush walks, guided bird walks, and night drives.
In short, first time travellers will probably prefer the southern areas of Kruger. Lots of animals make for the best and easiest game viewing, but it is also busier with other tourists. Central Kruger is lion country, with a high density of predators. Landscape is less impressive, but there are fewer tourists here, which is for many people a bonus. More experienced travellers that can appreciate fewer sightings, but more ‘special ones’, as well as those travellers that don’t want to see to many other tourists, will love Northern Kruger.
The Southern section is the most popular as there is an abundance of wildlife to find. There is a good chance to see basically any animal: elephants, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, kudu, zebra and many other mammal species. Landscape varies from shapes of granite koppies to more open savanna. Because it offers the ‘most sightings per hour’, and because it is the closest to Johannesburg, it can become rather crowdy with lots of vehicles and other tourists.
Activities available in the park include guided game drives, guided bush walks, guided bird walks, and night drives.
In short, first time travellers will probably prefer the southern areas of Kruger. Lots of animals make for the best and easiest game viewing, but it is also busier with other tourists. Central Kruger is lion country, with a high density of predators. Landscape is less impressive, but there are fewer tourists here, which is for many people a bonus. More experienced travellers that can appreciate fewer sightings, but more ‘special ones’, as well as those travellers that don’t want to see to many other tourists, will love Northern Kruger.
SANParks
South African National Parks, also called SANParks, offer several accommodation options in various locations throughout the park. In the southern area of Kruger National Park, you can choose to stay at Skukuza Camp which is called ‘the capital of Kruger National Park’ as it is the biggest of all camps, or Pretoriuskop Rest camp which is Kruger’s oldest rest camp. Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp is set on the bank of Matjulu Spruit and is surrounded by a mountain environment. Around Lower Sabie Rest Camp are a large number of game attracted to the perennial Sabie River. Near the Mozambican border you will find Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp built of bungalows, safari tents and camping sites. The accommodations are self-catering and most have restaurant facilities, a shop and swimming pool. All comfortable camps are very popular amongst visitors to Kruger National Park therefore it is advisable to book your trip well in advance, especially during the South African school holidays. Children of all ages are welcome at the SANParks accommodations.
