Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Overview
Kruger National Park is the brightest jewel in Africa's treasure chest.
Since 1898 the Kruger has protected South Africa's wildlife, initially from colonial hunting. Now, this two million hectare protected area is unrivalled in bio-diversity.
An academic hothouse, it has the world's longest ongoing research studies conducted in the field, and leads new environmental thinking across the planet.
As a visitor, you will find that the Kruger offers one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa. The widest range of options. The most expensive Lodges in the world are here (for a reason).
But you can turn up, drive yourself around, pitch a tent, light a fire and cook.
WHY IS A KRUGER TRIP SPECIAL?
The Kruger was an early National Park, and grew quickly to the size of Wales. It is very large, well-established, and offers huge variety. More than 500 kilometres from north to south across the diagonal, and teeming with wildlife, it offers more species than anywhere else in Africa. The Big Five abound (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Hippo). Vital populations such as the endangered Wild Dog (African Painted Wolf) exist in significant numbers.
The Park's century of heritage has seen the area developed to welcome you, precariously balancing ecology with strong belief in the right of access to National Parks.
There is an extensive road network: more than 13,000km in which to lose yourself, from the southern mountains and mighty rivers to the gorges of the north. You can drive yourself.
Well-positioned, sometimes basic Government camps are dotted throughout (some of which date back to the 1930s).
But the tearing down of early-twentieth century perimeter fences (keeping the animals "in") opened a whole new chapter in the Park's evolution.
There are substantial Private Game Reserves to the west, serving small groups of visitors. Historically they operated in luxurious, fenced-off isolation. However, much of this land has been reincorporated into the Kruger ecosystem to form the "Greater Kruger" through fence removal. | see a map of Kruger Private Reserves
Whilst they remain privately-owned, inclusion of these "Greater Kruger" Reserves adds to the Park's resources (space, water, food, habitat type), supporting the goal of promoting biodiversity. The range of accommodation and activities available whilst viewing the Kruger's freely roaming "Big Five" increased dramatically as a consequence.
Generally expensive, the Private Reserves focus on giving low numbers of tourists intense, intimate animal encounters and high levels of creature comfort in amazing accommodation | see Accommodation for more, including the real differences between "private" and "public"
Any Kruger Safari will dip into an astonishing species list of (to date) 336 types of tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
There are some real cultural gems. Bushman rock paintings adorn the walls of large numbers of ancient caves- you will need to book a Wilderness Trail. The remains of the once-formidable Kingdom of Thulamela are so far off the beaten track that they were only rediscovered by a Ranger in the 1970s. No-one knows why this trading dynasty came to its knees in the seventeenth century. In the far north, visit by arrangement with Punda Maria Restcamp
.General visitor information and daytrips
Kruger accommodates day and overnight visitors. Arrive in your own car or rent one, and drive yourself through the Park.
Alternatively, book private Guided tours through Kruger2Canyons.com or other local operators, departing from wherever you wish.
Or join an organised Group trip from a local centre. Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Nelspruit all have airports and are good starting points.
An example daytrip
If you only have a single day to visit the Kruger, then pity on you! However, an excellent LONG daytrip would see you entering the Park at the Phalaborwa Gate at opening time (between 05:30 and 06:30, season dependent, subject to change, check!). You then spend a day of contrasts within the Park, ensuring that you get to the Orpen Gate before it closes (18:00-19:00).
This drive will give you a hint of what Kruger holds, exposing you to a range of different landscapes and habitats from the flat, carnivore-infested plains of the Satara region to the Mopani veld north of the Olifants, and the stunning riparian scenery and bluffs around the river itself.
It is quite possible to see all of the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Hippo) within this single journey.
You can do this route in reverse. Either way, returning your point of origin after leaving the Gate will probably be a 90 minute to 2 hour drive.
You MUST overnight very close to the Park to achieve this feat. Kruger2Canyons.com can help with accommodation. Even if you are comfortable driving outside the Park after dark, it is a long and tiring day.
However, you will leave envigorated and with a taste for more.
If you are new to all of this, you might like to read our tips for driving in the Kruger National Park.
If only do a daytrip, you will find that one day is not enough. A minimal Kruger experience should include at least one morning and night drive off-road in a Private Reserve, a Bush Walk, and a braai (barbeque) under the stars.
You should go and sit next to a waterhole for half a day, armed with binoculars, camera, a good book and some refreshment.
Whilst is a great experience to self-drive, make sure that the majority of your activities are Guided, as you will see things (more of them) in a totally different light. High standards and years of experience mean your Guide offers a rich interpretative experience.
And we do recommend making the time to stay at a South African National Park's (SANParks) Restcamp. They are all beautifully located, clean, well-provisioned and great fun (cook your own steaks over a braai in the evening, for example). They were, of course, the original Kruger experience.
Government Restcamps
The Park truly comes into its own with a longer stay inside its perimeter. A blend of accommodation across a variety of price points caters for all. The infrastructural backbone is a network of SANParks Restcamps.
© South African Tourism
SANP Restcamps are remarkably good value. Most are fabulously located on riverbanks, dams or areas of particular interest (savannah plains, birding spots). Increasing modernisation is introducing more amenities such as swimming pools in an area which can be very hot. The major camps such as Skukuza and Letaba boast an open-air cinema, and museum or wildlife library. Skukuza has the population of a small South African town but, happily, doesn't often feel like it. | something more upmarket?
Limits are imposed on both the numbers of day and overnight visitors. To guarantee a stay it is essential to book in advance. Consider this up to six months in advance. South African school holidays and religious festivals are extremely busy and can be booked out years in advance.
Staying at a Kruger Restcamp offers better early-morning self-drive exploration (when the animals are most active). You can also participate in activities organised by the camps.
Morning and evening game drives are available in open-sided vehicles. Professional guides provide insight into the flora and fauna around you. Organised Drives also circumnavigate the strict rules on when you must be in Camp (Drives leave before gates open, returning after close at night).
Certain camps organise guided morning or afternoon walks where you will join a group totalling up to eight people escorted through the bush by two trained rangers.
Many Restcamps also offer bush braais, or trips out to safe swimming spots. | read on for some local Restcamp specialities...
There is a good, helpful central reservations facility provided by the National Parks Board who are also extremely responsive to e-mail requests for bookings for both accommodation and activities, which are best reserved well in advance.
Specialist interests
Short specialist activities (overnight or less)
The following specialist interest activities offered by Government Restcamps listed. Do try and book in advance, but you may find that you can only do so at the Restcamp itself on the night before the activity takes place. This can be a lottery, so do not be too disappointed to arrive at a Restcamp only to find the activity full.
Mountain Bike Trails have been recently introduced at Olifants Restcamp, and offer the chance to be led through the bush on two wheels by armed guards. There is an excellent series of full- and half-day bicycle bundu bashing options on offer. All depart from, and return to the main camp; there is a range of challenges to suit most riders and bikes are available for hire.
The same Camp also distinguishes itself by being the only public Restcamp to offer Astronomy evenings, complete with a large telescope to point at the moon, stars and planets from the depths of the bush.
Motorised trails for 4x4 vehicles are also extremely popular, and range in ambition and length from half day excursions to a five day trip covering the entire north-south axis of the Park.
Small numbers of the strong-nerved at a time can arrange to spend the night in hides overlooking permanent water. These take place at either Shipandani (close to Mopani Camp) or the Sable Dam Hide (near to the Phalaborwa Gate). Leopard sightings are not unusual, and crocodile and hippo are resident. You will probably need to present yourself at the Restcamp/Gate mentioned to enquire for availability and book.
The origin of these more exotic activities was the Private Reserves, and they still innovate in activity terms. Most lodges have sleep-out facilities ranging from tree-houses to frame beds around campfires.
In the Greater Kruger it is possible to arrange to hot air balloon, microlight or go for helicopter or fixed-wing "flips" from many lodges.
Quad bikes and bicycles are not uncommon. Horse-riding is more unusual (enquire for latest availability).
For more extreme sports you will need to make your own enquiries outside the Park, or join a Group to do something like our African Adrenalin Safari.
You will find the local tourist industry extremely helpful; people are prepared to go out their way to organise that little something extra. To give some small examples, we recently arranged for a couple to attend Sunday Mass in the town square of a remote Mozambique bush village to test out their Portugese. This they did as part of their Park Safari by entering Mozambique through the new Giriyondo Border Post on the Kruger's eastern side.
On your way to or from the Kruger, we offer authentic local township walking tours (unlike the formulaic Soweto "product") inevitably ending with a visit to the local Shebeen.
There are a wide variety of short activities on offer to enhance your trip that do not appear in the adverts or on this website. However obscure your interest may be, don't be shy! Just ask.
Longer specialist activities (2 nights or more)
The Private Reserves of the Greater Kruger pioneered walking in the bush many years ago, and most offer the chance to step out of the vehicle and explore on foot- an amazing experience.
Our own favourites include the Northern Wilderness Walking Safari, the Tusker Trail, and the Rhino Route, all of which we detail on this site.
Note that the SANP Authorities now run seven of their own Wilderness Trails in the Park. Groups of up to eight spend two days and three nights out walking in the bush, and staying in permanent trail camps. These are extremely worthwhile experience (if you are prepared to rough it a bit) and offer fantastic value for money. They are highly sought-after and booking is typically required months, if not a year, in advance.
A backpacking trail where you carry all of your own kit (tent, food, cooking utensils etc) and wash in the river has recently been trialled at Olifants Camp. Enquire for its current status.
For more specific interests, Kruger2Canyons.com has developed a range of Specialist Safaris to explore the best of the Greater Kruger. They range widely around the region, both inside the Park and further afield to take advantage of attractions such as the Blyde Canyon and the Drakensberg Escarpment.
We have a range of excellent Photographic Safaris held at private concessions in and around the Park, and we would recommend these as an ideal precursor to any Safari to ensure that you get the most of your photographic opportunities. They are led by industry-renowned professionals, and occur on set departure dates throughout the year. Follow the links to learn more.
If you are keen to experiencing driving a 4x4 on an off-road trail, then Kruger2Canyons offers Overlanding Safaris that take you from beach to bush (note: not in the Kruger itself).
If you have your own 4x4 and can drive it, then you need to check out SANPark's motorised trails.
For those keen on birding, we offer a northern and a southern circuit of the area, both led by expert guides.
If you are in pursuit of more action, our seven night Kruger Adrenalin Safari departs frequently.
WILDERNESS
You will need to invest some effort in finding true Wilderness as a consequence of the good network of roads.
The best Wilderness areas are, by definition, off the beaten track.
Without exception, the Kruger2Canyons.com Guides all love the far north of the Park. Fairly monotonous mopane veld gives way to fever tree forests and Baobab Groves between the Levuvhu River and Kipling's "great, grey-green, greasy" Limpopo.
We recommend the Makuleke concession where there are only three places to stay from the Levuvhu up to the Zimbabwean border and the stunning Lanner Gorge. It has a particularly interesting and groundbreaking history in the land restitution process in South Africa, which is the subject of a forthcoming podcast on this website.
Also worth citing as an excellent source of solitude is the relatively new and highly exclusive Singita Kruger concession hard against the Mozambique border in the centre-right of the Park. It contains only two lodges; get a feel for the experience with Kruger2Canyons.com's "24 Hours at a Luxury Lodge" podcast recorded at Singita Lembombo.
READ MORE
- Read the Kruger2Canyons.com history of the Kruger National Park
- Read about walking on one of the Kruger's first public trails
- Explore the unique and endangered flora and fauna of the Greater Kruger ecosystem
- Read how some of the Kruger's favourite animals got their names
