Kruger National Park
Encyclopedia
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa
. It covers 19485 square kilometres (7,523.2 sq mi) and extends 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) from east to west.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo
and Mpumalanga
. In the north is Zimbabwe
, and to the east is Mozambique
. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
, a peace park
that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park
in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park
in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has 9 main gates that allow entrance to the different champa.
The park is the site of the popular eyewitness viral video Battle at Kruger
.
of the old South African Republic, a motion to create the game reserve which would become the Kruger National Park. That motion, introduced together with another Volksraad member by the name of R. K. Loveday, and accepted for discussion in September 1895 by a majority of one vote, resulted in the proclamation by Paul Kruger
president of the Transvaal Republic, on March 26, 1898, of a “Government Wildlife Park.” This park would later be known as the Sabi Game Reserve and was expanded into the Kruger National Park in 1926.
The park was initially created to control hunting and protect the diminished number of animals in the park.
James Stevenson Hamilton became the first warden of the reserve in 1902. The reserve was located in the southern one-third of the modern park. Shingwedzi Reserve, now in northern Kruger National Park, was proclaimed in 1903. In 1926, Sabie Game Reserve, the adjacent Shingwedzi Game Reserve, and farms were combined to create Kruger National Park.
During 1923, the first large groups of tourists started visiting the Sabie Game Reserve, but only as part of the South African Railways' popular "Round in Nine" tours. The tourist trains used the Selati railway line between Komatipoort on the Mozambican border and Tzaneen in Limpopo Province. The tour included an overnight stop at Sabie Bridge (now Skukuza) and a short walk, escorted by armed rangers, into the bush. It soon became a highlight of the tour and it gave valuable support for the campaign to proclaim the Sabie Game Reserve as a national park.
Warden James Stevenson-Hamilton retired on the 30th April 1946, after 44 years as warden of the Kruger Park and its predecessor, the Sabi Game Reserve.
During 1959, work commenced to completely fence the park boundaries. Work started on the southern boundary along the Crocodile River and in 1960 the western and northern boundaries were fenced, followed by the eastern boundary with Mozambique. The purpose of the fence was to curb the spread of diseases, facilitate border patrolling and inhibit the movement of poachers.
The Makuleke area in the northern part of the park was forcibly taken from the Makuleke people
by the government in 1969 and about 1500 of them were relocated to land to the South so that their original tribal
areas could be integrated into the greater Kruger National Park.
In 2002, Kruger National Park, Gonarezhou National Park
in Zimbabwe
, and Limpopo National Park
in Mozambique
were incorporated into the a peace park
, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
.
and Mpumalanga
provinces. Phalaborwa
, Limpopo is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park. It is one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of 19485 square kilometres (7,523.2 sq mi) The park is approximately 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) long, and has an average width of 65 kilometres (40.4 mi). At its widest point, the park is 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) wide from east to west. To the north and south of the park two rivers, the Limpopo and the Crocodile respectively, act as its natural boundaries. To the east the Lebombo Mountains separate it from Mozambique. Its western boundary runs parallel with this range, roughly 65 km distant. The park varies in altitude between 200 m in the east and 840 m in the south-west near Berg-en-Dal. The highest point in the park is here, a hill called Khandzalive. Several rivers run through the park from west to east, including the Sabie
, Olifants, Crocodile, Letaba, Luvuvhu and Limpopo
rivers.
tree (Colophospernum mopane).
There are a number of smaller areas in the park which carry distinctive vegetation such as Pretoriuskop where the sickle bush and the silver cluster-leaf (Terminalia sericae) are prominent. The sandveld communities near Punda Maria are equally definitive, with a wide variety of unique species.
s found at Kruger, 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants, and 147 nomads.
game animals are found at Kruger National Park, which has more species of mammal
s than any other African Game Reserve (at 147 species). There are webcams set up to observe the wildlife.
The park stopped culling
elephants in 1989 and tried translocating them, but by 2004 the population had increased to 11,670 elephants, by 2006 to approximately 13,500 and by 2009 to 11,672. The park's habitats can only sustain about 8,000 elephants. The park started using annual contraception
in 1995, but has stopped that due to problems with delivering the contraceptives and upsetting the herds.
Kruger supports packs of the endangered African Wild Dog
, of which there are thought to be only about 400 in the whole of South Africa.
Kruger National Park holds over 48 tons of ivory
in storage. According to Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES), it is allowed to sell 30 tons.
Following approval by CITES, 47 metric tons of stockpiled ivory from Kruger were auctioned on November 6, 2008. The sale fetched approximately US$6.7 million which will be used towards increasing anti-poaching activity. The average price for the 63 lots on auction was US$142/kg.
and 3000 crocodiles.
, was caught at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in July 1950. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers like the Limpopo.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It covers 19485 square kilometres (7,523.2 sq mi) and extends 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) from east to west.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
and Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
. In the north is Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and to the east is Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the...
, a peace park
Peace Park
Peace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park
Gonarezhou National Park
Gonarezhou National Park is a National Park located in south-eastern Zimbabwe. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique border. The park is a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs...
in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park
Limpopo National Park
The Limpopo National Park was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province, Mozambique, was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area....
in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has 9 main gates that allow entrance to the different champa.
The park is the site of the popular eyewitness viral video Battle at Kruger
Battle at Kruger
Battle at Kruger is an eight-minute amateur wildlife video that depicts an unfolding confrontation between a herd of Cape buffalo, a small pride of lions, and one or two crocodiles. The video was shot in September 2004 at the Transport Dam watering hole in Kruger National Park, South Africa,...
.
Sabi Game Reserve (1898 - 1926)
In 1895, Jakob Louis van Wyk introduced in the VolksraadVolksraad
The Volksraad was the parliament of the former South African Republic , which existed from 1857 to 1902 in part of what is now the South Africa. The body ceased to exist after the British victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal in Church Square, Pretoria...
of the old South African Republic, a motion to create the game reserve which would become the Kruger National Park. That motion, introduced together with another Volksraad member by the name of R. K. Loveday, and accepted for discussion in September 1895 by a majority of one vote, resulted in the proclamation by Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
president of the Transvaal Republic, on March 26, 1898, of a “Government Wildlife Park.” This park would later be known as the Sabi Game Reserve and was expanded into the Kruger National Park in 1926.
The park was initially created to control hunting and protect the diminished number of animals in the park.
James Stevenson Hamilton became the first warden of the reserve in 1902. The reserve was located in the southern one-third of the modern park. Shingwedzi Reserve, now in northern Kruger National Park, was proclaimed in 1903. In 1926, Sabie Game Reserve, the adjacent Shingwedzi Game Reserve, and farms were combined to create Kruger National Park.
During 1923, the first large groups of tourists started visiting the Sabie Game Reserve, but only as part of the South African Railways' popular "Round in Nine" tours. The tourist trains used the Selati railway line between Komatipoort on the Mozambican border and Tzaneen in Limpopo Province. The tour included an overnight stop at Sabie Bridge (now Skukuza) and a short walk, escorted by armed rangers, into the bush. It soon became a highlight of the tour and it gave valuable support for the campaign to proclaim the Sabie Game Reserve as a national park.
1926 - 1946
After the proclamation of the Kruger National Park in 1926, the first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927, jumping to 180 cars in 1928 and 850 cars in 1929.Warden James Stevenson-Hamilton retired on the 30th April 1946, after 44 years as warden of the Kruger Park and its predecessor, the Sabi Game Reserve.
1946 - 1994
He was replaced by Colonel J. A. B. Sandenburg of the South African Air Force.During 1959, work commenced to completely fence the park boundaries. Work started on the southern boundary along the Crocodile River and in 1960 the western and northern boundaries were fenced, followed by the eastern boundary with Mozambique. The purpose of the fence was to curb the spread of diseases, facilitate border patrolling and inhibit the movement of poachers.
The Makuleke area in the northern part of the park was forcibly taken from the Makuleke people
Makuleke (tribe)
The Makuleke are a Tsonga tribe living in the Pafuri Triangle of South Africa at the conluence of the Luvuhu river and Limpopo river in what is now the Kruger National Park. The Tsonga-speaking agricultural and fishing tribe settled the area in the early nineteenth century with decentralized...
by the government in 1969 and about 1500 of them were relocated to land to the South so that their original tribal
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
areas could be integrated into the greater Kruger National Park.
1994 - present
In 1996 the Makuleke tribe submitted a land claim for 19842 hectares (198.4 km²) in the northern park of the Kruger National Park. The land was given back to the Makuleke people, however, they chose not to resettle on the land but to engage with the private sector to invest in tourism, thus resulting in the building of several game lodges.In 2002, Kruger National Park, Gonarezhou National Park
Gonarezhou National Park
Gonarezhou National Park is a National Park located in south-eastern Zimbabwe. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique border. The park is a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and Limpopo National Park
Limpopo National Park
The Limpopo National Park was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province, Mozambique, was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area....
in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
were incorporated into the a peace park
Peace Park
Peace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the...
.
Geography
The park lies in the north-east of South Africa, in the eastern parts of LimpopoLimpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
and Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
provinces. Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa is a town situated in the Mopani district, halfway up along the length of the Kruger National Park in the Limpopo province in South Africa. The Lowveld, also known as Valley of the Olifants, has the highest winter temperatures in South Africa. The rainfall is low and the average winter...
, Limpopo is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park. It is one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of 19485 square kilometres (7,523.2 sq mi) The park is approximately 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) long, and has an average width of 65 kilometres (40.4 mi). At its widest point, the park is 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) wide from east to west. To the north and south of the park two rivers, the Limpopo and the Crocodile respectively, act as its natural boundaries. To the east the Lebombo Mountains separate it from Mozambique. Its western boundary runs parallel with this range, roughly 65 km distant. The park varies in altitude between 200 m in the east and 840 m in the south-west near Berg-en-Dal. The highest point in the park is here, a hill called Khandzalive. Several rivers run through the park from west to east, including the Sabie
Sabie
Sabie is a forestry town situated on the banks of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Once the Sabie River was teeming with crocodiles and the local Shangaan people dubbed it uluSaba or ...
, Olifants, Crocodile, Letaba, Luvuvhu and Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
rivers.
Climate
The climate of the Kruger National Park and Lowveld is subtropical. Summer days are humid and hot with temperatures often soaring to above 38 °C (100.4 °F). The rainy season is from September until May. The dry winter season is the ideal time to visit this region for various reasons. There is less chance of contracting malaria and the days are milder. Viewing wildlife is more rewarding as the vegetation is more sparse and animals are drawn to the waterholes to drink every morning and evening.Flora and fauna
Thorn Trees and Red Bush-willow veld
This area lies between the western boundary and roughly the centre of the park south of the Olifants River. Combretums, such as the red bush-willow (Combretum apiculatum), and Acacia species predominate while there are a great number of marula trees (Sclerocarya caffra). The Acacias are dominant along the rivers and streams, the very dense Nwatimhiri bush along the Sabie River between Skukuza and Lower Sabie being a very good example.Knob-thorn and Marula Veld
South of the Olifants River in the eastern half of the park, this area provides the most important grazing-land. Species such as red grass (Themeda triandra) and buffalo grass (Panicum maximum) predominate while the knob-thorn (Acacia nigrescens), leadwood (Combretum imberbe) and marula (Sclerocarya caffra) are the main tree species.Red Bush-willow and Mopane Veld
This area lies in the western half of the park, north of the Olifants River. The two most prominent species here are the red bush-willow (Combretum apiculatum) and the mopaneMopane
The mopane or mopani tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum...
tree (Colophospernum mopane).
Shrub Mopane Veld
Shrub mopane covers almost the entire north-eastern part of the park.There are a number of smaller areas in the park which carry distinctive vegetation such as Pretoriuskop where the sickle bush and the silver cluster-leaf (Terminalia sericae) are prominent. The sandveld communities near Punda Maria are equally definitive, with a wide variety of unique species.
Birds
Out of the 517 species of birdBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s found at Kruger, 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants, and 147 nomads.
Mammals
All the Big FiveBig Five game
The phrase Big Five game was coined by white hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris. The collection consists of the lion, African elephant, cape buffalo,...
game animals are found at Kruger National Park, which has more species of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s than any other African Game Reserve (at 147 species). There are webcams set up to observe the wildlife.
The park stopped culling
Culling
Culling is the process of removing animals from a group based on specific criteria. This is done either to reinforce certain desirable characteristics or to remove certain undesirable characteristics from the group...
elephants in 1989 and tried translocating them, but by 2004 the population had increased to 11,670 elephants, by 2006 to approximately 13,500 and by 2009 to 11,672. The park's habitats can only sustain about 8,000 elephants. The park started using annual contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
in 1995, but has stopped that due to problems with delivering the contraceptives and upsetting the herds.
Kruger supports packs of the endangered African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
, of which there are thought to be only about 400 in the whole of South Africa.
Kruger National Park holds over 48 tons of ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
in storage. According to Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
CITES is a multilateral treaty, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature...
(CITES), it is allowed to sell 30 tons.
Following approval by CITES, 47 metric tons of stockpiled ivory from Kruger were auctioned on November 6, 2008. The sale fetched approximately US$6.7 million which will be used towards increasing anti-poaching activity. The average price for the 63 lots on auction was US$142/kg.
| Species | Count | Species | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Buffalo African Buffalo The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear... |
27,000 | African Wild Dog African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf... |
150 |
| Black Rhinoceros Black Rhinoceros The Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros , is a species of rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola... |
350 | White Rhinoceros White Rhinoceros The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species... |
7,000 to 12,000 |
| Burchell's Zebra Burchell's Zebra Burchell's Zebra is a southern subspecies of the Plains Zebra.-Range:Formerly Burchell's zebra ranged north of the Vaal/Orange river system, extending northwest via southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld, southeast to Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal... |
17,797 | Bushbuck Bushbuck The bushbuck is the most widespread antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannaforest and woodland. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the bushbuck, is in fact a complex of two geographically and phenotypically... |
500 |
| Cheetah Cheetah The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws... |
120 | Common Eland Common Eland The common eland , also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the largest antelope in the African continent... |
more than 300 |
| Giraffe Giraffe The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant... |
5,114 | Greater Kudu Greater Kudu The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting.... |
5,798 |
| Hippopotamus Hippopotamus The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest... |
3,000 | Lion Lion The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger... |
2,000 |
| Leopard Leopard The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its... |
2,000 | Spotted Hyena Spotted Hyena The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which it is the largest extant member. Though the species' prehistoric range included Eurasia extending from Atlantic Europe to China, it now only occurs in all of Africa south of the Sahara save... |
2,000 |
| Elephant Elephant Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct... |
16,000 | Waterbuck Waterbuck The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps... |
5,000 |
| Blue Wildebeest Blue Wildebeest The Blue Wildebeest , also called the Common Wildebeest, is a large antelope and one of two species of wildebeest. It grows to 115–145 cm shoulder height and attains a body mass of 168–274 kg. They range the open plains, bushveld and dry woodlands of Southern and East Africa, living for... |
9,612 | Impala Impala An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"... |
1500,000 |
Reptiles
Kruger houses 114 species of reptile, including black mambaBlack mamba
The black mamba , also called the common black mamba or black-mouthed mamba, is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around in length, and sometimes growing to lengths of...
and 3000 crocodiles.
Amphibians and fishes
Thirty-three species of amphibians are found in the Park, as well as 50 fish species. A Zambesi shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull sharkBull shark
The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a shark common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers...
, was caught at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in July 1950. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers like the Limpopo.
Accommodation
The Kruger National Park has 21 rest camps, as well as 2 private lodge concessions, and 15 designated private safari lodges. The concessions are parcels of land operated by private companies in partnership with communities, who outsource the operation of private lodges.Rest camps
- Bateleur Bushveld Camp
- Berg-en-Dal Camp, near Malelane Gate.
- Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
- Boulders Bush Lodge
- Balule Private Camp, near Olifants Camp.
- Crocodile Bridge Camp, near Crocodile Bridge Gate.
- Letaba Camp
- Lower Sabie Camp
- Malelane Private Camp, Malelane Gate.
- Maroela Private Camp, near Orpen Gate.
- Mopani Camp
- Olifants Camp
- Orpen Camp, near Orpen Gate.
- Pretoriuskop Camp, near Numbi Gate.
- Punda Maria Camp, near Punda Maria Gate
- Roodewal Bush Lodge
- Satara Camp
- Shimuwini Bushveld Camp
- Shingwedzi Camp
- Sirheni Bushveld Camp
- SkukuzaSkukuzaSkukuza is the main camp in the Kruger National Park. The name, adapted from Sikhukhuza , was a nickname for James Stevenson-Hamilton. It could be translated as 'a new broom', as Stevenson-Hamilton swept the area clean of poachers and outlaws....
Camp, not far from Paul Kruger Gate. - Talamati Bushveld Camp
- Tamboti Tented Camp, near Orpen Gate .
- Tsendze Rustic Camp
Designated Private Lodges
- Camp Shawu near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
- Camp Shonga near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
- Hamiltons Tented Camp
- Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge
- Imbali Safari Lodge
- Jocks Safari Lodge & Spa
- Lukimbi Safari Lodge
- Pafuri Camp, near Pafuri Gate .
- Plains Camp
- Rhino Post Camp
- Shishangeni Lodge near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
- Singita Lebombo Lodge
- Singita Sweni Lodge
- The Outpost Lodge, near Pafuri Gate.
- Tinga Game Lodges
Gates to the Kruger Park
The Kruger Park has the following gates:| Name | Road | From Town | Coordinates | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crocodile Bridge Gate | on the extension of Rissikstreet | from Komatipoort Komatipoort Komatipoort is a town situated at the confluence of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 8km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate into the Kruger Park, and just 5km from the Mozambique border and 65km from the Swazi border. It is a small, quiet town with some... |
25°21′30.48"S 31°53′36.59"E | |
| Malelane Gate | on the R570 off the N4 | near Malelane Malelane Malalane is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa situated on the N4 national highway. The farms in the region produce sugarcane, subtropical fruit and winter vegetables. The town was proclaimed in 1949 after which it was named. The origin of the name is disputed but was corrupted from the... |
25°27′42.73"S 31°31′58.70"E | |
| Numbi Gate | on the R569 road | from Hazyview Hazyview Hazyview is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is renowned for its banana industry. Close to Kruger National Park, the town's name is derived from the shimmering haze that occurs during the heat of summer. Most of Mpumalanga's private game reserves are found just east of... |
25°9′19.26"S 31°11′51.00"E | |
| Phabeni Gate | on the road off the R536 | from Hazyview Hazyview Hazyview is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is renowned for its banana industry. Close to Kruger National Park, the town's name is derived from the shimmering haze that occurs during the heat of summer. Most of Mpumalanga's private game reserves are found just east of... |
25°1′30.42"S 31°14′29.15"E | |
| Paul Kruger Gate | on the R536 road | from Hazyview Hazyview Hazyview is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is renowned for its banana industry. Close to Kruger National Park, the town's name is derived from the shimmering haze that occurs during the heat of summer. Most of Mpumalanga's private game reserves are found just east of... |
24°58′52.70"S 31°29′6.92"E | |
| Orpen Gate | on the R531 road | from Klaserie | 24°28′32.95"S 31°23′26.79"E | |
| Phalaborwa Gate | on the R71 R71 (Limpopo) The R71 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Polokwane with Kruger National Park via Tzaneen and Phalaborwa.-External links:*... road |
from Phalaborwa Phalaborwa Phalaborwa is a town situated in the Mopani district, halfway up along the length of the Kruger National Park in the Limpopo province in South Africa. The Lowveld, also known as Valley of the Olifants, has the highest winter temperatures in South Africa. The rainfall is low and the average winter... |
23°56′43.63"S 31°9′54.15"E | |
| Punda Maria Gate | on the R524 road | from Thohoyandou Thohoyandou Thohoyandou is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality. It is also known for being the former capital of the bantustan of Venda.... |
22°44′17.89"S 31°0′32.52"E | |
| Pafuri Gate | on the R525 road | from Musina Musina Musina or Messina is the northernmost town in the Limpopo province of South Africa near the Limpopo River border to Zimbabwe. It has a population of between 20,000 and 40,000. Iron ore, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds, semi-precious stones and copper are mined in the... |
22°24′0.60"S 31°2′29.08"E |
Wilderness trails
Nine different trails are on offer in the Kruger National Park. Some are overnight and they last several days in areas of wilderness virtually untouched by humans. There are no set trails in the wilderness areas; a visitor walks along paths made by animals or seeks out new routes through the bush.See also
- Abel ChapmanAbel ChapmanAbel Chapman was a Sunderland-born hunter-naturalist. He saved the Spanish Ibex from extinction and helped in the establishment of South Africa's first game reserve.-Early life:...
- Battle at KrugerBattle at KrugerBattle at Kruger is an eight-minute amateur wildlife video that depicts an unfolding confrontation between a herd of Cape buffalo, a small pride of lions, and one or two crocodiles. The video was shot in September 2004 at the Transport Dam watering hole in Kruger National Park, South Africa,...
- MakulekeMakulekeThe Makuleke Contractual Park or Pafuri Triangle constitutes the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and comprises approximately 240 square kilometres of land. The “triangle” is a wedge of land created by the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers at the tripoint...
- Peace parkPeace ParkPeace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
- Protected areas of South Africa
- SkukuzaSkukuzaSkukuza is the main camp in the Kruger National Park. The name, adapted from Sikhukhuza , was a nickname for James Stevenson-Hamilton. It could be translated as 'a new broom', as Stevenson-Hamilton swept the area clean of poachers and outlaws....
- Greater Kruger National ParkGreater Kruger National ParkGreater Kruger National Park, is joint venture between the Kruger National Park and the Associated Private Nature Reserves. Together they have an area of more than 20.000.000 Ha , under their joint conservation.** Kruger National Park...