There is a long list of compelling reasons why this vast (7,580 square miles!) and beautiful nature reserve features prominently on the bucket list of clued-up wildlife enthusiasts.
If you’re one of them, then here are just a few of the reasons why you simply must visit the Kruger:
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The Kruger Gives You An Opportunity To See Unusual And Rare Animals
Have you ever seen an aardvark, or a rare, endangered aardwolf in the wild?
Have you ticked the Cape pangolin, or an ultra-rare springhare off your bucket list?
Have you ever seen that fearless little tough guy of the African bush, the honey badger, trot past in his characteristic and focused way?
Have you been simply enchanted by the smallest primate in Africa, the lesser bushbaby?
What about seeing the late afternoon sunshine light up the coat of a beautiful white lion?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then a Kruger National Park Safari can give you the chance to do so – and much, much more.
Incredible Biodiversity
Covering 16 macro ecosystems, the enormous Kruger Park gives you grass-covered plains, granite koppies, majestic mountains, rivers, and lush forests – along with all the diverse flora and fauna that entails.
In fact, the density and diversity of its animal population is virtually unparalleled anywhere in the world.
Most nature lovers will know that the Kruger has the Big Five – elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. But do you know about their ‘Little Five’?
The minute little elephant shrew, the antlion (any ant’s worst nightmare!), the boisterous red-billed buffalo weavers, the sedate leopard tortoise, and the horned rhino beetle make up this special group of African animals.
And what birdlife enthusiast dare miss out on the Kruger’s famous ‘Big Six’? This collection consists of the Kori bustard, the magnificent martial eagle, the rare Pel’s fishing owl, saddle-billed storks, southern ground hornbills and those amazing aerial soarers, the lappet-faced vultures. And that’s apart from all their other amazing and beautiful birds!
Spectacular Trees – Aka The ‘Bigger Five’
These are five of the Park’s multitude of beautiful and significant trees. The Bigger Five include the following iconic giants:
- The Lowveld baobab. Growing up to 30 meters tall and with a whopping 32+ feet circumference, these massive trees often dominate the landscape.
- The mighty marula bears delicious fruit that is a favorite with many animals. The fruit has eight times more vitamin C than your average orange, and the nuts inside are also edible and highly nutritious. But, sorry to destroy a long-held myth, the fruit doesn’t make elephants drunk!
- The beautiful fever tree. Its signature green bark and lovely fluffy yellow blossoms in early summer, make it very recognizable.
- The characteristic Kruger knob thorn. It is an important food source with its leaves, flowers and seed pods all utilized by animals and insects.
- The hard and termite-resistant mopane tree. It has butterfly-shaped leaves and is host to the famous mopane worms, a valuable food source.
The Family-Friendly Kruger Is Fun And Affordable
The Kruger is ideal for that long-awaited family vacation where you can relax, enjoy game drives, and spend quality time together in family-friendly accommodation. Highly trained, experienced rangers will ensure your safety.
The different types of accommodation available ensures every preference, taste and budget is catered for. Have a simple camping holiday, or embark on an energetic holiday with lots of hiking, biking, or backpacking. The Kruger has it all!
Visit The Kruger At Any Time Of The Year
For residents of the Northern Hemisphere, the Kruger is the perfect spot to escape the winter. Bear in mind though that the African summer can get pretty warm indeed!
If you’re not keen on too much heat, a visit in the South African winter is actually a great time to visit. This is also the dry season, which makes spotting rare wildlife at waterholes a lot more likely.
You can access the Kruger Park’s website for all the information you will need about temperatures and rainfall in the region throughout the year.
The Kruger Is Really Easy To Get To
If you are holidaying in South Africa, and decide to see the Kruger as well, it really won’t be a problem. There are direct flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.
The Kruger also has ten different entrance gates which makes it easy to get into the Park, but remember to check on the opening and closing times of these gates. One of the main camps in the Park, Skukuza, also has its own airport.
Let’s End With A Very Brief History Of The Kruger
The Kruger National Park was established in 1898 by Paul Kruger, president of the then Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. The Gold Rush had seriously decimated the animals of the Lowveld, so President Kruger realized they needed protection. Restrictions were therefore placed on hunting between the Crocodile and Sabie rivers in 1884. In 1898 the Sabie Game Reserve, which would later become the Kruger as we know it today, was established – and the rest, as they say, is history!
