Kruger National Park

Let me paint you a picture with words of a place in Africa that is almost akin to paradise in its beauty, tranquility, vastness, and in its abundance of wild animals who roam as free as they are ever likely to be in this world that is constantly encroaching on their territory; a place where each sunrise competes to be more spectacular than the sunset which it precedes, as they bathe the lowveld in their glorious shades of yellows, oranges and pinks.

A region of South Africa that is blessed in its diversity in that it is home to no less than six ecosystems that abound with a truly impressive number of plant, animal, reptile, amphibian and bird species.

For most visitors to South Africa a visit to these shores is not complete without ‘going on safari’, and there is no more perfect place to do so than the iconic Kruger National Park, a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Let’s take a look back in history to find out a bit more about this small slice of paradise where animals roam almost as free here as they are likely to be anywhere in the world. In the early to mid 1800s many intrepid ‘Voortrekkers’ were lured to the northern regions of the country by rumours of gold and also by talk of large quantities of tradable items such as ivory and animal skins.

The hunting of the animals for these items had such a dramatic impact on the animal populations in the area that when President Paul Kruger, hence the name of the Park, heard of the dramatic decrease in their numbers he succeeded in having a large swathe of land (in fact, larger than the country of Israel) declared as a protected area so as to prevent any further losses. It is with gratitude that we should think of President Paul Kruger and those who have upheld his early vision of a large reserve where the protection of the wildlife was his primary concern, as it is truly a living legacy that can be enjoyed by so many people for a very long time to come.

So, what can you expect from your visit to the Kruger National Park? You are just about guaranteed to experience the thrill of seeing all of the Big 5 animal s (Lion, Elephant, Hippo, Rhino and Leopard), and so much more besides, in their natural habitat either from the back of a game-drive vehicle (specially built for maximum visibility of the animals you are there to see) or on foot on one of the many bushwalks.

And what of accommodation? After a tough day out in the bush in the heat of the African sun you can return to you accommodation for a meal and a rest well-deserved. There are a variety of accomodation options in the park from which to choose as there are a large number of rest camps, bushveld camps and even overnight hides, all of which are owned and managed by the government-owned Sanparks.

For sheer luxury there are the privately owned concessions, or game lodges , within the Kruger Park where your every need will be catered to and you will be treated like royalty during your stay.