Kruger Park: Journey through the primeval heart of wild Africa
Ever wanted to experience the primeval heart of Africa? Be guaranteed to see lions and elephants in an unforgettable wilderness?
The Kruger National Park is one of the last remaining areas in South Africa where magnificent scenery and a unique experience awaits you.
The Kruger National Park is one of the last remaining areas in South Africa where magnificent scenery and a unique experience awaits you.
Solitary and mostly nocturnal leopards are widespread in the park.
See the park in 5 days or less
The list below contains a five-day tour route of the Kruger Park should you wish to visit some time soon.
Each day's drive is approximately 200 km long. The routes have been chosen for scenery and game-spotting.
The tour begins in the south at Skukuza and ends in the far north at Punda Maria. Visitors with less time should start their route in the South, exiting at Orpen Gate (two days), Phalaborwa Gate (three days) or Punda Maria Gate (four days) without visiting Pafuri).
The area between the Sabie and Olifants Rivers is the richest in game, so make sure this features prominently in your allocated time. If you plan to follow the entire route you will need to book these camps well in advance:
1. Skukuza
2. Lower Sabie
3. Satara
4. Letaba
5. Punda Maria
The tour begins in the south at Skukuza and ends in the far north at Punda Maria. Visitors with less time should start their route in the South, exiting at Orpen Gate (two days), Phalaborwa Gate (three days) or Punda Maria Gate (four days) without visiting Pafuri).
The area between the Sabie and Olifants Rivers is the richest in game, so make sure this features prominently in your allocated time. If you plan to follow the entire route you will need to book these camps well in advance:
1. Skukuza
2. Lower Sabie
3. Satara
4. Letaba
5. Punda Maria
Day one
Follow Jock of the Bushveld through the lush South
- . . . . . the first day takes you through the densely vegetated southern area of the park, dotted with bouldered hills - home of the rare klip-springer antelope and favourite stamping ground of the rhinoceros. Part of the route parallels the path followed by the old transport riders to Delagoa Bay, and used by the dog of legend, Jock of the Bushveld.
SKUKUZA - Pretoriuskop - Afsaal - Crocodile Bridge - Lower Sabie
Day two
A good route for game spotting in the great plains
- . . . . . the day takes you through the richest area in the park for animal life. Lions are abundant, together with numerous herds of zebra, wildebeest and giraffe. the road snakes lazily northwards through the enormous plains of the central district stretching from horizon to horizon and providing a home for the occasional cheetah.
LOWER SABIE - Tshokwane - Satara - Nwanedzi - Satara
Day three
Elephant, giraffe and lion on the winding road North to Letaba
- . . . . . the day's drive meanders past a series of water-courses, the first half passing through scenic Acacia-Savannah with an abundance of giraffe, water buck and lions. The flat plains eventually give way to rugged hills studded with Mopane trees and increasing number of elephants. Hippopotami can occasionally be seen in the rivers.
SATARA - Timbavati - Olifants - Letaba
Day four
Driving North through an endless sea of Mopane trees
- . . . . . your next day will take you through a vast expanse of flat plains with only a rare hill breaking through the endless sea of Mopane trees. This area is home to numerous herds of buffalo and elephant, and antelope species such as tsessebe, roan, sable and eland. Multicoloured lilac-breasted rollers display their brilliant plumage from tree-top perches.
LETABA - Shingwedzi - Babalala - Punda Maria
Day five
A mysterious forest-fringed river where crocodiles lie in wait
- . . . . . your last day in the Kruger takes you to the far North of the park through sandstone hills covered in brightly coloured lichens. As you approach Pafuri, magnificent baobabs dot the landscape, and lush riverine forest fringe the Luvuvhu River, sheltering a large number of nyala and masses of birds. Crocodiles are commonly seen in the river.
PUNDA MARIA - Mahonie Drive - Luvuvhu River - Pafuri - Punda Maria
The "Big Five"
The collection consists of the Lion, the African Elephant, the Cape Buffalo, the Leopard and the Rhinoceros.
The members of the "Big Five" were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and not their size. The "Big Five" are among the most dangerous mammals.
The Lion
. . . . . is a large carnivorous feline of Africa and northwest India, having a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders. The African Elephant
. . . . . is a very large herbivore having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory, and large, fan-shaped ears. The African Buffalo
. . . . . or Cape Buffalo is a large horned bovid. It is the most dangerous of the Big Five, reportedly causing the most hunter deaths. The Rhinoceros
. . . . . is a large, thick-skinned, herbivore having one or two upright horns on the snout. In Africa, there are two distinct species of rhinoceros; the Black Rhinoceros and the White Rhinoceros. Both of these species have two upright horns on the snout. The Leopard
. . . . . is a large, carnivorous feline having either tawny fur with dark rosette-like markings or black fur. Leopards are the most difficult to acquire hunting licenses for and are often difficult to hunt due to their behavior and their nocturnal feeding habits. Where exactly is the Kruger National Park?
Follow the link to find out exactly were the Kruger Park is. . . . .
Covering more than 19 000 square km in the North-Eastern corner of the Limpopo Province, South Africa, the Kruger National Park is one of the largest national parks in the world. The park is roughly 350 km from North to South and about 60 km wide.
- Kruger National Park South Africa
- See the location of the Kruger National Park in South Africa
Battle at Kruger
Lion versus Buffalo.
The Battle at Kruger has taken the world by storm! Filmed at South Africa's Kruger National Park, this inspiring and adventurous fight for survival has become one of the most popular online videos of all time. Featured in hundreds of news outlets and the subject of any upcoming national Geographic documentary, the Battle at Kruger continues to rise in popularity.
powered by Youtube
Follow the link to the official Battle at Kruger website. . .
By visiting this official website, you can:
1. Watch & learn more about the video
2. License the high resolution video footage & images for your own use
3. Get behind-the-scene information about the documentary
4. Follow Battle at Kruger in the media
5. Purchase high quality photographic prints
6. Order Battle at Kruger merchandise
1. Watch & learn more about the video
2. License the high resolution video footage & images for your own use
3. Get behind-the-scene information about the documentary
4. Follow Battle at Kruger in the media
5. Purchase high quality photographic prints
6. Order Battle at Kruger merchandise
- Battle of Kruger official website
- Official Battle of Kruger website
Out and about in the camps
When to visit?
Winter, between May and October, is the best time to visit the park.
The days are usually cloudless and warm, with an average maximum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. It cools down rapidly in the late afternoon and the nights are cold, generally about 6 degrees Celsius during the early hours before sunrise.
In Summer, daytime temperatures frequently go above 40 degrees Celsius, with an average of about 30 degrees Celsius. The nights are warm, with minimum temperatures hovering around 18 degrees Celsius.
The hottest months are December and January, and the coolest June and July.
Mid-winter is the better time to view game, particularly around June, July and August when all the smaller pools and streams have dried up and animals concentrate around the larger dams and rivers. Most of these are close to tourist roads and, as trees may have dropped their leaves and the vegetations cover as a whole is reduced, it is much easier to locate and observe animals.
A Winter visit does have certain disadvantages: you miss the tremendous scenery of Summer, especially in a season with good rain. Luxuriant groves of trees in full bloom compliment the rich green fields of revitalised grasses. Many of the large mammals bear their young during this time when environmental conditions are most favourable.
In Summer, daytime temperatures frequently go above 40 degrees Celsius, with an average of about 30 degrees Celsius. The nights are warm, with minimum temperatures hovering around 18 degrees Celsius.
The hottest months are December and January, and the coolest June and July.
Mid-winter is the better time to view game, particularly around June, July and August when all the smaller pools and streams have dried up and animals concentrate around the larger dams and rivers. Most of these are close to tourist roads and, as trees may have dropped their leaves and the vegetations cover as a whole is reduced, it is much easier to locate and observe animals.
A Winter visit does have certain disadvantages: you miss the tremendous scenery of Summer, especially in a season with good rain. Luxuriant groves of trees in full bloom compliment the rich green fields of revitalised grasses. Many of the large mammals bear their young during this time when environmental conditions are most favourable.
Enjoy some of my Kruger moments
Where to stay?
Several types of huts or housing units, caravan or camping sites are available in the park.
Scattered throughout the park are 17 camps ranging in size from elite small camps, which accommodate up to eight people and have to be reserved in their entirety, to giant camps such as Skukuza, which has nearly 200 huts, plus guest cottages and dormitories for school tours. Most camps also have well-tended camping areas for caravans and tents, together with fuel-stations, shops, restaurants and other facilities.
Several types of huts or housing units are available in the park, the most popular being a thatched hut with one room with two or three beds, air-conditioner or fan, refrigerator, shower, toilet, basin and an adjoining verandah, table and chairs. Some camps also have family cottages with two rooms with two or three beds as well as a small kitchen.
Reservations should be made well in advance as the park books up fairly quickly especially during school holidays and long weekends.
Several types of huts or housing units are available in the park, the most popular being a thatched hut with one room with two or three beds, air-conditioner or fan, refrigerator, shower, toilet, basin and an adjoining verandah, table and chairs. Some camps also have family cottages with two rooms with two or three beds as well as a small kitchen.
Reservations should be made well in advance as the park books up fairly quickly especially during school holidays and long weekends.
Park map
General regulations
Please keep in mind these park regulations.
- No pets are allowed, they may transmit diseases to the animals
- Fire-arms have to be declared on arrival at the park. The Firearm will be sealed and the seal removed when you leave.
- Heed speed limits indicated (generally 50 km/h). Wild animals are unpredictable and may jump in your path when speeding. Speed traps operate in the park.
- Do not leave your car or let your head, shoulders or arms protrude from the windows. The animals are WILD, their babies might look cute but their mothers aren't always that friendly.
- Do not feed animals, especially baboons and monkeys. This misguided kindness makes them aggressive towards visitors who do not feed them, and they may have to be shot.
- Don't litter Tins and other refuse are not only unsightly but they could kill animals which eat refuse.
- Keep to the designated tourist roads. If you break-down along a fire-break or other no-entry road it may be days before park officials locate you.
- Consider other visitors by not playing music at a disturbing volume.
- Never throw a burning match or cigarette-end out of the window.
The circle of life
Kruger Park kills - vote for your best video.
Compliments of YouTube video junkies
Gate hours
Visitors to the park are allowed out of the various camping areas during daylight hours.
All the camps are fenced and the gates locked at the time listed above.
Big Haaktand (hook tusk). This male elephant had some of the longest tusks of any elephant, until he died recently. His left tusk was 3.17 metres long and weighed just under 53 kg, the right tusk was only slightly smaller.
Great stuff on Amazon
Travel guides, books and maps that might be of interest to you.
Wildlife conservation
Please support Wildlife conservation.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund works to ensure the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystem through a multi-disciplined and integrated conservation program of research and education.
Useful links
If you are planning a South African Safari, these links might be of some use to you.
- African Safari Travel
- RhinoAfrica.com are specialists in South and East Africa safari travel focusing on specific destinations such as South Africa's Kruger National Park.
- Africa Travel
- Professional travel consultants in South Africa will assist you in planning your trip and look after all your needs from arrival to departure.
- South Africa National Parks
- This site hosts details of South African National Parks, their camps and wildlife and community relations. It will help tourists and visitors with planning trips to any of the parks.
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Hello to all you nature lovers out there.
This Squidoo lens is part of my assignment for an OnLine Marketing Diploma and is my first attempt at devel... (more)
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