The Kruger National Park: Everything you need to know

The Kruger National Park (KNP) spans across 2 million hectares. It is here where you can experience the bush and witness wildlife in one the continents most renowned parks.

A Guide to the Kruger

Visitors can travel to the park for the day, or spend more time in the bush by staying at one of the many lodges and campsites available. 

The History 

The Kruger National Park stretches from north to south along the Mozambican border, extending in Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa. It was established in 1898, by conservationist Paul Kruger, who the park is named after.

The park has 254 known cultural heritage sites, including nearly 130 recorded rock art sites. 

There is evidence to show that pre-hisotric man roamed the area, and cultural artefacts dating back to the Stone Age have been discovered – more than 300 archaeological sites.

Evidence of Bushman Folk (San) and Iron Age people from about 1500 years ago has also been found.

In addition, there are many historical tales of Nguni people and European settlers.

Adobe Stock

Regions 

There are four regions within the expansive Kruger National Park, with each area offering unique experiences. 

• Far North: this region has tropical elements and sandy areas. Here, you can spot rare animals, including a variety of birdlife and endangered wild dogs.
• North: this is a semi-arid region with shrubs and 5 rivers flowing through it. Animals therefore flock to the waterbeds, including elephants and impalas, and the waters themselves are home to many hippos.
• Central: the land here has grasses scattered with browsing trees, hence this is where you’re likely to spot the cats: lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs.
• South: this region’s landscape consists of more trees, consequently attracting herds of wildlife, both big and small. This is also where white rhinos are spotted most often.

Wildlife in the Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is rich in diversity of species and is the biggest in South Africa. According to South African National Parks, it has: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.

• The big five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino)
• The little five (buffalo Weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle)
• Birding big six (ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, pel’s fishing owl and saddle-bill stork)
• Five trees (boabab, fever tree, knob thorn, marula, mopane)
• Natural and cultural features (Letaba Elephant Museum, Jock of the Bushveld route, Albasini ruins, Masorini ruins, Thulamela, Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library)

Leopard crossing road with tourists in jeep in background / Adobe Stock

Activities inside the Kruger National Park

• Game Drives on safari vehicles
• Self-drive routes
• 4×4 experiences
• Mountain Biking
• Backpacking
• Golf
• Picnics and bushveld braai’s
• Eco trails
• Weddings
• Birding
• Swimming
• Guided walking trails in the wilderness

Day Visitors

Day visitors to the Kruger National Park can enjoy self-drives through the park. There are various routes once you pass through one of the main gates. 

There are designated spots for picnics. Moreover, there is the option to hire gas canisters for braai’s.

The camps have maximum thresholds of vehicles which are allowed to enter the park. To ensure entry on busy days, arrive early or consider booking in advance. This does not apply to visitors with pre-booked accommodation.

Be sure to have a form of identification on you, as the entrance and conservation fee, payable per person upon entering the park.

In order to make viewings a little easier, there is a sightings map at reception which is updated daily. 

Visitors are welcome to swim in the pools at the Skukuza and Letaba Day Visitor Site’s.

The Kruger National Park is a significant part of South Africa, home to a diverse range of wildlife and landscapes for visitors to explore and experience.