Travel Tip- Kruger National Park in South Africa
No visit to Hoedspruit and the Greater Kruger Region would be complete without a visit to the world-famous Kruger National Park.
The History
The park was first proclaimed in 1898 as the Sabie Game Rserve by the then president of the Transvaal Republic , Paul Kruger.
His vision of creating a national park that would be sustained by tourism came to fruition in 1926.
That was when the Shingwedzi and Sabie Reserves were merged and the 70 privately owned farms between them were purchased by the government to form a consolidated block of land – the famous Kruger National Par
This legendary game reserve is home to the Big Five – buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion and leopard, among others – and is the oldest and most famous national park in Africa.
This 20,000 square kilometre reserve is slightly smaller than Belgium and considerably larger than Israel and Wales! The park is 350 km long and 60 km wide and borders Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Kruger National Park -Map
The Wildlife
In total, more than 140 mammal species, over 100 reptile species and almost 500 bird species can be found in the Kruger National Park.
Among the largest and most impressive representatives of the animal world are of course giraffes, elephants, hippos, as well as white and black rhinos, which are massively threatened by poachers.
Other predators include jackals and hyenas, several species of big cats (lions, cheetahs, leopards, desert lynx) and the highly endangered African wild dogs.
An aerial survey is conducted annually in the Kruger National Park to monitor the trends in large herbivore populations.
For those interested in viewing the “Big Five, the Kruger National Park has an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 4,000 rhinos (black and white).
Olifanten- Kruger National Park Zuid-Afrika
You can visit Kruger National Park at any time of the year.
It is situated in the north of the Republic of South Africa at an altitude ranging from about 180 to about 820 metres above sea level and enjoys a subtropical to tropical climate with hot, rainy summers and dry, mild and warm winters.
The Climate
During the summer rainy season, which falls in our autumn/winter, the Kruger National Park presents itself as a tropical paradise with the lush green of the trees and grassy seas.
It also stays warm at night. However, game viewing is sometimes made somewhat difficult by the overflowing vegetation.
In the winter dry season (June-September), you enjoy better visibility thanks to the thinner undergrowth and lower grass; in addition, the waterholes are more frequented by wildlife as water becomes scarce in the park.
Because of the better game viewing conditions, many visitors therefore consider the South African winter to be the best time to explore Kruger National Park.
Game Viewing
Moya Safari Lodge offers a full-day guided safari experience in an open safari vehicle, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the African wilderness.
The Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park is only a 40-minute drive from Moya Safari Lodge & Villa.
On our full day safari, we usually explore the area around Satara Camp which is known for great year-round game viewing.
You will be accompanied by a qualified and experienced safari guide who will explain in detail about this valuable ecosystem.
Safari in Kruger National Park – South Africa
Need help planning your dream holiday in South Africa ?
Talk to us, we are safari specialists with many years of experience and will be happy to advise you.
Safari in Zuid-Afrika-Kruger-National-Park