| Kruger National Park | |
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| Map | |
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| Information | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Mpumalanga |
| Surface | 21,500 km² |
| Postal Code | |
| website | |
Kruger National Park (Kruger National Park) - national park in South Africa, founded in 1898.
Characteristic
The Kruger National Park is located in the northeastern part of South Africa. It extends along the border with Mozambique in the east, with Zimbabwe to the north, its southern boundary is the Crocodile River. The park covers an area of 21,500 km² and is divided into 14 different climatic zones, each with different characteristics and different animals.
The Kruger National Park is South Africa's main tourist attraction and is considered the best of all South African National Parks (SANPark).
The permitted maximum speed is 40 km / h. on dirt roads and 50 km / h on roads with paved surfaces.
Entry to the Kruger National Park and moving around the park is limited to the daytime.
Pets and firearms are not allowed in the park.
Motorcycles and open-top cars are not allowed to enter.
Malaria occurs in the Kruger National Park. It is recommended to take malaria tablets and repellants.
Under no circumstances should you leave your car outside of the campsites.
Animals always have the right of way on the road.
History
In 1898, the then president of Transvaal, Paul Kruger, established a reserve in Saba to protect intensely killed animals. In 1926, Saba was connected to the neighboring Shingwedzi reserve and many private farms, thus creating the Kruger National Park. It was opened to tourists only in 1927, and is currently managed by the SANPark (South African National Park Organization) and is probably South Africa's best run park. The main task of the board has become to conduct scientific research and preserve nature unchanged for future generations. Thanks to innovative methods, it was possible to drastically reduce poaching. Cars are checked when entering and exiting the park. Quite strict road rules have been introduced. It is often checked whether tourists comply with the speed limit of 40 km / h. on dirt roads and 50 km / h. on paved roads to reduce the number of animals killed by cars. After the recent addition of Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati in Zimbabwe, and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, it has an area of almost 2 million. hectares, and is larger than Lesotho. The newly created cross-border park was named The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, even though national borders are still respected and border crossings are not open all day long.
Climate
South Africa is located on the south side of the equator, therefore the seasons here are opposite to those in Europe and North America. The summer here (September to April) is very hot and sunny with thunderstorms. Temperatures range from 18 ° to 30 ° C in the shade, winter (May to August) is warm and dry with temperatures ranging from 8 ° to 22 ° C.
Camping in the Kruger National Park
There are 12 main campsites in the Kruger National Park, providing different standards of accommodation and equipment, from campsites to 5 * hotels. Restaurant, shop, public telephone and gas station, picnic and barbecue area, laundry, communal kitchen, swimming pool bathing facilities are found in all major campsites. You can pay by credit card in most places. Reservations in the Kruger National Park can be made at the central SANParks office in Pretoria, tel. 27 (0) 12 428-9111 ([email protected], fax: 27 (0) 12 343- 0905)
Basic information about campsites
Berg-en-dal 27 (0) 13 735-6106, S25º 25.689 'E031º 26.658', this is a medium-sized campsite located on the shores of the Matjulu Dam, just 12 km from the Malelane Gate. Opened in 1984, it has 95 bungallows seating three to eight people, a conference room with 300 seats, a shop and a large restaurant run by the Compass Group. The tents can be pitched at the spacious campsite under the shade of African trees. Each place is well marked, has its own grill and one 220V socket. Tourists can relax in a nice cafe or prepare food in the public kitchen. There you can stock up on fuel at the gas station, have a picnic, use the public telephone, have a tasty dinner in the restaurant or cool off in the swimming pool. overnight called Rhino Trail Camp Walk.
Crocodile Bridge, 27 (0) 13 735-6012, it is the third smallest camp in the Kruger National Park located in close proximity to the Krokodylej River. The Crocodile Bridge is in the southernmost part of the park, next to the entrance gate bearing the same name. It is very close to civilization, we should not expect a romantic adventure here. The campsite serves as accommodation for late afternoon arrivals, when the entrance gates are already closed.
Letaba 27 (0) 13 735-6636, this is one of the most beautiful campsites. Situated in the central part of the Kruger National Park, on the bank of the Letaba River, in the heart of the elephant land. Possible accommodation from tents to huts with beds for 2 to 4 people. There are many elephants around the campsite and there is an exhibition on the life of these animals. The campsite has a cafe, restaurant, laundry and a fenced park area for pedestrian walks.
Lower Sabie, 27 (0) 13 735-6056 is the most luxurious campsite, rebuilt after a fire in recent years. Lower Sabie is located in the south-eastern part of the Kruger National Park, on the bank of the Sabie River. Due to the fact that there are many wildlife in the vicinity, it is the most popular campsite for tourists. Here you can often see white rhinoceros, lions, cheetahs, elephants and buffaloes as these animals come close to the Sabie River. Only the most basic housing conditions are provided here, i.e. simple cottages with one to five beds without a bathroom and kitchen. As a result, many foreign tourists choose places with a higher standard and leave a lot of space for true nature lovers.
Mopani, 27 (0) 13 735-6535 is the newest and most luxurious campsite in Kruger Park, built next to a dam that attracts a lot of wildlife. The predominant vegetation is, as the name suggests, mopani trees, which are the delicacy of most animals. You can watch the animals from the campsite, there is no need to drive in the park. After the safari, you can cool off in the swimming pool and dine in a local restaurant considered much better than other campsites. The accommodation is of a high standard with a well-equipped kitchen for 6 people in each house.
Olifants 27 (0) 13 735-6606 is probably South Africa's best known campsite. Located in the middle of the KNP, on top of a hill with a beautiful view of the banks of the Olifants River. You can see the real Africa here, Olifants prides itself on being in the best location of any Kruger campsite. You can see kudu, elephants, lions, giraffes from your room as they approach the Olifants River.
Orpen 27 (0) 13 735-6355 is the smallest campsite in PNK, located next to the Orpen entrance gate. It offers only basic comforts for 2-3 people in a chalet without a bathroom. It is advisable to live here in case of late arrival to Kruger, when it is already dark and it is impossible to drive to another place.
Praetoriuskop 27 (0) 13 735-5128, this is a large luxury campsite near the Numbi gate in southwestern Kruger. Rocky slopes and deep valleys predominate here, which are the natural habitat for Klipspringer, reedbuck, rhinoceros, giraffes and wild dogs. There is room for three people in the thatched huts without a bathroom. Additional amenities at the campsite include a swimming pool, laundry service, restaurant and café.
Punda Maria 27 (0) 13 735-6873, S22º 41.554 'E031º 00.964', located in the northern part of the park, the second smallest camp at the top of the mountain. Interesting specimens of flora can be found in the vicinity. This place is famous for its large number of birds. There is a nice restaurant there.
Satara 27 (0) 13 735-6306 located in the middle of the Kruger Park, surrounded by plains covered with tall grass attracting many animals. It is the second largest campsite with a restaurant, cafe and laundry facilities.
Shingwedzi 27 (0) 13 735-6806, nice and quiet campsite at the northern end of the Kruger Park. Surrounded by the groves of mopane trees, many animals can be found here thanks to the nearby Shingwedzi River and the Kaniedood Dam. The amenities provided include a swimming pool, restaurant, cafe, laundry service. Kukuza 27 (0) 13 735-4152 located in the southwest of the park, 20 minutes drive from the Kruger Gate and serves as the Kruger Park management headquarters. It is the largest campsite in the Kruger National Park. There is a gas station, library, post office, car rental, grocery store, hostel, golf course and swimming pool, and many animals can be found here thanks to the nearby Sabie River.
Tsang S23º 33.416 'E031 ° 26.528 ′, this is the newest campsite, opened in November 2006.
Campsites under the supervision of the Principal Campers
Balule belongs to Satara campsite. Old fashioned with little comfort but lots of romantic places. In the center of Kruger Park, next to the Olifant campsite on the bank of the Olifant River. Tourists should have their own board or use a communal kitchen.
Malelane Belonging to the campsite Berg-en-Dal, near the Malelane entrance gate, at the southern end of the park.
Maroel, S24º 27.376 'E031 ° 23.962 ′ belongs to Orpen campsite, on the banks of the Timbavati River. It is the only place in the park that allows caravans and motorhomes.
Tamboti belongs to Orpen campsite, it is a place with permanent tents on the bank of the periodic Timbavati River. You can see the animals from your tent. The shared kitchen is not equipped with utensils.
Pioneer camping with tents managed by Letaba.
Luxurious Game Lodges
Lukimbi Safari Lodge, tel. 27 (0) 11 431-1120
Tinga Private Game Lodge, tel. 27 (0) 13 735-8400
Jock Safari Lodge, tel. 27 (0) 13 735-5200
Singita Private Game Lodge, tel. 27 (0) 21 683-3424
Imbali Safari Lodge, tel. 27 (0) 31 310-3333
Rhino Walking Safaris, tel. 27 (0) 11 467-1886
Shishangeni Lodge, tel. 27 (013) 735-3300
Bush Lodges
Boulders, one of the largest private campsites.
Roodewala small private campsite
Bushveld campsites
They provide spaces on a smaller scale than the main campsites. There are no proper shops or restaurants in their area. Only some of them (Talamati, Biyamiti and Bateleur) have the possibility to use electric appliances such as hair dryers.
Bateleur, campsite in the northern part of the park. It has four- and six-bed houses with TV.
Biyamiti, on the south side of Kruger Park. It has 1- and 2-bedroom cottages. There is a small shop at the campsite, and safari and hiking tours are organized.
Shimuwini it is in the central part of the park. The word Shimuwini means "Place of the Baobabs". It is situated on the bank of the Letaba River with many baobabs.
Sirheni it is in the northern part of the park, next to the Sirheni Dam.
Talamati in the central Kruger National Park, it has 1- and 2-bedroom cottages, a shop, a hideout for bird watching and a hideout for watching animals.
fauna and Flora
The Kruger National Park boasts an exceptionally rich and diverse flora which, combined with its large area, makes it one of the largest and most important wildlife reserves in the world. There are about 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 33 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. About 8,000 elephants and 1,300 white rhinoceros, 200 black rhinoceros, 300 cheetahs, 3,000 hippos, 900 leopards, 1,500 lions, 2,000 spotted hyenas, 32,000 antelopes, 7,500 elephants, 5,000 giraffes, huge numbers of buffaloes and zebras live within the park.
Most of the Kruger Park area is covered by extensive grassy expanses of thorny acacia, leadwood and marula trees. North of the Olifant River, where rainfall is less than 500 mm per year, the most common tree is mopane, a delicacy of elephants, sassebi, eland, and horse and saber-horned antelopes. The northern part of the park has the most rainfall, which is why vegetation is more varied there.
By car
When in Nelspruit, the provincial capital of Mpumalanga, you need to choose which entrance gate suits you best. The nearest gates are Malelane, Numbi and Kruger Gate. The N4 motorway has a toll, so you need to have money with you. Depending on the gateway you choose, you'll need to add one or two hours when planning your trip. Please note that all Kruger National Park gates are closed after sunset and it is forbidden to drive around the park at night.
Here's the distance from Johannesburg to the nine gates of the Kruger Park:
Numbi Gate: 411 km
Madelane Gate: 428 km
Phabeni Gate: 430-440 km
Crocodile Bridge: 475 km
Paul Kruger Gate: 460-470 km
Orpen Gate: 490 km
Phalaborwa Gate: 490 km
Punda Maria Gate: 550 km
Parfuri Gate: 600 km
By plane
Airports around the Kruger National ParkPlease remember that South Africa's aviation is not safe. In 2009, 120 small planes crashed here.
Phalaborwa airport It is only 2 km from the Phalaborwa gate on the route to Letaba, Olifants, Punda Maria and Shingwedzi campsites. The airport is very well connected to OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg. There are two flights on weekdays, one each Saturday and one Sunday, car rental is possible at the airport.
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) Planes from Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Vilanculos land here. Car rental is possible through: Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Imperial Car Rental and National.
Distance from the airport to the gates of the Kruger Park:
Kruger Gate 82 km
Malelane Gate 63 km
Numbi Gate 40 km
Phabeni Gate 76 km
Malelane Regional Airport next to the Malelane gate it is used by private planes.
Opening hours of the entrance gates to the Kruger Park
The entrance gates to the Kruger National Park are not open 24 hours a day. This information is very important when planning a trip.
November-January - from 4.30am (campsite gates) and 5.30am (park gate) until 6.30pm
February - from 5.30 am to 6.30 pm
March - from 5.30 to 18.00
April - from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
May-July - from 6.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
August / September - from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
October - from 5.30 to 18.00
If, for whatever reasons, you arrive at the campsite after the gates are closed, or you drive around the park during the night hours, you will have to pay very heavy penalties. So make sure you get back to the campsite before the gates close. The permitted maximum speed is 40 km / h on unpaved roads, 50 km / h on paved roads and 20 km / h in camping grounds. For safety, the safest speed proposed by the management is 30 km / h. With such strict speed limits, you need 10 hours to drive the park from south to north. The distances between the campsites are on average 1 to 2 hours in the south and a little longer in the north. Remember well about the distances and remember that you cannot leave your car in the park.
Visiting the Kruger Park
Daily SafariFirst time visitors to Kruger Park should take advantage of the guided tours led by local guides. First, you will have a better feeling for nature by sitting in an open car specially made for this type of excursion. Second, you are sitting higher, thanks to which you have a larger field of view. Thirdly, the driver will be able to show more thanks to his extensive knowledge of the subject and will be able to answer all your questions. Such rides are available from the campsites Berg-en-Dal, Letaba and Skukuza for the price of R170 (about $ 25) per person. You will drive a 4X4 car with experienced guides, you will learn the secrets of observing animals in the park.
Night SafariVisiting the park on your own is a great adventure, but there are many things you cannot do without professional guides. One of them is visiting the park at night to meet active animals such as lions, leopards and hyenas. The night safari lasts several hours and usually begins shortly after the gates are closed for the night.
Walking tours
Visiting the Kruger Park on foot will be the adventure of your life. Not many places in Africa organize similar tours. In a group of 8 participants plus 2 trackers, you go on a hiking safari that lasts three days. On such an extraordinary trip you will learn many secrets related to African nature. You can see a lot of wildlife, including lions, rhinoceros and elephants just a few meters apart. Each evening the group returns to the camp for dinner. The duration of the walking safari is three days and two nights, from Sunday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Saturday. Participants meet at a selected location at 15.30 on Sundays or Wednesdays. After a brief introduction, they drive to the camp that will be their home for the next three days.
Bushman Trail - Berg en dal campsite organizes walking tours around Berg en dal, which is situated on granite rocks. You will meet white rhinoceros, elephants and buffalos.
Metsimetsi Trail - the best time to cover this route is winter. You need to get to kempu Skukuza, from where you will be driven by car to the bank of the Metsimetsi River, where the real adventure begins.
Napi Trail - starts at the Pretoriuskop camp. Along the way, you will meet white rhinoceros, elephants, lions. Once upon a time you could meet wild boar, which are very difficult to see lately.
Nyalaland Trail - starts from Punda Maria in the northern Kruger National Park. You will see crocodiles, elephants and hippos. Bird watching will be a unique attraction.
Olifants trail - it begins in the camp Letaba. During the journey we will cross the rivers Olifants and Letaba full of various species of animals, including the largest predators, elephants and buffaloes.
Sweni Trail - starts at Kempa Satara. These regions abound in predators and their prey. You can see lions and cheetahs.
Wolhuter Trail - in the southern part of the park in the land of the white rhino, between Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop.
Olifants River Back Pack Trail - is 42 km long, takes 4 days, from Olifants to Letaba. You sleep in the tent you are carrying at the location chosen by the guide. Price R10 560 for up to eight people.
Landrover Lebombo Eco-Trail
The 3 brand new 'Transfrontier Trails do Limpopo'
The Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail
The Machampane Wilderness Trail
The Massingir Hiking Trail
The above-mentioned trips can be booked via email: [email protected],
by phone: 27 (0) 12 428-9111, fax: 27 (0) 12 343-0905, or by post at the following address:
South African National Parks, PO Box 787, Pretoria 0001, South Africa