The Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is the archetypal tourist experience in South Africa - if not the whole of the African continent. Gripping the Mozambique border, the long strip of land encompassing The Kruger National Park covers an area of almost 8000 square miles. Established in 1898 the park is now a world leader in conservation and a million people visit every year.

The Kruger National Park provides a staggering array of flora and fauna. Almost 150 species of mammal, over 500 species of birds and a plethora of reptiles and insects thrive in the diverse ecosystems here.

The Kruger National Park offers numerous safaris to visitors - from a cheap and cheerful 3 day camping safari - to a 16 day Environmental Ranger Course where you can combine an activity holiday with a true learning experience. A popular safari choice is the Big 5 Photo Safari in the Northern Region - a safari designed to help you get the most out of your camera.

There is no shortage of accommodation on The Kruger National Park itself. 26 restcamps provide accommodation ranging from camping and caravan sites to exclusive private bush lodges. Families can stay in a family cottage while guest houses with bar facilities are also available. The different types of accommodation in The Kruger National Park can be broken down into four categories. Bear in mind when booking that some lodges do not cater for children.

Main Restcamps – Provide camping, safari tent and bungalow accommodation. Prices start at around R110 per person per night.

Bushveld Camps – Bushveld camps are more remote and offer cottages and guest cottages. Prices range from R500 to R1100.

Bush Lodges – For privacy and added luxury, a bush lodge provides self contained accommodation. Block bookings only. Prices range from around R1600 to under R1800 a night.

Luxury Lodges – 5 star all inclusive luxury accommodation in The Kruger National Park but at a price. Expect to pay upwards of R2000 per person per night.

The Kruger National Parks consists of  four main regions.

The Far North Region – Remote and arid and the most important area in Kruger for bird watching.

The North Region – Sun baked and blanketed in shrub for the most part, large herds of elephant and buffalo can be seen here.

The Central Region – A fertile region that supports large giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard and cheetah populations.

The Southern Region – A large concentration of accommodation can be found in the southern region along with most of Kruger’s white rhino population.

The Kruger National Park is a five hour drive from Johannesburg. You can also fly to the nearby city of Nelspruit from Johannesburg or Cape Town. Many tours of the Kruger National Park are also arranged from Johannesburg where tour operators will take care of everything for you.