Kruger National Park is a true flagship of the south African national parks which was established in 1898. This magnificent national is the largest national park in Africa covering 2 million hectares stretching for about 352 kilometers from the south to the north along Mozambique border.
Kruger National Park offers best wildlife safaris with unforgettable safari experience with a wide range of safari activities. The park is a home to a number of wildlife species including 147 Large mammals inclusive of Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, zebras and wildebeests, 500 bird species, 114 reptile’s species, 49 fish species. Also, the park has over 336 tree species.
Attractions in Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park offers a number of tourist attractions including the following;
Wildlife
Kruger national park boasts a number of wildlife species. Wildlife species in Kruger national park include Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.
Trees
Kruger National Park encompasses over 336 giant and ancient tree species. Some of the tree species in the park include marula trees, Acacia trees, Baobab, Common Cluster Fig, Common Coral Tree, Delagoa Thorn, Fever Tree, Jackalberry, Knob Thorn, Lala Palm, Lowveld Fig, Marula, Monkey Orange, Mopane, Natal Mahogany, Raisin Bush, Red Bushwillow, Round-leafed Teak, Sausage Tree, Tamboti, Transvaal Mustard Tree, Mopane trees, Leadwood trees and many more. These can be explored more while on a game drive in the park.
Rivers
The park has several water sources that boost biodiversity which live in the game park including Subie River, Sand River, Limpopo River, Crocodile River and Olifants River.
Activities to do in Kruger National Park
Game Drives
Game drives in Kruger National Park enable tourists to get a closer look up of wildlife and fauna in the park. Game Drives in Kruger National Park can be done in the morning, sunset and night game drives. On game drives, tourists get to see the Big 5 , a variety of birds and other array of wildlife.
Morning Game Drives: Guests enjoy morning game drives for about 3 to 3.5 hours watching wildlife over the morning sunrise.
Night Game Drives: Night Game Drives offer tourists opportunities to view the star filled sky away from the city lights as well as the nocturnal animals. Night game drives happen from 19:30 lasting for about two hours.
Sunset Game Drives: During Sunset game drives, one gets to witness the beauty of bushes in Kruger National Park. Nocturnal animals emerge during the sunset game drives. These game drives last for about 3 hours.
Bird watching
Kruger National Park is a birder’s haven with more than 500 bird species recorded in the park including some that are only unique in this region. Birds can be sighted almost everywhere in the park but Pafuri and Punda Maria regions are considered as the best birding spots in the country. The park has the Big 6 including Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, and Ground Hornbill.
Other bird species to be sighted in the park include African Fish, Bateleur, Martial, Black-chested, Brown, tawny eagles, Wahlberg’s, Steppe, Lesser Spotted eagles to mention but a few.
Cultural Tours
Although the big wildlife sightings and the beautiful landscapes bring many tourist in Kruger National park , the rich culture and historical nature of this park is unrivalled. There are more than 255 Artifacts for over a million years ago from the stone age period to iron age sites and now modern historical sites. The cultural sites that are currently open include Albasini Ruins, Masorini Ruins and Thulamela.
Fishing
Kruger National Park boosts more 50 fish species with the Sand River being the perfect spotto catch fish. Some of the fish species to catch in the park include the following Sharptooth Catfish (Barbel), Blunt-tooth Catfish, Silver Catfish (Makriel/Butter Barbel), Tigerfish, Mozambique Tilapia (Blue Kurper) , Red-breast Tilapia (Red-breasted Kurper) , Southern Mouthbrooder , Lungfish , African Mottled Eel , Rainbow Killifish , Yellowfish species , Labeo (Mudfish) Species , Barb Species , Squeaker Species and many more.
Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking is presently exclusive to Olifants Rest Camp, providing guests the opportunity to discover Kruger’s surroundings on a mountain bike. Participants are transported to the beginning of the trail in an open game viewing vehicle, accompanied by a bike trailer that carries the bikes behind it. Mountain bikes are provided along with backpacks, water bottles, mandatory bicycle helmets, snacks, and a juice. Participants are welcome to use their own personal mountain bikes if they wish. Participants should ensure they bring their own equipment, such as puncture repair kits, tools, spares, tubes, and so on. A maximum of six (6) participants are allowed per trail. Two skilled and equipped field guides navigate these paths where you can ride through pristine wilderness.
Mountain Bike Trails in are available the Morning and Afternoon taking about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the chosen route. Full Day Trails are available, but it is important to understand that the full day trails are designed exclusively for highly fit and experienced cyclists. Individuals below the age of 16 years are not allowed on these trails.
Best Time to visit Kruger National Park
Kruger national park can be visited all year around with each season having its best highlights to explore the park since whichever season you decide to choose offers unrivalled safari experiences. But the best time of the year to visit the park for un matched wildlife viewing safari experience is during the dry months of between June to September. During this period, the vegetation in the park is less thick.
The recommended time by SAN Parks is during the months of August to September, this is when the temperatures are higher as compared to mid- winter. Also, this is the time when animals concentrate and gather around the water sources, making it the perfect time for game viewing in Kruger National Park.
Temperature in Kruger National Park
November to December
These months in the park are hot and humid consisting of rains or occasional thunder showers. During these months many young wildlife are born.
January to April
The period between these months is dry with hot days. This is the best time for bird watchers to enjoy a number of migratory birds within Kruger National Park.
April
This month in Kruger National Park is the Autumn period when cool down during the night and get warm in day hours. This is the time when the park’s vegetation starts to change from thick lush green to a brown bush.
May to June
Wildlife during these months is visible due to sparse vegetation, also the vegetation becomes totally brown. At night, there are cold temperatures.
July to August
During these months, game drives are perfectly conducted since wildlife are concentrated around water sources.
September to October
During these months, the vegetation is sparsely populated with dry hot winds and colorless. The first rains start at the end of October.
