Much international acclaim has been accorded to the Kruger National Park, which is regarded as one of the worldÆs finest examples of wildlife management. It is one of the most famous national parks in the world and the oldest one in Africa.
A major international tourist drawcard unrivalled in its rich diversity, the park offers a wilderness experience which ranks with the best in Africa. This vast area, stretching 350 km from north to south and covering a surface area of 1 948 528 hectares, is home to great numbers and varieties of amphibians, reptiles, reptiles, bird and 147 mammal species, including the Big Five.
The sight of elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo is always a thrill, especially at close range on a conducted wilderness trail. But many visitors get just as much of a kick out of spotting a kudu, a warthog or one of the eagle species. Most people choose to explore in the comfort of their own cars, to stop and stare, to take a perfect photograph, and to follow at whim when the unexpected beckons.
After an exciting day in the bush, sunset heralds the crackle of campfire, sundowners and shared anecdotes.
At night, youÆll be lulled to sleep by a chorus of nocturnal birds or you may share in a never to be forgotten bush experience on Kruger night drives.
Fauna and flora
The park is home to an uparalleled diversity of wildlife and is
maintained by one of the worldÆs most sophisticated management systems.
Five rivers cross the park from west to east. There are 300 different
types of trees, 49 species of fish, 33 types of amphibian, 114 reptilian
species, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals in the park.
The number of different animals varies from year to year. The following is an estimate based on the 1993 census.
| Black rhino | 220 |
| Blue wildebeest | 12 723 |
| Buffalo | 15 253 |
| BurchellÆs zebra | 29 142 |
| Cheetah | 250 - 300 |
| Eland | 496 |
| Elephant | 7 834 |
| Giraffe | 4 600 |
| Hippo | 2 314 |
| Hyaena | 2 000 |
| Impala | 97 297 |
| Kudu | 3 150 |
| Leopard | 600 - 900 |
| Lion | 1 500+ |
| Roan antelope | 44 |
| Sable antelope | 880 |
| Tsessebe | 363 |
| Waterbuck | 1 425 |
| White rhino | 1 871 |
| Wild dog | 350+ |
Climate
The climate is subtropical with summer rains between October and March.
The annual rainfall varies from 700 mm in the south to 400 mm in the
north.
Winter is a popular season for those who wish to escape the cold of the highveld. During this time surface water is restricted to rivers and artificial watering holes and the animals tend to congregate there. Because the grass is dry and most trees are leafless, visibility is also much better. The days are normally sunny, warm and clear with little likelihood of rain.
Summer is the season during which all living creatures flourish and rejoice in the rain, which transforms the park into a green paradise. It is also the time to enjoy beautiful trees and flowers, hundreds of impala lambs and birds. For those who have air conditioning in their cars, this is the best time to visit the park.
Whatever the season, a visit to the Kruger National Park remains an experience of a lifetime.
Travelling Times and Distances
Skukuza is approximately 500 km from Johannesburg. Since entrance gates
and restcamp gates are closed at night (see table), visitors have to
ensure that they arrive at the entrance gate in good time to reach their
restcamp before the gates close. Those who arrive at the entrance gates
after closing time (see travelling times) will be refused entrance. To
arrive late at a restcamp is an offence and the offender could be fined.
No permits will be issued for late arrivals.
The speed limit in the park is 50 km/h on the tar roads and 40 km/h on the gravel roads. Consult the table of distances to calculate the time required to reach a destination. An average speed of 30 km/h on tar and 20 km/h on gravel roads may safely be used as a guideline.
Restrictions on vehicles: Vehicles with an axle load of more than 8 000 kg are not permitted in the Kruger National Park. Open vehicles and motorcycles are also prohibited.
Gate hours
| Entrance Gates Open |
Open Camps |
Entrance Gates and Camps Close |
|
| January | 05:30 | 05:00 | 18:30 |
| February | 05:30 | 05:30 | 18:30 |
| March | 05:30 | 05:30 | 18:00 |
| April | 06:00 | 06:00 | 17:30 |
| 1 May to 31 August | 06:30 | 06:30 | 17:30 |
| September | 06:00 | 06:00 | 18:00 |
| October | 05:30 | 05:30 | 18:00 |
| 1 November to 31 December | 05:30 | 04:30 | 18:30 |
Travelling times
The minimum time required to travel non-stop from the various entrance
gates to restcamps at 50 km/h on tarred roads and 40 km/h on gravel
roads are given below. Allow additional time for possible stops on the
way. The nearest gate to a particular restcamp is indicated by an
asterisk*.
Distances are calculated according to the shortest routes on main and secondary roads. Where camps can only be reached via gravel roads, distances are calculated accordingly.
| Camp | Gate | Distance (km) |
Minimum travelling time (Hours: min.) |
| Balule | Phalaborwa* | 87 | 2:00 |
| Bateleur | Punda Maria* Phalaborwa |
110 136 |
2:30 3:30 |
| Berg-en-dal | Malelane* Crocodile Bridge Numbi Paul Kruger |
12 102 80 85 |
0:20 2:15 2:15 2:15 |
| Biyamiti | Malelane* Crocodile Bridge* |
37 28 |
1:15 1:15 |
| Boulders | Phalaborwa* | 50 | 1:15 |
| Crocodile Bridge | Crocodile Bridge* Paul Kruger |
2 93 |
0:10 2:15 |
| Jock of the Bushveld | Malelane* Numbi Paul Kruger |
36 52 60 |
1:15 1:30 1:30 |
| Letaba | Phalaborwa* Orpen |
50 116 |
1:30 2:30 |
| Lower Sabie | Crocodile Bridge* Numbi Paul Kruger |
35 100 58 |
1:00 2:30 1:30 |
| Malelane | Malelane* | 3 | 0:10 |
| Maroela | Orpen* | 4 | 0:10 |
| Mopani | Phalaborwa* Punda Maria |
74 127 |
2:15 2:45 |
| Nwanetsi | Orpen* | 66 | 1:45 |
| Olifants | Phalaborwa* Orpen |
82 99 |
2:00 2:15 |
| Orpen | Orpen* | 0 | 0:00 |
| Pretoriuskop | Numbi* Malelane Crocodile Bridge |
9 61 106 |
0:20 1:45 2:30 |
| via S1) | Paul Kruger | 43 | 1:30 |
| Punda Maria | Punda Maria* Pafuri |
10 74 |
0:20 1:30 |
| Roodewal | Orpen* Phalaborwa |
73 100 |
1:45 2:30 |
| Satara | Orpen* Phalaborwa |
48 100 |
1:15 2:30 |
| Shimuwini | Phalaborwa* | 50 | 1:15 |
| Shingwedzi | Punda Maria* Pafuri Phalaborwa |
70 108 134 |
1:45 2:15 3:30 |
| Sirheni | Punda Maria* Phalaborwa |
50 167 |
1:15 4:30 |
| Skukuza | Paul Kruger* Numbi Malelane |
12 56 63 |
0:20 1:30 1:45 |
| (via H41) | Crocodile Bridge | 80 | 2:00 |
| Talamati | Orpen* | 32 | 1:15 |
Restcamp reception offices are open daily from 08:00 to half an hour after the camp gates close.
Accommodation and Facilities
General Information
Beds are only available as indicated in the description of each unit. In certain circumstances, visitors may be permitted to provide their own stretcher and bedding for one additional child. Consult your nearest reservation office. A limited number of cots are available which may be booked on arrival at the park.
All units are serviced daily and bedding, towels and soap are provided. Most of the units have either air conditioning or fans.
Visitors who are accommodated in units without kitchens have to provide their own cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery, if they intend preparing their own meals. Communal cooking facilities are available in all the camps.
Caravans and camping
You never know, you may just find your next dream holiday destination!!
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