If you are a foreigner in search of a superb location in South Africa to spend your holiday, or even if you are from South Africa and are merely in need of a weekend break, the Kruger National Park is definitely the ideal destination to visit. Located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, it boasts pristine serenity saturated with splendid scenery as well as a vast collection of magnificent mammals, making it the paramount place that it is today – ultimately the epitome of the African experience. Another pleasing perk of the park is that cheap accommodation is easily available and there is something to suit any budget.
The Lay of the Land
Being one of the finest game parks in all of Africa, the Kruger National Park is an astounding 18,989 square km, running 350km from top to bottom and 60 km wide. An amazing comparison is that it is more or less the size of Holland! The Park can be separated into three sections; the central, south and the north. The central section is home to large predators and herds that roam the open, grassy plains. Also known as the hill and country of the Kruger National Park, the south is home to some of the most popular camps in the park as the wildlife in this section is abundant. What proves to be a major attraction is the hippo pool with fascinating bushman paintings nearby. Large Herbivores such as giraffes and elephants utilise the Acacia trees for shelter, while dusk game viewing is provided at Crocodile River where waterbuck, elephants and impala can be seen. Being a more remote section of the park, the north consists of open plains engulfed with mopane trees.
Wildlife of the Kruger Park
It comes as no surprise that the Kruger National Park is much-loved amongst locals and tourists alike as it showcases the finest game viewing in Africa. The Kruger is home to an astonishing number of species comprising of 336 tree species, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. The early morning or late evening is the best time for game viewing in the park. It gets rather hot during the summer time and the animals tend to hide in the shade of the trees. There is seldom rain during the winter and consequentially a fair amount of waterholes dry up, increasing your chances of seeing the more elusive animals when they come to drink.
You can book a safari tour with an operator at the Kruger National Park and they will take you out in a 4×4 or minibus. There are some who insist that a far better way to experience the Park is to hike with a guide, as this way you are in close contact with the life of the park. Obviously the guide would take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety in regard to staying out of the scent ranges of the more dangerous animals and so forth.
Visiting the Kruger National Park is undoubtedly a breath-taking experience as it is always exhilarating to see the Big 5. The terminology ‘Big 5’ means the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot and refers to five of Africa’s greatest animals, the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
Kruger Park Accommodation
Accommodation at the Kruger National Park it not as costly as one may believe it to be. There is a diverse selection of Mpumalanga safari accommodation such as African safari lodges to cater for everyone’s inclination. The game lodges range from super luxurious, with fitted bathroom facilities to artistically stylish lodges. For an unforgettable South African safari, enjoy being able to choose from a variety of standard to luxury safari and game lodges in the Kruger National Park. You can always be sure to find a bargain deal for your holiday at the Kruger National Park!
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Exclusive Getaways South Africa is a traveller’s collection of celebrated African Safari Lodges and has an appealing variety of nature escapes, country retreats and notable city establishments such as the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
