THE KUGER NATIONAL PARK

 

The Kruger National Park is a world renowned nature reserve situated in the north eastern region of South

Africa. The Sabie Game Reserve was established in 1898 after concern was raised about the rapid demise of the wildlife due to overhunting, poaching and the demand for animal skins and ivory. A concerned parliament headed by President Paul Kruger signed the reserve into existence. By 1926 (May 31) parliament passed the National Parks act and the amalgamation of the Sabie and Shingwedzi Game reserves formed what was then renamed as the Kruger National Park in honour of Paul Kruger, who was seen as its founding father. By 1927 the park was opened to the general public and received its first visitors. Today the Park is world famous for its diversity in fauna and flora and is visited by folks from all over the globe.

The Southern Region

The southern region of the park is by far the most popular to visit due the closer proximity to major cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria and the nearby KMIA and Skukuza airport. It has a higher rainfall on average and is blessed with an abundance of wildlife. There are 5 main camps in the area and all are well attended for the game viewing in this region is phenomenal. The southern region is between the Crocodile River to the south and the Sabie River. Skukuza, the main camp, and Lower Sabie Rest Camp are located on the southern bank of the river but with totally different geology and vegetation between camps. Nearly all roads in the park follow a watercourse, permanent and seasonal, and following these routes offers better opportunity of mixed fauna sightings. Numerous and subtle landscape and vegetation changes occur as you move from camp to camp. The Lebombo Mountains form the eastern boundary to the park and the international border with Mozambique. There are roads that travel north-south along the mountain range and some of the most spectacular scenery to be found in this precious jewel is along the mountain range.

 

The Central Region

The Central Region is also very popular as the region offers mostly wide open areas and the plains game associated with it. Herds of zebra and wildebeest are more likely to be encountered in the central areas than in the thickets further south. Large prides of lions are a sought after encounter and as well as the odd white lion cub that is born to some of these prides from time to time. This is also suitable habitat for cheetah and leopards are also sighted. Wild dogs are a generous gift for the enthusiastic wild life viewer. Large bull elephants, herds of buffalo and giraffe are easily spotted in the grassland and add a majestic African view with the flat top umbrella thorns providing suitable backdrops to man y photographs. The Lebombo Mountains are the eastern boundary and once again add a striking perspective in comparison with a view of the flat areas to the west. The Olifants River is the northern boundary and the Sabie River the south.

The Northern Region

The Northern region can be subdivided into the North which lies south of Capricorn and north of the Olifants River and the far north, which lies above the Tropic of Capricorn and south of the Limpopo River.

Mopani trees overwhelm the landscape broken only by the occasional intrusion of Leadwood, Apple Leaf, Jackelberry as well as the magnificent baobab tree. The scenery is so far removed from the south and central regions, you could believe you are in another country. The speedy Tsessebe can be found up here as well as Ostrich and large herds of open plains animals in the areas not inundated with Mopani. Once again this ideal cheetah country but just be aware that cheetah sightings are far rarer than leopard sightings due to various reasons which your guide will explain to you. The Far North continues with abundant Mopani trees right up past the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe. Rare sightings of Eland, Roan and Sable antelope are past rewarding for the avid wildlife viewer. There are generally less visitors to these regions due to the distances and time involved to get there but the rewards are amazing. The nights are filled with a scattering of diamonds across coal black skies and the individual can feel what life is all about.

THE KUGER NATIONAL PARK