Southern African Highlights

The Kruger National Park

Fact File:
Home of the Big 5
1500 lions
12000 elephants
2500 buffalos
1000 leopards
5000 rhinos
size– 2 million hectares
(estimated to be the size of Wales)
147 different mammal species
517 different bird species
Year of establishment – 1898

The Kruger National Park is the flagship of the South African National Parks and probably of the African Parks as well. It is not just one of the most known National Parks it is definitely also one of the most popular and best maintained parks in the world.

Kruger National Park has roughly the same size as The Netherlands, Israel or Wales and is home to 147 mammals (including the Big 5), 507 different bird species, 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians, 49 fish and 336 trees. This diversity makes the Kruger of the “must sees” in Southern Africa.

The Kruger National Park is the world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. But this is not the reason for it’s popularity. The Kruger Park is probably so well-known, because it is the best National Park in Southern Africa. The size of the Park and the diversity of animals, vegetation and landscape are making the park outstandingly good.

How to get there?

It is totally up to the traveller - you can either join an organised tour starting in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Nelspruit or you can rent a car and explore the Park on your own. TravelComments.com recommends organised tours in to the park for several reasons. The most obvious one is that qualified tour guides simply know the park way better than a first time visitor. They know where the animals are, they know why they are in certain habitats etc.. To us reason enough to join an organised tour to the world famous Kruger National Park and not to do it on your own.

Where to stay?

Travellers joining organised tours don't have to look around for accommodation in the Park itself. If you are planning to stay somewhere close to the park for a couple of more days, you will easily find accommodation in eg Nelspruit, Hazyview, Graskop (Mpumalanga) and Phalaborwa, Tzaneen and Polokwane (Limpopo). All kinds of accommodation establishments can be found - backpackers, B&Bs, campsites, hotels, lodges etc.

Kruger National Park 3 to 6 day tours
Departure: Every day Price per person (Valid until 28 February 2010): from R3650.00 : Camping / from R4250.00 : Bedded accommodation Depart from: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nelspruit - Any Backpackers lodge, hotel, guest house End in: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nelspruit - Any Backpackers lodge, guest house, hotel, airport click here for accommodation bookings!

more Kruger National Park Tours - Kruger NP & Chobe NP, Okavango Delta or Victoria Falls tours, walking safaris in Kruger and many more...

For some more ideas see the tra:mag routes tour suggestions!
If you want to book your safari in the Kruger National Park in Nelspruit or your safari is starting there and transport from Joburg/Pretoria is not included, you've got the following options:

• have the choice between upto 40 different car hire companies.
• flying to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit.
• take one of the local bus companies ( www.citybug.co.za or www.lowveldlink.com) which will pick you up at OR Tambo International Airport and drop you off in Nelspruit.
• take one of the mainliner, e.g. Intercape (cheaper than Citybug and Lowfeldlink, but you will need an extra taxi to get to the bus station first).

What else to do in the area?

Hot Air Balloon Safari
For the ultimate in panoramic views, take to the skies and experience the romance and exhilaration of gently gliding over the spectacular African landscape.

Mountain Biking
Induna Adventures offers easy to very difficult single track mountain biking. All routes are nicely marked, and you will receive a map to guide you along the way. We also have guide trails available. The scenery is out of this world! Beginners and experienced riders are welcome.

Sabie River Rafting

Enjoy the exhilarating rush of negotiating your way past white water rapids on this scenic rafting trip down the beautiful Sabie River. A morning departure from your Hazyview hotel brings you to the green banks of the lower Sabie River Valley and the start of your rafting adventure. After a short safety briefing from your experienced instructor, set off downstream in your two man inflatable ‘croc’ raft. The journey runs for about six kilometres through the scenic river valley past inigenoius forest and over numerous series of small rapids. Although the rafting experience is a challenging fun-filled journey, no previous experience of rafting is necessary and all equipment including life jackets and helmets are provided.

more activities in the Kruger Park area: Mountain Boarding | Mountain Biking | Abseiling | Paintball | Horse Riding | Rockclimbing and more!

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