| South Africa has dedicated more than three million | | | | this magnificent park. Stevenson-Hamilton was |
| hectares of its total land mass to the | | | | very surprised when lions became one of the |
| conservation of its natural heritage. You will see a | | | | biggest attractions and he stopped the shooting |
| great variety of habitats and wildlife when you | | | | of predators. The extended Kruger Park was only |
| visit these amazing sites. | | | | fenced in for the first time in 1962. On the 31st |
| The Kruger National Park covers around 2 million | | | | of May 1972, the Sabie and Shingwedzi reserves |
| hectares and is the largest game reserve in South | | | | together with 70 privately owned farms were |
| Africa. It is roughly the same size and shape as | | | | consolidated into the Kruger National Park, one of |
| either Israel or Wales! It covers 20 000 square | | | | the greatest parks in the whole of Africa. |
| kilometres and it stretches 350 km from north to | | | | Altogether there is about 1 982 species of plants, |
| south and 60 km from east to west. To the | | | | 517 species of birds of which 253 are residents |
| north of the Park is Zimbabwe and to the east is | | | | and many other animals. Some of them are the |
| Mozambique. The Kruger National Park will be | | | | African buffalo, African hunting dogs, cheetahs, |
| extended into the Great Limpopo Transfrontier | | | | eland, bushbucks, zebra, black rhinoceros, white |
| Park by taking some fences down between the | | | | rhinoceros, giraffes, kudus, hippopotamus, |
| Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and the | | | | leopards, lions, impalas, mountain redbucks, nyalas, |
| Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. This will | | | | redbucks, antelopes, sable antelopes, hyenas, |
| then cover more than 36 000 square kilometres | | | | elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, wildebeest, |
| and will be larger than Switzerland. | | | | baboons, monkeys, duiker, steenbok and |
| In 1896 the rinderpest virus wiped out most of | | | | klipspringer. |
| the region's game and cattle, leaving the area | | | | There are also 120 species of reptile including the |
| crippled. Hunters decimated the originally rich game | | | | Nile crocodile, 52 species of fish and 35 species of |
| stock between the Crocodile River in the south, | | | | amphibians. The best time for observing all these |
| Sabie River in the north, Lebombo Mountains in | | | | animals is the dry winter season (during the |
| the east and the Drakensberg in the west. | | | | months of April to September). The Kruger |
| Therefor President Paul Kruger opened the | | | | National Park is a summer rainfall area and during |
| National Park to protect and ensure the survival | | | | the winter months, the grass is low and bushes |
| of the remaining animals. Funds for the Sabie | | | | don't have leaves, so you will have an |
| Game Reserve were allocated in 1898, but then | | | | unobstructed view. |
| war broke out. | | | | It virtually does not rain during the winter months |
| After the second Boer War, James | | | | which forces the animals to come to the water |
| Stevenson-Hamilton, a Scottish born individual, was | | | | holes and six rivers that feed this magnificent |
| appointed the first warden in 1902 and a few | | | | Park to drink in the mornings and evening. The |
| months later the area from the Sabi River all the | | | | animals can easily be watched from the comfort |
| way to the Olifants River was added. He | | | | of your car. During the summer months the rain |
| removed all human inhabitants from the reserve | | | | transforms the earth into a lush green haven, a |
| and began to shoot all predators in order to | | | | flowering paradise and watching birds during this |
| protect the antelope herds. By 1905, the Sabi | | | | time is excellent. |
| Game Reserve had expanded to include more | | | | There are also 130 recorded rock art sites in the |
| than 17 000 kilometres. | | | | park you can go and see while you spot the |
| In 1926 the reserve was named after President | | | | animals on the way. Make sure to take your |
| Paul Kruger and was declared South Africa's first | | | | malaria tablets though before you visit the Kruger |
| National Park. In 1927 the park was opened to the | | | | National Park. This is malaria area although it isn't |
| public and they were charged a £1 entry | | | | as dominant as in earlier years. Take the |
| fee. Only a few people came to visit the park | | | | necessary precautions by taking tablets, wearing |
| during that year, but by 1935 more than 26 000 | | | | light long sleeved clothing and also protect your |
| people passed through the gates. | | | | ankle area. Read more about malaria before |
| Today more than 1 million people per year visit | | | | travelling to any malaria destination. |