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National Parks:
Kruger National Park
Provinces: Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province
There are 12 Main Camps and 5 Bushveld camps in the Kruger National
Park itself. These are
run by SA National Parks. Details are as follows:
Main Camps - See Electronic brochures in the Information box
Berg-en-Dal
Crocodile Bridge
Letaba
Lower Sabie
Mopani
Olifants
Orpen
Pretoriuskop
Punda Maria
Satara
Shingwedzi
Skukuza
Bushveld Camps -See electronic brochures inthe information box
Bateleur
Biyamiti
Shimuwini
Sirheni
Talamati
PRIVATE GAME RESERVES IN AND AROUND THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK:
Private Game Reserves around the Kruger National Park ( Referred to
as the Greater Kruger
National park)
There are over 60 Private Game Reserves and Lodges in and around the
Kruger National Park.
These include luxury lodges, budget lodges and many safari experiences.Lodges
can be found in the following Game Reserves that fall within the Greater
Kruger Park
Kruger National Park
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Kapama Game Reserve
Balule Game Reserve
Thornybush Game Reserve
Manyeleti Game Reserve
Timbavati Game Reserve
Private lodges within the Kruger National Park Concession Areas
Imbali Safari Lodge
Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge
Hamilton's Tented Safari Camp
Jock Safari Lodge
Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Tinga Game Lodge
The Outpost Lodge
Rhino Post Camp
Plains Camp
Private lodges and hotels - Greater Kruger
Sefapane Lodge
Tshukudu Game Lodge
Iketla Guest Lodge
Kruger Gate Hotel
Kruger Lodge
Bongani Mountain Lodge
Ngala private Game Reserve
Elephant Plains Game Lodge
Indlovu River Lodge
Timbavati Nature Reserve
Akeru Safari Lodge
Gomo Gomo Game Lodge
King's Camp
Motswari
private Game Reserve (*)
Umlani
Bush Camp (*)
Thorny Bush Game Reserve
Royal Malewane
Tangala
Thorny Bush Main Lodge
Shumabalala
Jackalberry
Chapungu
n'Kaya
Serondella
Kapama Game Reserve
Kapama Lodge
Camp Jabulani
Buffalo Camp
Nyala House
Balule Private Game Reserve
Ezulwini Lodges
Leopard's View Lodge
Mohlabetsi Lodges
Manyeleti Game Reserve
Tintswalo Safari Lodge
Honeyguide Safari Camp
Khoka Moya Safari Lodge
Klaserie Private Game Reserve
Makalali Game Lodge
Gwalagwala Tented Camp
Garonga Safari Camp
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Savanna
Private Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Lion Sands Private Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Inyati Private Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Simbambili Game Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Notten's Bush Camp
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Nkorho Safari Camp
Sabi Sand Game Reserve - Exeter Game Lodges
Leadwood Lodge
Dulini Private Game Reserve
River Lodge
Kirkman's Kamp
Sabi Sand Game Reserve - Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Bateluer Camp
Founders Camp
Tree Camp
Pioneer Camp
Safari Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve - Sabi Sabi Lodges
Earth Lodge
Selati Lodge
Bush Lodge
Sabi Sand -Singita Private Game Reserve Lodges
Ebony Lodge
Boulders Lodge
Lebombo Lodge
Sweni Lodge
Castleton Camp
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Djuma Private Game Reserve
Galago Camp
Vuyatela Bush Lodge
Bush Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Chitwa Chitwa Game Reserve
Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Lodge
Chitwa Chitwa Safari Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Ulusaba Private Game Reserve
Safari Lodge
Rock Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve -Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Main Camp
Sable Camp
Kruger National Park
MAIN ATTRACTIONS
The Big Five – Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhino.
The Little Five – Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Leopard Tortoise,
Ant Lion and Rhino Beetle.
Birding Big Six – Ground Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Lappet- faced Vulture,
Martial Eagle, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Saddle-bill Stork.
Five Trees – Baobab, Fever Tree, Knob Thorn, Marula, Mopane.
Five Natural/Cultural Features – Letaba Elephant Museum, Jock of the
Bushveld Route, Maserini Ruins, Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library,
Thulamela.
INTRODUCTION
The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience
that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the
wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly
2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in
the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental
management techniques and policies.
Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home
to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians,
114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the
Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings
to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very
evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures,
persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National
Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Climate
The climate is subtropical with hot summers and warm, dry winters. Summer
rains fall between October and March.
- Day Visitors
All the main rest camps have day visitor areas. There are also many
picnic spots and other visitor get out points distributed throughout
the park. At the picnic spots visitors can (for a nominal fee) hire
gas skottels (outdoor elevated frying pans) to cook meals on. These
pans are cleaned by the attending staff, thus meaning people don’t have
to worry about carrying cumbersome and greasy pans in their vehicles.
There is a maximum threshold of vehicles that can enter the park daily.
If this threshold is reached only visitors with pre-booked overnight
accommodation will be permitted access. Such situations tend only to
arise in extreme cases such as public holidays.
Activities
Adventures
Night drives: take part in the nocturnal activities of Kruger's secretive
creatures. Experienced guides drive the groups. Inquire at the reservations
offices or at the camp you are staying at and going on the drive.
Morning drives leave at around 04.30 in summer and 05.30 in winter.
Clients are to confirm with reception the previous night when they book
in to their accommodation. As per day walks, accommodation must be booked
for the previous night at the camp, as walks/drives leave before the
gates open officially. The drive’s duration is 3-4 hours.
New Additional Drive Options: A new range of 10-seater vehicles is now
available. Because of the greater comfort and exclusivity of these vehicles,
they will be offered at a higher price than the more economical 20-seater
trucks. The availability of the 2 types of vehicles will vary from camp
to camp and guests will be informed of the available type on making
their reservation. Additionally there are changes to the names, departure
times and duration of the drives. The traditional 3-hour morning and
night drives departing half an hour before gate opening and 2 hours
before gate closing times respectively, will now be known as early morning
and sunset drives. Shorter 2-hour mid-morning and night drives will
also be offered departing at 09:00 and 2 hours after closing time respectively.
All the above drives for the camps will be available through the SANParks’
central reservation system, as well as drives from the main gates. However
an additional offering is an all-day-drive where, on request and availability
at camp level, guests may hire the use of a vehicle and driver for the
entire day. Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal and Letaba offer this option, while
the service can be arranged from other camps too subject to availability.
Trained officials take visitors to sections of the park which are usually
inaccessible to tourists. This service can also be arranged from other
camps at an additional fee. Reservations should be made well in advance
(2 months): Kruger National Park, P O Box 50, Skukuza 1350 or Tel: +27
13 735-5611.
Furthermore, differentiated prices for adults and children are given
on the guided drive options.
Please note all times listed are given only as a guide. Times vary throughout
the year as the gate times changes, depending on daylight. Please consult
at your camp Reception on arrival and also make sure you get to the
collection point in good time for your departure.
Guided bush walks: trained field guides and backup rifles take groups
of up to 8 people out into the bush for a few hours. Track rhino, elephant
and lion on foot and learn and observe fascinating facts about the African
bush.
Wilderness Trails – the ultimate African experience. Groups of up to
8, traverse the wilderness under the guidance of experienced, armed
rangers, who protect, but more importantly unwrap the wonders of the
Kruger Park to the uninitiated. Accommodation is provided in exclusive
trail base camps with rustic 2-bed huts. Consult wilderness trails page
for details. Availability of Wilderness Trails.
Lebombo Motorised Eco-Trail - The first motorised eco-trail, a wilderness
experience on wheels along the eastern boundary of the Kruger National
Park. Five four-wheel drive vehicles will be allowed to participate
at a time with up to four participants per vehicle. Consult Lebombo
motorised eco-trail page for details.
Golf Course
The golf course was built in 1972 as a recreational facility for the
Skukuza personnel, and is now available to visitors to the Kruger National
Park for the first time. Here is a first for South Africa and the world
- a unique opportunity for golfing enthusiasts within one of the world's
greatest conservation establishments. The Skukuza Golf Course is designed
for all levels of golfers. Please bring along your golf clubs next time
you visit the Kruger National Park and enjoy one of the most unique
9-hole golf courses in the world.
Natural and Cultural History
There is ample evidence that prehistoric man – Homo erectus roamed the
area between 500 000 and 100 000 years ago.
Cultural artifacts of Stone Age man have been found for the period 100
000 to 30 000 years ago.
More than 300 archaeological sites of Stone Age man have been found
Evidence of Bushman Folk (San) and Iron Age people from about 1500 years
ago is also in great evidence.
There are also many historical tales of the presence of Nguni people
and European explorers and settlers in the Kruger area.
There are significant archaeological ruins at Thulamela and Masorini
There are numerous examples of San Art scattered throughout the park.
The park was first proclaimed in 1898 as the Sabie Game Reserve by the
then president of the Transvaal Republic, Paul Kruger. He first proposed
the need to protect the animals of the Lowveld in 1884, but his revolutionary
vision took another 12 years to be realised when the area between the
Sabie and Crocodile Rivers was set aside for restricted hunting.
The Scottish born James Stevenson-Hamilton (born in 1867) was appointed
the park’s first warden on July 1, 1902. On 31 May 1926 the National
Parks Act was proclaimed and with it the merging of the Sabie and Shingwedzi
Game Reserves into the Kruger National Park. The first motorists entered
the park in 1927 for a fee of one pound. Many accounts of the park’s
early days can be found in the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library.
RESERVATIONS
Telephone Number: +27 (0)12 428 9111
Fax number: +27 (0)12 343 0905
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