Kruger National Park: The Finest Wildlife Safari in South Africa
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South Africa's oldest and most popular national park, Kruger National park, provides arguably the best African wildlife safari experience. As an attestation to this fact, about one million visitors tour this park every year. The national park started as Sabi Game Reserve way back in 1898, to check the destruction of wildlife due to over-hunting. The park was later named after Paul Kruger who was the president of the Transvaal Republic at that time.
The national park straddles a vast area from Limpopo River in the north, 350km southwards along the South Africa-Mozambique border, to the Crocodile River in the south. Kruger has a great diversity of ecosystems, with six rivers feeding the about 16 vegetation zones. The park is generally low lying, and has an average altitude of 269 meters above sea level.
Though Kruger occupies 20,000 sq. km, it is the wooded and more lush Mpulanga region in Kruger's south that is most popular with visitors. You can get to this region using any of the five gates at Numbi, Phabeni, Malelane, Paul Kruger and Crocodile Bridge. The arid central and northern regions are shrouded in some mystery tales and appeal more to the adventurous travelers. With fewer visitors visiting this region, it can be accessed through the Phalaborwa and Orpen gates.
Kruger is the most celebrated national park in South Africa due to its wide variety of game and bird life. Hundreds of different species can be found here: 507 birds, 336 trees, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 34 amphibians. It offers an unforgettable wildlife experience that can rival the best in Africa. In South Africa, this is the best place to see the fabled big five- lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino.
Owing to its wildlife diversity and the presence of complete food chains in the ecosystem, Kruger attracts many scientists interested in researching animal behavior. Cheetahs, warthogs, zebras, impalas, giraffes, hippos, and baboons are some of the animal species found here alongside the big five.
You can access Kruger through nine gates, which are connected to the national road network by tarred roads. From Pafuri Gate in the north to Malelane Gate in the south is a 414 km drive. Once inside the park, it is obligatory to take a game drive. You may chose either a self-navigated game drive, or take a ranger guide as an escort. Kruger allows night game drives, when you can encounter nocturnal animals- bush babies, leopards, hyenas, owls and nightjars.
Many people touring Kruger prefer going for self-drive wildlife safaris on defined regular trails, but you may opt for ranger guided walking safaris if you are more adventurous. There are seven trails in the Kruger wilderness available for walking safaris, giving you the chance to watch wildlife up close as you also enjoy nature's aroma. You can enjoy a three nights stay in a wilderness camp while on the walking expeditions, though, due to its popularity, early booking is advisable.
There are daily flights from Johannesburg to Phalaborwa Airport, Hoedspruit Airport and the Kruger/Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) as well as daily flights to KMIA from Durban and Cape Town. Charter planes and rental cars are available from Kruger Mpumalanga Airport, Kruger Park Gateway airport, East Gate Airport. Accommodation is also available within the park to suit the tastes and pockets of most- ranging from camping and self-catering to luxury lodges.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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