Kruger National Park (KNP) is a massive game reserve covering 7,580 square miles (19,633 square kilometers) of the northeast region of South Africa. Surrounding the reserve are Zimbabwe to the north, Mpumalanga to the south, Mozambique to the east and Limpopo to the west. The national parks of Kruger, Gonarehou and Limpopo make up the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a protected area set aside to preserve the area's biodiversity.
The reserve is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, which UNESCO recognized and registered in October 2001. It the largest of South Africa's six biosphere regions and ranks third largest on the planet. It consists of land that is a combination of forest, grassland and Savannah.
The Kruger National Park has an abundance of life, plant and animal. Three hundred different types of trees grow here, and an amazing parade of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and a lot of different insects and other bugs also make their home here. Conservationists the world over has applauded the reserve for implementing environmental management policies and techniques. There is evidence of the presence of man going back thousands of years in the rock paintings scattered all over the area, which in itself is reason enough to declare the park a national treasure deserving government protection.
The most requested tour in the Kruger is the open Jeep big 5 tours. Video and photography hunting lions, the leopards, the rhinos, the elephants, and the Cape buffalo is what makes this tour so popular. It's not easy to capture a glimpse of one of these animals, let alone take a photo of them! They are very dangerous, but beautiful animals, but are not the only kind around. There is a variety of buck, crocodiles, baboons, hippos, hyenas and many, many more to see.
Touring the park by car while the sun is up is the most popular way to view wildlife. Guided tours are available at some camps. Armed and experienced rangers will guide guests through the park in a 4x4 vehicle or on foot. Unauthorized walking is not only prohibited throughout the reserve but also foolish and dangerous.
The roads are in good condition so makes for easy and comfortable drives and tours. None of these roads are tarred; they are all well maintained dirt roads.
Speed limits ensure the safety of the animals and their human visitors. Various types of wildlife often wander onto the roads and the larger species, such as the elephants and rhinos, can do severe damage to a vehicle if spooked. Slower speeds are also more conducive to wildlife sightings.
The reserve has thirteen camps. Visitors can find everything from rustic tent accommodations to luxury facilities with swimming pools, laundry facilities, and cafeterias. The largest camp is Skukuza, which is a 20-minute journey from the Kurger Gate and serves as the KNP headquarters. Among the many amenities are a gas pump, a post office, a grocery store, a library and the world's hottest 9-hole golf course. Its location alongside the Sabie River makes it a prime location for animals to find water.
The BaPhalaborwa society of forgers occupied the region in the eighteen hundreds. The village dates back to the Iron Age and is called the village of Masorini. The village huts and furnaces have been reconstructed as authentically as possible and even has the remains of and original furnace.
Archaeologists uncovered two bodies when excavating bombs were detonated in the area of Thulamela (which sits on a plateau in the north of the reserve) and believed they were royals since they were adorned with gold. They were discovered and named by the excavating team, King Ingwe and Queen Losha. The site remained undiscovered until 1993 and the oldest stones ruins date back to the fifteen hundreds. This royal citadel is amongst the most historically significant archaeological sites in the country.
Its location south of the border means South Africa has a subtropical climate and the seasons are opposite what they are in Europe, North America and other northern hemisphere destinations. In general, the weather is hot and dry. It rarely rains in this region with occasional showers from September to April. Many visitors find the end of winter to be the ideal time because animals are easier to spot when the brush is low. This is also a good time to view wildlife congregating around watering holes.
The reserve is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, which UNESCO recognized and registered in October 2001. It the largest of South Africa's six biosphere regions and ranks third largest on the planet. It consists of land that is a combination of forest, grassland and Savannah.
The Kruger National Park has an abundance of life, plant and animal. Three hundred different types of trees grow here, and an amazing parade of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and a lot of different insects and other bugs also make their home here. Conservationists the world over has applauded the reserve for implementing environmental management policies and techniques. There is evidence of the presence of man going back thousands of years in the rock paintings scattered all over the area, which in itself is reason enough to declare the park a national treasure deserving government protection.
The most requested tour in the Kruger is the open Jeep big 5 tours. Video and photography hunting lions, the leopards, the rhinos, the elephants, and the Cape buffalo is what makes this tour so popular. It's not easy to capture a glimpse of one of these animals, let alone take a photo of them! They are very dangerous, but beautiful animals, but are not the only kind around. There is a variety of buck, crocodiles, baboons, hippos, hyenas and many, many more to see.
Touring the park by car while the sun is up is the most popular way to view wildlife. Guided tours are available at some camps. Armed and experienced rangers will guide guests through the park in a 4x4 vehicle or on foot. Unauthorized walking is not only prohibited throughout the reserve but also foolish and dangerous.
The roads are in good condition so makes for easy and comfortable drives and tours. None of these roads are tarred; they are all well maintained dirt roads.
Speed limits ensure the safety of the animals and their human visitors. Various types of wildlife often wander onto the roads and the larger species, such as the elephants and rhinos, can do severe damage to a vehicle if spooked. Slower speeds are also more conducive to wildlife sightings.
The reserve has thirteen camps. Visitors can find everything from rustic tent accommodations to luxury facilities with swimming pools, laundry facilities, and cafeterias. The largest camp is Skukuza, which is a 20-minute journey from the Kurger Gate and serves as the KNP headquarters. Among the many amenities are a gas pump, a post office, a grocery store, a library and the world's hottest 9-hole golf course. Its location alongside the Sabie River makes it a prime location for animals to find water.
The BaPhalaborwa society of forgers occupied the region in the eighteen hundreds. The village dates back to the Iron Age and is called the village of Masorini. The village huts and furnaces have been reconstructed as authentically as possible and even has the remains of and original furnace.
Archaeologists uncovered two bodies when excavating bombs were detonated in the area of Thulamela (which sits on a plateau in the north of the reserve) and believed they were royals since they were adorned with gold. They were discovered and named by the excavating team, King Ingwe and Queen Losha. The site remained undiscovered until 1993 and the oldest stones ruins date back to the fifteen hundreds. This royal citadel is amongst the most historically significant archaeological sites in the country.
Its location south of the border means South Africa has a subtropical climate and the seasons are opposite what they are in Europe, North America and other northern hemisphere destinations. In general, the weather is hot and dry. It rarely rains in this region with occasional showers from September to April. Many visitors find the end of winter to be the ideal time because animals are easier to spot when the brush is low. This is also a good time to view wildlife congregating around watering holes.
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