When you think of visiting South Africa, what do you want to see most? The golden sands beaches, the bustling towns of Cape Town and Johannesburg, or the diverse plant and animal life of the Lowveld?
If you’re like me, you love big city hustle and bustle. But when you think of South Africa, you cannot resist the opportunity to get a glimpse of the wildlife, and the idea of embarking on an African safari is one that is exciting and downright exotic.
If you feel the same way I do, you simply must visit the incredible Kruger National Park in South Africa. I can guarantee that it is here that you will find the exciting wildlife experience that, until now, you have only imagined.
The Kruger National Park of South Africa is known the world over for its diverse wildlife and archaeological sites. It was first established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, and today is spread out over nearly 5 million acres. Yes, that is 5 million acres!
This huge expanse of space is home to a very impressive number of inhabitants. Within the park you will find 336 kinds of trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. All in all, that makes 1,187 different species of flora and fauna that call the park home.
Five of the largest animals you may see are the buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino, while five of the smallest creatures you may see are the buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion, and rhino beetle.
Within the park there are a great number of activities to please anyone from the person who wants to hang out for just one afternoon, to the adventurous visitor who wishes to spend five days exploring and sightseeing. Professional (armed) guides will accompany you whether you would prefer to walk, drive, bike, or hike.
The trails vary from relaxed, well-marked paths to areas that are entirely unmarked and unspoiled and traversed only on foot. If you are interested in seeing some of the area’s more secretive creatures, you can even take a nighttime drive through the park to seek out nocturnal animals.
Because of the park’s expansive size, you’ll find a great number of camps that are excellent places to stay. The Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp, for example, is a small and cozy camp situated in the south-eastern corner of the Kruger National Park on the northern bank of the Crocodile River. It includes a game-viewing area that is known as the Southern Circle, which is renowned for its concentration of different prides of lion, each with its own behavior, habits, and hunting techniques.
The Southern Circle is also home to a large percentage of the Kruger National Park’s total rhino population, and you may also spot spotted hyena, giraffe, kudu, and cheetah.
Along with Crocodile Bridge, you’ll find 12 other main rest camps within the park, each with its own distinct characteristics, attractions, and personality. Or if you would prefer something more luxurious, you can check out Kruger National Park’s eight luxury lodges. The luxury lodges include accommodations with Jacuzzis, king-size beds, soft linen sheets, and spas. At the same time, the lodges have been designed to have a minimally invasive impact on their natural environment and surroundings.
For more information about Kruger National Park, you can visit the website at http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/default.php
I have no doubt that you’ll be impressed, and I can guarantee that your visit there will be unlike anything else you have ever experienced.
