The Famous Kruger National Park...

The Park Itself

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 square kilometres in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 kilometres from north to south and 65 kilometres from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.

To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.

Accommodation

The Park consist of Main Camps, Bushveld Camps, Overnight Hides and Bush Lodges.

Animals

This is only a small hint of what there is, there are so much more to experience and to see!

Fire outbreak in the Kruger National Park

A fire broke out on Monday morning at Camp Shawu in the Kruger National Park.

The fire was still burning by mid-morning and an investigation was under way. The camp would be closed, said Chris Pollard, General Manager of Camp Shawu and owner of Newco Hospitality.

The entire front of the house, kitchen and dining area have burned down. 

No injuries have been reported and no rooms were affected.

Pollard said guests would likely be re-accommodated at the group’s other units, such as Shishangeni Lodge and Camp Shonga, and would be moved accordingly.

 

“The staff reacted absolutely brilliantly. The guests were moved; they went off on a game drive,” said Pollard.

Tourists who provoke animals will be kicked out – SANParks

Tourists who provoke animals in South Africa’s national parks will be escorted off the park, with possible criminal action against them, SANParks has said. The authority’s comments follow the publication of a video showing a lioness being provoked by a radio-controlled car in the Kruger National Park.  

The video, which was uploaded online by Lowveld Media on March 24, depicts a remote-controlled car being steered towards the lioness with surrounding vehicles present.

When contacted by Tourism Update, Wanda Mkutshulwa, SANParks Head of Communications, described the behaviour as stupid.


Mkutshulwa pointed out that people often linked the KNP with incidents that might have happened at a neighbouring game farm. However, Benno Stander, Online Editor of Lowveld Media, confirmed that the incident did in fact occur in the KNP. “The person who sent the video to us is a well-known person and a source of ours but he’s currently doing work in Kruger National Park, so he opted to remain anonymous,” said Stander.

Spokesman for the KNP, William Mabasa, told the Lowvelder: “This is a serious violation of the rules of the Kruger and against the spirit and nature of all the rules in the park.

“The animals get scared and stressed, but they are also curious and might want to inspect the object, eat it and then perhaps choke on it and die. They might also run away and that is unfair to the other visitors who are viewing the animals,” Mabasa said.

Mkutshulwa said that anyone who was found to be engaging in such behaviour would be escorted by game rangers out of the park and, if necessary, criminal action against them would be taken.

You can view the incident by clicking here.

 
 

New Adventure Camp to Open in Kruger

Mobile Tented Camps by Wilderness Explorer will open Baviaanskloof Adventure Camp in the heart of the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve from December 15, 2016 until January 15, 2017.

The camp is on the banks of the Kouga River and guests can access the reserve from either the western side, Uniondale/Willowmore, or the eastern side, Patensie.

The Patensie entrance is 45 minutes from Port Elizabeth and the camp is about 90 minutes from the entrance.

The camp will accommodate 26 guests in 13 luxury tents, each with private chemical flush toilets and warm-water showers. All meals are provided.
A variety of activities include kayaking, hiking and game drives.

Poachers poison wildlife in Kruger

On February 27, the Kruger National Park discovered an elephant carcass, 110 White-backed vultures, two male lions and two Black-backed jackals that had been poisoned and killed by poachers.

The tusks had been removed from the elephant by poachers and scavengers in the vicinity of the carcass had been poisoned after feeding from it.

“It seems poachers have resorted to wildlife poisoning in the national parks and other protected areas in Southern Africa and we are devastated by these latest mortalities of our wildlife. Wildlife poisoning is not only a threat to our biodiversity assets, but a single incident can affect hundreds of species; thus cutting their life short and diminishing their ecological role,” said the Managing Executive of KNP, Glenn Phillips.

 

Last year, the KNP experienced a similar incident where one elephant; four lions; 46 vultures and one sub-adult Bateleur eagle were poisoned.

The Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is the second-largest game reserve in Africa and the largest in South Africa.South Africa's most exciting African safari destination. Steeped in legend and history, the iconic Kruger National Park in South Africa is waiting for you to explore its vast landscapes and spectacular African wildlife.

1. Essence of the Traditional Kruger Park Classic Lodge Safari

Experience the hospitality and culture of the indigenous Tsonga people whilst staying in 'traditional' style bee-hive Tsonga huts finished with fabrics, décor and art produced by the local Tsonga community. This 3 day Kruger Park classic lodge vacation package will guarantee sightings of Elephant from the lodge, as it is situated on an ancient Elephant route.

After a day of Big Five game-viewing, you can enjoy

aromatherapy massages, Indian head massage or a foot massage in the spa. This is also a bird-watching haven and is close to the only golf course in Kruger Park where you will might share the course with Warthog or Giraffe.

Take a journey of exploration to find Africa's Big Five:Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo, you will discover unique wildlife on a real safari in Africa.

2.Kruger Park Honeymoon Packages

Setting out on life's greatest journey together is an exciting moment, and there is no better way to start out than in the African wilderness. These selected Kruger Park honeymoon packages each offer something different. You can choose between sheer opulence, closeness to nature or tranquil seclusion. To add to the occasion you can indulge in spa treatments, champagne baths or fireside romance.

3.Kruger Park Family Safari Holiday 

Ideal for introducing nature to your kids, this 3 day safari will keep curious, young minds occupied. Children older than twelve can even accompany your walking safari with an expert safari guide who can 'show-and-tell' more exciting stuff than can be seen on TV, giving them plenty to talk about when they get back to school.

Relax and rely on the skills of your expert game rangers, who will take you on an adventure of game viewing and bush walking safaris, tracking wildlife.

There are also other fabulous activities in the surrounding areas that will enhance your experience.How about a majestic hot air balloon flight? These are real once in a lifetime experiences!

For more information please contact us at:

info@southern-africa-travel.com

www.southern-africa-travel.com

25 Stunning African National Parks you need to Visit!

Continues..............
As promised...here are our 11 Stunning African National Parks you need to visit.  Whatever you decide to do, make sure you travel to Africa and make it a Place to Remember.

Quicama National Park,  Angola

Quicama is the only functioning national park of the country, while others are in disrepair because the Angolan Civil war. This amazing park was once home to an abundance of large game animals but after wide-scale poaching during the Civil war, the animal population was virtually eliminated. The situation has been gradually improving thanks to the ‘Operation Noah’s Ark’ project which transports animals from neighboring countries.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Founded as a game reserve in 1938, this park is one of the best-known national parks in Africa for walking safaris. It hosts large populations of Thornicroft’s Giraffes, elephants and buffalos, while the Luangwa River supports abundant crocodiles and hippos. Unfortunately, the park’s black rhinos were wiped out by 1987.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Covering an area of over 7,500 square miles, Kruger is one of the largest, oldest and most famous national parks in the world. It boasts of an amazingly abundant wildlife diversity including 150 mammals, over 500 different kinds of birds, 114 reptile and 50 fish species. Visitors to the park are welcome to use its 21 rest camps, 2 private lodge concessions, and 15 designated private safari lodges.

Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho

Home to both striking biological diversity as well as important cultural heritage, the park was first established in 1969. Apart from unique Afro-Alpine and Sub-Alpine plants, mammals, avifauna, reptiles, amphibians and fish presence in the park, there is a record number of 65 rock art sites which have been identified here.

Kiang West National Park, Gambia

Located on the south bank of the Gambia River, it is one of the largest and most important wildlife reserves in Gambia. The park is home to abundant game animals, predators and birds but also manatees, dolphins, snakes and fearsome Nile crocodiles. Vegetation types in the park include Guinean savanna and dry deciduous woodlands.

Bazaruto National Park, Mozambique

Situated on the eastern coast of Mozambique, this park also covers a large expanse of ocean and six islands. It hosts several endemic terrestrial gastropods, lizards and water birds. The rich variety of marine life includes humpback whales, marine turtles, spinners, humpback and bottlenose dolphins; and marlins and barracudas.

Ahaggar National Park, Algeria

Dominated by the Ahaggar Mountains, this immense park is 40 times the size of the entire Gambian nation. Despite being in the middle of the world´s greatest desert, Ahaggar National Parkis a surprisingly diverse area, boasting of classic dunes, woodlands, as well as a 9,550 feet high mountain range. The biodiversity in the area is also excellent – number of animal species that have died off in other parts of the Sahara can be still found here.

Niokolo-Kobo National Park, Senegal
Established as a wildlife reserve in 1925, the park is a World Heritage Site now. Apart from its incredible collection of 1500 plant species, this park also hosts 20 species of amphibians, 60 species of fishes, 38 species of reptiles, 80 mammal species and around 330 species of birds.


Deux Bales National Park, Burkina Faso

Founded in 1937 as one of the first protected areas in West Africa, this small, unassuming national park in the heart of Burkina Faso might not have the highest concentration of big game animals but it can offer spectacular sceneries. The Black Volta River flowing through the park features hippos, crocodiles and many aquatic birds.

Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Located in the Congo River basin, it is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest reserve. There are no roads in the park, most of it is accessible only by the river. Salonga National Park is home to numerous animal species, notably monkeys, leopards, forest elephants, and African slender-snouted crocodiles.

Tai National Park, Ivory Coast

Covering an area of about 1,300 square miles, this park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982. There over 140 mammal species to be found in the park, including twelve regional endemics and five of the red list threatened species: Pygmy Hippopotamus, Olive Colobus monkeys, Leopards, Chimpanzees and Jentink’s Duike.

For any queries, questions or if you like to make a booking at any of these Amazing National Parks, please send us your request to:

info@namibiareservations.com or visit our
websites:

www.namibiareservations.com

www.botswana-reservations.com

www.zamibia-reservations.com

www.zimbabwe-reservations.com

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