The world-renowned Kruger National Park, in South Africa stretches some three hundred and fifty kilometres from north to south along the Mozambican border and about sixty kilometres wide at most places and covers nearly 2 million hectares. The Kruger National Park was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of South Africa. Most of the park is grass and bush covered plains. The border with Mozambique is marked by the Lebombo mountain range. Many rivers, like the Limpopo, Letaba, Olifants, Timbavati, Sabie and Crocodile River chop up the Kruger National Park into territories. The South is part of the original Sabie Game Reserve that was proclaimed in 1898 by President Paul Kruger. It is home to some of the most popular camps in the park as the wildlife is abundant. The hippo pool with nearby Bushmen paintings is a major attraction. Granite koppies provide excellent viewing stages for lions. The Acacia trees provide shelter and food to the larger herbivores such as giraffe and elephant, while the Crocodile River provides dusk viewing of elephants, waterbuck, impala as well as elusive after dark predators quenching their thirst before a night hunting. The Kruger National Park experience is one of the best in Africa. The sight of the Big 5 is always exciting. Originally used only by hunters, the term 'Big Five' refers to five of Africa's greatest wild animals - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. A trip to Kruger National Park is incomplete without having spotted, or at least tried to spot the infamous Big 5. |
