Kruger Park
The Kruger National Park is long and narrow, and is some 350 kilometres in length, and averages 54 kilometres in width – in size it equates to the countries of Wales or Israel. The Eastern border of the Park is created by the Lebombo Mountains, whilst the Southern border is created by the Crocodile River and the Northern by the Limpopo River (which is also the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe). The Western border of the Park is formed partly by the Private Reserves which contribute to the Great Kruger Park, and private land.
The Kruger National Park thus incorporates a number of geological areas, which in turn affect the vegetation of the park, and thus contribute to the incredible species diversity, not to mention scenery, of this magnificent area. Roughly speaking, the park can be sub-divided into three distinct zones, the Southern, Central, and Northern areas – each with distinct geology/ topography, vegetation, and animal life. The Park is also criss-crossed by a number of important perennial Rivers, such as the Sabie, Olifants, Lebala, Shingwedzi, Luvuvuhu, all of which (like the Crocodile and Limpopo Rivers), flow in a West to East direction. The importance of the Rivers is reflected in the fact that three of the rest camps in the park are named for a River.
Southern Kruger (Crocodile to Sabie Rivers)
This area encompasses about a fifth of the Kruger National Park, and is located between the Crocodile River in the South (the Park’s border) and the Sabie River. This is very much lion country, and is also well known for its rhino (both black and white). There is quite dense and diverse vegetation, with a mixture of knobthorn, marula, leadwood, and silver-leaf terminalia. The river sides are home to very large sycamore figs, and jackalberries, and to the east, near the Lebombo Mountains, there are open, grassy areas.
Of the 8 Private Concessions within the Park (boasting some 17 lodges), many are situated in the Southern reaches of the Park.
Central Kruger (Sabie to Olifants Rivers)
This is the region of the Park richest in game, and is also known for its scenery. The area stretches from the Sabie to the Olifants Rivers. This area is dominated by extensive grass plains, although there are stands of marula and leadwood trees, and more dense vegetation to the West. Giraffe, zebra and wildebeest are found in great number, which, in term, means that there is also an excellent lion population. The trees also mean good elephant numbers, and the open plains are home to the cheetah. The generally diverse habitat also means that there are numerous antelope species (including the rare roan), as well as rhino and packs of wild dog. A good number of the Private Concession Lodges are also situated in this area.
Northern Kruger (Olifants to Limpopo Rivers)
Sometimes further divided as a region at the Tropic of Capricorn, the North is dominated by Mopane forests – tough and drought resistant. To the West there is the addition of other species such as bushwillow, leadwood, apple-leaf and jackalberry. This is excellent elephant country, while buffalo and zebra are also seen in good numbers. The open scrubland in the Mopane forests is also good for seeing tsessebe antelope, and the world’s largest bird – the ostrich. Generally game viewing is best along the riverine stretches in this area. The far North of the park, where it borders Zimbabwe, has a number of sandstone outcrops, and has a good population of the unique, and massive, baobab tree.
The Kruger National Park thus incorporates a number of geological areas, which in turn affect the vegetation of the park, and thus contribute to the incredible species diversity, not to mention scenery, of this magnificent area. Roughly speaking, the park can be sub-divided into three distinct zones, the Southern, Central, and Northern areas – each with distinct geology/ topography, vegetation, and animal life. The Park is also criss-crossed by a number of important perennial Rivers, such as the Sabie, Olifants, Lebala, Shingwedzi, Luvuvuhu, all of which (like the Crocodile and Limpopo Rivers), flow in a West to East direction. The importance of the Rivers is reflected in the fact that three of the rest camps in the park are named for a River.
Southern Kruger (Crocodile to Sabie Rivers)
This area encompasses about a fifth of the Kruger National Park, and is located between the Crocodile River in the South (the Park’s border) and the Sabie River. This is very much lion country, and is also well known for its rhino (both black and white). There is quite dense and diverse vegetation, with a mixture of knobthorn, marula, leadwood, and silver-leaf terminalia. The river sides are home to very large sycamore figs, and jackalberries, and to the east, near the Lebombo Mountains, there are open, grassy areas.
Of the 8 Private Concessions within the Park (boasting some 17 lodges), many are situated in the Southern reaches of the Park.
Central Kruger (Sabie to Olifants Rivers)
This is the region of the Park richest in game, and is also known for its scenery. The area stretches from the Sabie to the Olifants Rivers. This area is dominated by extensive grass plains, although there are stands of marula and leadwood trees, and more dense vegetation to the West. Giraffe, zebra and wildebeest are found in great number, which, in term, means that there is also an excellent lion population. The trees also mean good elephant numbers, and the open plains are home to the cheetah. The generally diverse habitat also means that there are numerous antelope species (including the rare roan), as well as rhino and packs of wild dog. A good number of the Private Concession Lodges are also situated in this area.
Northern Kruger (Olifants to Limpopo Rivers)
Sometimes further divided as a region at the Tropic of Capricorn, the North is dominated by Mopane forests – tough and drought resistant. To the West there is the addition of other species such as bushwillow, leadwood, apple-leaf and jackalberry. This is excellent elephant country, while buffalo and zebra are also seen in good numbers. The open scrubland in the Mopane forests is also good for seeing tsessebe antelope, and the world’s largest bird – the ostrich. Generally game viewing is best along the riverine stretches in this area. The far North of the park, where it borders Zimbabwe, has a number of sandstone outcrops, and has a good population of the unique, and massive, baobab tree.
