Kruger National Park

There are around 2,000 Lions in Kruger; with perhaps only 20,000 left in the whole of Africa, this is a population of vital importance. They are found throughout the park, but are most common in the eastern basaltic grasslands, where the open plains attract great herds of Blue Wildebeest and Plains Zebra. In particular, the area around Satara Camp, in the southern central section of the park, is renowned as one of the most reliable places in the world for sighting the ‘King of the Jungle’.

Leopards may be more numerous than Lions, but their shy and retiring nature makes them more challenging to find. Nevertheless, they are regularly seen, with the dense thorn thickets along the Sabie River supporting one of the highest densities in Africa of this elegant and elusive big cat. Just outside the national park, but still within the Greater Kruger ecosystem, is the Sabi Sands Game Reserve – here, Leopards have been habituated for decades and intimate, prolonged sightings are virtually guaranteed.

Both Buffalo and Elephant roam the park in their tens of thousands, and encountering a breeding herd of either species can be a remarkable experience. Kruger is also home to some of Africa’s last great ‘tuskers’, massive bull Elephants whose ivory can be so enormous that it scrapes the ground as they walk. Mercifully, Elephants here have largely been spared from the epidemic of poaching that has so devastated populations elsewhere on the continent. However, this sadly cannot be said for the park’s rhinos, which have borne the brunt of surging demand for their horn from Vietnam and China. Kruger has both White and Black Rhinos, and although they have become increasingly rare in recent years, the former species can still be regularly seen in the hilly south-west of the park. Interestingly, both are of a similar colour, but each species’ alternative name provides a better clue to its identification. The larger is sometimes known as Square-lipped Rhino, describing the wide, flat mouth that enables it to graze so effectively, whereas the smaller species’ near-prehensile upper lip, a perfect tool for browsing, explains the name of Hook-lipped Rhino.

Of course, there is far more to Kruger’s wildlife than the ‘Big Five’, with over 140 other species of mammal alone. These include an astonishing diversity of antelope, from the stately Greater Kudu to the diminutive Steenbok, and many others, such as Southern Giraffe, Hippopotamus, and Cheetah, that are no less worthy of attention. The park’s rarest large carnivore is the exquisite African Wild Dog; with a population of around 300, Kruger is one of this highly endangered species’ last strongholds. Although they are scarce and highly mobile, this stunning canine (sometimes known as Painted Wolf) is often seen across the south of the park.

With the big mammals enjoying so much of the limelight, it’s hard to imagine that the birdlife could possibly compete. However, Kruger’s feathered fauna is equally remarkable, with over 500 species recorded. This includes some wonderful resident species, along with a host of seasonal migrants, both from equatorial Africa and Eurasia. The so-called Afrotropical visitors feature such gems as Violet-backed Starling, Woodland Kingfisher and Southern Carmine Bee-eater, while those from further afield include familiar European birds like Barn Swallow, White Stork and Red-backed Shrike. These species are absent from around March to October, but the residents will still delight birders at any time of year. Among these are some really wonderful and iconic birds, such as Secretarybird, African Fish Eagle, Bateleur, Lilac-breasted Roller and Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl. There is even a ‘Birding Big Six’, set up to rival the appeal of the mammalian ‘Big Five’. They are truly spectacular creatures, losing nothing by their feathered rather than furry coats, and all but one – the Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Southern Ground Hornbill, Saddle-billed Stork and Kori Bustard – are straightforward to see in Kruger. The last is another story, however; a large slice of luck is required to encounter the massive, bright orange Pel’s Fishing Owl.

Beyond the birds and mammals, there is a great diversity of other, often less obvious creatures. Kruger’s major rivers are home to some gigantic Nile Crocodiles, and the strikingly marked Leopard Tortoise can be seen. More inconspicuous reptiles include Flap-necked Chameleon and African Rock Python, alongside a variety of other lizards and snakes.

Unlike many parks elsewhere in Africa, Kruger offers guided night drives, which provide an opportunity to see many skulking nocturnal species that rarely appear in daylight. These can include Cape Porcupine, African Civet, Large-spotted Genet, Side-striped Jackal and birds such as Fiery-necked Nightjar, Spotted Eagle-Owl and Bronze-winged Courser. They also provide a chance of seeing predators like Lion and Leopard on the hunt.

Kruger’s vast size is matched by the variety of accommodation options. Dotted across the length and breadth of the national park itself are 12 main rest camps. These are connected by an excellent and well-maintained network of roads, which can be explored either on a guided safari or, for the independently minded, on a self-drive expedition. Although Kruger sometimes has a reputation for traffic, thousands of kilometres of tracks (branching out across an area the size of Wales) ensure that it's never difficult to leave the crowds behind. Nevertheless, visitors desiring true exclusivity can consider the park’s private reserves and concessions, which all have unfenced boundaries with the main Kruger area. Many host luxurious lodges, complete with gourmet food and massage parlours, and offer the ability to track wildlife off-road.

The Kruger National Park is home to wonderful wildlife, astonishing landscapes and a range of accommodation to suit all desires and budgets. Whether a visitor wants to track down the ‘Big Five’, go birding or watch Leopards in the lap of luxury, this incredible reserve has something for everyone.