More About Kruger Park

Rest Camps In  Kruger Park

The park has 26 rest camps that range from the private 19-bed Malelane rest camp, bordering the Crocodile River in the extreme south, to historic Punda Maria in the far north. Most rest camps comprise of serviced 2-6 sleeper bungalows as well as numerous camping sites, the larger rest camps have guest houses which cater for groups.Bungalows are in the 2-3 star range and most have on suite bathrooms, a fridge and a stove all implements for cooking are supplied as well as linen.Camp sites have electrical points however if you decide to book a campsite you will need to supply your own tent, sleeping bag and mattress.There are safari companies that offer all inclusive packages utilizing the rest camp accommodation but offering a complete safari experience including open safari vehicle game drives and all meals. The rest camp shops are always well stocked providing anything from fresh meat and vegetables to alcohol and clothing. All the main camps have a restaurant and a take away for the junk food junkies.Skukuza the largest of the rest camps has banking facilities, a internet café and a museum which is well worth a visit.Purely in terms of facilities and the range of accommodation offered, no national park anywhere in the world can match what Kruger has to offerRoad Network within Kruger ParkThe Park’s rest camps are connected by a 2 600-kilometre network of all-weather roads, which allow visitors to explore its diverse habitats on their own in their own vehicle or they can book open vehicle game drives either with the park themselves or with the private tour operators operating in the park.Maps showing view points ,picnic spots as well as distances between rest camps are available at all entrance gates as well as at all the shops in the rest camps.  I would strongly suggest you purchase one of these when you arrive as they are full of interesting information especially if you going to self drive around the park.The park is very strict with their gate opening and closing times so my advise ti fellow travelers doing self drives is to spend some time planning your route the night before to ensure you don’t run out of time and end up reaching a rest camp or gate after closing time.To assist you with planning your trips I suggest a visit to the rest camp information centre’s as they update animal sightings every day and this could help you when planning your routes.Deciding which area to visit in the parkTo be continued

About The Kruger Park

In the heart of the Lowveld, stretching for 352 kilometres from north to south along the Mozambique border, one of the world’s foremost national parks can be found. This is the Kruger National Park, a wildlife sanctuary larger in area than Israel. Covering 19 624 square kilometres and averaging 60 kilometres in width, Kruger provides a refuge for 147 mammal species, 500 species of birds, 116 reptiles, 34 amphibians, 49 fishes, 457 types of trees and shrubs,  1 500 smaller plants, and countless insects.

Each year approximately 950 000 people visit the Kruger Park, and half of them stay overnight in the 26 rest camps that range from the intimate 19-bed Malelane, bordering the Crocodile River in the extreme south, to historic Punda Maria in the far north. South Africans account for 80 per cent of all visitors, and for many a visit to Kruger has become a kind of spiritual pilgrimage.

An entire subculture of  devotees has developed over the past 70 years around the unpredictability of wildlife viewing, the apparent endlessness of the wilderness and the Park’s unique atmosphere. And it is these ardent supporters who are the Park’s greatest defenders. Kruger epitomises for many the rejuvenating and healing qualities of Nature, allowing its visitors to escape the increasing pressures of modern urban life and the Information Age.

The Park’s rest camps are connected by a 2 600-kilometre network of all-weather roads, which allow visitors to explore its diverse habitats on their own and without the need to hire a guide. Income from tourism and trading activities generates more than R200-million per year, and the Kruger Park plays a major role in the Lowveld’s economy.

 

Purely in terms of facilities and the range of accommodation offered, no national park anywhere in the world can match what Kruger has to offer. Even the most popular national parks in the United States cannot equal the number of rest camps and the extent of the road network. This fact alludes to an apparent contradiction: South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve and one of its most unspoilt wildernesses is at the same time one of the most developed and accessible ecotourism

destinations in the country.

 

Discovering Kruger Park

This article is being posted to give readers an overview of the Kruger National Park in South Africa.