Written by Courtney Drysdale

The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa’s most incredible safari destinations, with some of the best animal sightings and most beautiful landscapes on the continent. Established in 1926, the park has inspired generations as a pillar of what sustainability and wildlife protection can look like, and is a truly incredible testament to Africa’s magnificent flora and fauna. It is the ultimate holiday spot and offers something special for every conscious traveller. In this blog, we will explore the top 5 reasons why we love the Kruger National Park.

1. Outstanding Wildlife

The Kruger National Park boasts outstanding biodiversity and world-class game viewing with around 147 mammal, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 114 reptile and 507 bird species. Visitors can expect to see the Big 5, the Little 5, the Birding Big 6, and a vast array of special animals such as wild dogs and cheetahs. The park is a year-round destination, with different seasons offering different exciting attractions. In summer the park is lush and green, with plenty of baby animals around. In winter, animals flock to water sources, making it a great time to see a myriad of game.

2. Groundbreaking Conservation

Stretching across an area that encompasses 19.633km2 of pristine wilderness and sharing its unfenced borders with its neighbouring private reserves, the Kruger is a haven for wildlife. Terrestrial biodiversity and wilderness conservation programs in the park look at everything from soil erosion, to rhino, ground hornbill, and lion conservation as well as elephant management. The Kruger also has various specialised research programs and anti-poaching units, along with teams of dedicated rangers who make it their mission to protect the park’s animal inhabitants (look out for the monument in southern Kruger dedicated to the park’s rangers).

3. Breathtaking Stays

Accommodation within the Kruger National Park has sustainability at its centre while simultaneously suiting every budget. From affordable SANParks rest camps, where bush babies and owlets sit in the trees above you, to outstanding luxury lodges in the park itself and the Greater Kruger, many of these stays are located near water sources, which ensures around-the-clock animal sightings.

4. Divine Landscapes

The Kruger National Park spans an incredible range of different terrains that are divided into 16 macro ecozones and have 336 tree species across the park. In the less crowded northern section above the Olifants River, there are spans of mopane woodland, while the south is covered with thornveld. The park is also made up of great savannah plains, rugged mountains, and lush rivers. All of these beautiful spaces are properly managed, through initiatives such as the removal of alien plant species, as well as the management of the soil, water and even natural fires. 

5. An Authentic African Experience For All

The Kruger National Park has a wide variety of safari experiences that suit any travel style, from self-drives to guided safaris, day visits to sleepovers. The park has a ton of exciting activities on offer, plus lovely picnic spots to enjoy. Not to mention, the park is well signposted and offers good accessibility for people with disabilities, such as wheelchair-accessibility throughout most of the park. The Kruger is also really easy to get to, with 3 airports that serve it, and car rentals are available at all of them.

All in all, there can be no doubt that the Kruger National Park is the perfect holiday destination for travellers looking for safari thrills. Head over to Viatu to learn more about how you can book a sustainable Kruger National Park holiday to experience this unforgettable destination for yourself.