Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park ( often english Kruger National Park ) is the largest game reserve in South Africa. It lies in the northeast of the country in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces in the. It extends from the Crocodile River in the south to the Limpopo, which marks the border with Mozambique, in the north. The north - south distance is about 350 km east-west direction, the park is an average of 54 km wide and covers an area of ​​about 20,000 square kilometers. This makes it one of the largest national parks in Africa.

The reserve was established on 26 March 1898 the President Paul Kruger as the Sabie Game Reserve to protect the wilderness. 1926 was the area the status of National Park and was renamed to its present name. The park is home to 147 species of mammals including the " Big Five", also about 507 species of birds and 114 species of reptiles, 49 species of fish and 34 species of amphibians.

• 7.1 inputs
• 7.2 Camps
• 7.3 Main Camps
• 7.4 Bushveld Camps 7.4.1 Private Lodges
• 7.4.2 resting places ( with service)
• 7.4.3 private concessions

Rough outline

The Kruger Park is 19,486 km ², although one of the largest protected areas in Africa, but in the dry season, the game moves has always been largely in the areas adjacent to the west of the park. 1961, the west side has been completely fenced off and in 1975 the same on the east side was enforced, which prevented the migration of large animals in and out of the park. Today in the west are a number of private protected areas whose fences were removed to the Kruger Park back many times and the animals, at least within these protected areas, allow unimpeded movement across borders. In the northeast, the Kruger National Park, the fences were recently away on the border with Mozambique to allow wildlife movement into the adjacent Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. The goal is a large transnational park named Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. In order to simplify the exchange tourists to Mozambique, new border crossings were built between the parts of the park, such as Giriyondo. But in many places of the park borders still close to cultivated land.

Many big game resettlements in the adjacent Limpopo National Park - among others, elephants, giraffes, zebras and Cape Buffalo - took place, and not all were successful. Parts of the resettled elephant herds are moved back again to South Africa. It could take years to increase the wildlife population on the Mozambique side.

History

By about 400 AD the San lived as hunter -gatherers in what is now the park, where they left behind rock art in some places. As of this time hiked a black pastoralists from the north and began to displace the indigenous San. In the early 19th century, when the cape came under British administration, flocked many Boers, who had previously lived further south, to the north to escape the tax burden. Next to the Orange Free State, they founded the Transvaal province that included what is now the Kruger National Park. The whites settled here mainly to higher ground to escape the malaria and other epidemics. However, they made also in low-lying areas, as in those of the later Kruger National Park, the wildlife violently drastically and decimated the stocks.

As wild stocks have been less, decided the Volksraad, in some areas prohibit the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa from the state-owned hunting. At that time, a reserve was not created to preserve pristine wilderness, but to protect jagbares game. To 1889, the herds of game were still almost disappeared. 1894 therefore dismissed the Volksraad of a protected area ( Pongola Reserve ) on the southern border with Swaziland. But from some private people, hunting associations and public institutions demanded still a real sanctuary in the eastern Transvaal.

This meant that finally, in 1898, with the approval of Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic, an area of ​​approximately 2,500 square kilometers between Sabie and Crocodile River, which was Sabie Game Reserve found under protection. Regulated hunting, however, was allowed in this protected area.

James Stevenson - Hamilton was appointed after the Second Boer War in 1902 to the gamekeeper. Under his leadership, the park still rampant poaching was fought, and thus laid the foundations for today's animal wealth. He sat tirelessly for the idea of ​​national parks, where visitors could watch the wildlife. 1903, the Shingwedzi Game Reserve was established north of the reserve with about 5,000 square kilometers. In 1926 the Sabie and Shingwedzi have been summarized Reserve and some adjacent areas, and explains to the Kruger National Park. Since 1927, the park is open to visitors and 26,000 visitors and 6,000 cars were already counted in 1935.

Since the beginning of 2000 the park will be expanded by the merger with protected areas in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Go to Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park next to the Kruger National Park include the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

Landscapes

The Kruger National Park is located east of the so-called Great Escarpment. About 90 km to the west of the park falls steeply from the plateau about 1800 m to 1200 m from. Then the landscape falls to the border of the park continues slowly to 800 m. Within the park varies the height between 823 m ( Khandizwe ) in the hilly south-west and 183 m in the eastern areas. In the southern part of the park the hilly Lebombo Mountains form the eastern boundary of the park. The highest point of this chain is at 496 m. In the north of the camp Punda Maria the eastern foothills of the Soutpansberg chain extend into the National Park. With the exception of the corners of the Southwest and the Northwest, as well as the Lebombogebirges the park is relatively flat and consists of undulating country from which in many places some rocky islands, called Koppies raise. These rocks are ideal habitats for Klipspringer, baboons and leopards. Only in the hills and rocky areas of the Southwest to Berg en Dal, one meets the mountain reedbuck, which occurs nowhere else in the park.

The park has numerous rivers, of which the non-permanent lead most of the water, but be in the winter dry season into rivulets or dry out completely. However, in the rainy season, they form a powerful and wide streams that are flooding some of their banks. The largest rivers that flow through the park ( in an easterly and southeasterly direction ), the Luvuvhu are ( flows at Crook 's Corner in the Limpopo ), the Shingwedzi, the Letaba ( flows into the Olifants ), the Olifants, the Timbavati ( flows into the Olifants ), sand ( flows into the Sabie ) and the Sabie. In addition, the border river of the park in the south and the Limpopo the Crocodile forms the boundary of the park to Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the north. An ecological problem is the enormous amount of pollutants, especially in the dry season leading the few year-round water-bearing rivers, such as the Olifants, with itself. Strengthened this is still by the abstraction of water for industry and agriculture. More recently, some artificial water points have been established. They offer the wild animals in the dry season, a water access. These artificial water bodies carried but partly to environmental problems such as overgrazing of the surrounding areas.

The northern part includes all areas north of the Olifants River and accounts for half of the whole park from. The vegetation consists mainly of Mopanewäldern here ( Cholophospermum mopane ), which are interspersed especially on the hilltops of bush willow ( Combretum apiculatum ). We also find in the north of the mighty baobab trees. In general, the wild animal density is lower here than in the more southern parts of the park, but numerous elephants, buffalo, eland, roan antelope and Lyre live in this sub-region. Only the area in the far north, where the park is adjacent to the Limpopo, differs significantly from the other northern, overall rather monotonous landscapes. The vegetation here is extremely varied, the characteristic tree species of this area belongs as the fever tree.

The central part of the park, between the rivers Olifants and Sabie, includes open grass and tree savannah and is home to most of zebra, wildebeest and giraffes. Among the most characteristic tree species throughout the southern areas include Süßdornakazien (Acacia nigrescens ), Marulabäume ( Sclerocarya birrea ) and bush willow. The vegetation of the southern parts is extremely diverse, but consists also mainly of thorn acacia reinforced and grassland.

As the National Park area was still part of the previous Sabie Sand Reserve, grazed sheep there in winter, so the grass was burned each year. Was established as a National Park in 1926, they gave up with it and until 1954 fires were even actively combated. This meant that the landscape around Pretoriuskop that once consisted mostly grassland, now mainly consists with the exception of the so-called Vleis scrub and woodland. Although natural fires are tolerated again for some time, the area remained relatively woody, probably because the trees have now reached a size where can wear them the fire only slightly.

Largely determined by the landscape - - ecosystems are identified in the Kruger Park 30 different can. These can be summarized in seven main groups;

• Mopaneveld: from Mopane bushland dominated areas. Occurrence: In the northern half of the park (north of the Timbavati / Olifants )

• Occurrence: In the far north of the park

• Occurrence: South of the Olifants - a narrow strip west along the Lebombo Mountains to the south.

• Occurrence: In the south-western parts of the pars between the southwestern foothills and the Sweetveld levels

• Occurrence: In the southwestern part of the park

• Occurrence: As a narrow strip from north to south on the eastern edge of the park.

• Habitat: Along the line passing through the park (larger) rivers.

Conspicuous trees and shrubs

• Egyptian pods thorn (Acacia nilotica )
• Delagoa acacia ( A. welwitschii )
• Fever tree (Acacia xanthophloea )
• Acacia tree (Acacia tortilis )
• Crocodile tree (Acacia nigrescens )

• Wide Scho term Albizzia ( Albizia forbesii )
• Much ethnic Albizzia ( Albizia petersiana )

• Kandelaeuphorbie (Euphorbia cooperi )
• Euphorbia ingens

• Combretum zeyheri
• Combretum hereroense
• Leadwood ( Combretum imberbe )

• Wild date palm
• Lalapalme ( Hyphaene natalensis )

• Sycamore (Ficus sycomorus )
• Moreton Bay rock fig ( Ficus abuilifolia )

• Apple leaf ( Lonchocarpus capassa )
• Marula ( Sclerocarya birrea )
• Gründorn ( Balanites maughamii )
• Sausage tree ( Kigelia africana)
• Baobab (Adansonia digitata )
• Jackal berry ( Diospyros mespiliformis )
• Nyalabaum ( Xanthocercis zambesiaca )
• Coral tree ( Erythrina lysistemon )

• Desert Rose ( Adenium multiflorum )
• African sickle bush ( Dichrostachys cinerea)
• Mopane ( mopane Colophospermum )
• Buffalo thorn ( Ziziphus mucronata )

Soils

There are two basic geological formations in the park, which are separated by a narrow band of sandstone. In the western half are found primarily rock types as gneisses, schists and granites. In the eastern half of these rocks are overlain by fertile basalt rocks of the Karoo System.

Climate

The summers are hot and rainy, winters warm and dry. During and immediately after the rainy season (November- April), when plenty of water is available everywhere, the game spread a large area in the park. In the dry season, the large animals, however, focus on the environments of rivers and water holes.

The first rains usually begin in September or October. Already several days before filling up the sky usually with clouds. The average rainfall per year vary between 740 mm and 440 mm in the southwest to the northeast. The largest amount of which falls between November and March. The lowest rainfall occurs from July to August.

The rainy season is very hot, often then the temperature rises to about 40 ° C to. In the dry season it can get very cold at night, however (sometimes to below 0 ° C), but most years are free of frost, and even in winter, temperatures often rise to 20-30 ° C.

Fauna

The most common large carnivores are spot hyenas around 2000, lions and leopards with about 1500 with around 1,000 copies (as of 2003). Rare are African wild dogs with about 350 animals and cheetahs with a population of only about 200 animals (2002 /2003).

By far the most common major wildlife of the park is the Impala, whose existence was given in 2003 with 150,000 animals. Since 1980, when their population was estimated at about 90,000, this species has thus nearly doubled in the park. The subsequent most numerous large species of wild animals are elephants with 11,700 animals, Southern blue wildebeest (C. t. Taurinus ) with 17,000 animals, African Buffalo with 25,000 animals and Burchell's zebra with 32,000 animals ( as of 2003). Also common are giraffes, whose stock has risen from 5,000 in 1980 to 9,000 in 2003. In Kruger Park survived the southern subspecies of giraffe, the so-called South African Giraffe (G. c. Giraffa ). Similarly, the population of the Southern white rhino ( C. s simum ), which was eradicated in 1896 in the Lowveld and 1961 was reintroduced in the region around Pretoriuskop region increases. Today (2003 ) the total inventory again 5000 pieces. Greater kudu (5000-8000), Ellipse waterbuck (5000), warthogs ( 3800 ) and hippos (about 2500) are other common large herbivores. The stocks of elephants, buffalo and hippos are by artificial interventions ( launch, relocation ) by the park administration regulated.

The Kruger National Park is an important reserve for the Nyala. The holdings of the sable antelope have declined from about 2000 animals in the 1980s to just over 400 in 2006. The reasons for this are unclear. Sable antelope inhabit mainly the western areas of the park. Among the rare large herbivores are beyond the Topi ( subspecies SASsaby ) with about 200-300 animals, eland with estimated around 400 animals and the Roan Antelope. Only about 60-70 animals of this species of antelope hold in the northern part of the park (as of 2006).

In contrast to the frequent re Breitmaulnashorn you can see the black rhino rarely in the park. It disappeared in the Lowveld around the year 1936. 1971 20 animals were introduced in the area around Pretoriuskop. Today, there are 200-470 specimens in the park. Most of the major reedbuck the Kruger National Park ( at least 400) live in the southeastern area around Melelane and Pretoriuskop. Mountain reedbuck and Rehantilope were reintroduced, but are still quite rare. They live only in the wetter south-west of the park. In the late 19th century also Oribis lived in the southwestern part of the protected area, but she died there in the early 20th century. Reintroduction attempts since 1969 were only slightly successful. The park may be a bit too dry for Oribis and possibly the climatic conditions were once more humid. The Lichtenstein antelope was once at least in the northernmost areas ( possibly in the south) of the park before and later died from here. Meanwhile, the species was reintroduced in the National Park. A total of 30 of these antelopes were from Malawi 1985/86 released south of Punda Maria and have bred successfully. The Lichtenstein antelope is already visible on Höhlenzeichnugen in Petoriuskop region.

Among the ungulates bush pig, bushbuck, Klipspringer, Sharpe Grysbok, steenbok, duiker and the tiny Zwergböckchen will also have to find (only in the far north ). Bear baboons ( a total of about 200 troops ) and vervet monkeys can be seen also common. Other primates, but which one rarely gets to see are the white-throated guenon, the Riesengalago and the Southern Galago. The smaller predator species are represented in the park by caracal, serval, wild cat, black-footed, small genet, large-spotted genet, civet cat, jackal, striped Jackal, Aardwolf, honey badger, band Polecat, Kapotter, Weißschwanzmanguste, Southern Dwarf Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Sumpfmanguste and Schlankmanguste.

More eye-catching small mammals are the Steppe pangolin, the aardvark, porcupine, Spring Hare, rabbit bush and Cape hare, and Bush Squirrel, hyrax and bush hyraxes.

The largest bird in the park is the bouquet. More strikingly large birds are Marabu, hornbill, secretary and Kori Bustard. On waters one finds large water birds such as saddle-billed stork, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Great Egret, White Stork, Black Stork, Yellow-billed Stork and pelicans in addition numerous other species, such as the Egyptian Goose. Among the largest birds of prey of the martial eagle, the Tawny Eagle, the Crowned Eagle and African Fish Eagle are mentioned. The vultures are represented by Lappet-faced Vulture, White -backed Vulture, Cape Vulture, vulture and woolen head cap vultures. Jugglers were once widely used in South Africa, can be found here today almost exclusively in the Kruger Park. There are also a wide variety of small and medium-sized bird species in the park as tokos and other birds.

Yellow -billed Oxpecker died about 1904 in the course of the outbreak of rinderpest and tick poisons used around the year 1896 in South Africa. The mid-1970s, the animals were spotted for the first time in the north of the park and within 15 years it had spread to the south. The decisive factor was the use of less harmful toxins against ticks and the recovery of Widltierbestände, especially those of the African Buffalo.

Among the reptiles especially the large Nile crocodiles and monitor lizards are (two species) is remarkable. In addition, there are at least 53 smaller lizard species that are in geckos ( 14 species ), skinks (13 species), lizards (19 species), Agama ( three types ) and chameleons can be subdivided ( sort of). Among the 54 species of snakes are also nine very toxic, such as cobras, puff adders and the Black Mamba. The largest snake in the area is the rock python. Three species of sea turtles and three species of tortoises, including the leopard tortoise, are also at home. Among fishes, especially the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus ) is worth mentioning.

From the realm of insects fall on especially the mighty castles of the termites. Pillendreher and the caterpillars of the Peacock Spinners Gonimbrasia belina are also typical. The Anopheles mosquito is feared as disease carriers.

The park is home to 147 mammal species, 492 bird species, 118 species of reptiles, 34 species of amphibians and 49 species of freshwater fish that are listed in the list of vertebrate species in the Kruger National Park. The flora includes 404 species of trees, bushes and shrubs, 224 species of grasses and other plant species in 1275.

Infrastructure

The park can be reached via several inputs:

• In the south of Malelane and Crocodile Bridge (directly at / to the same camp)
• In the southwest: Numbi and Paul Kruger Phabeni
• In the West: Orpen and Phalaborwa
• In the north: Pafuri and ' Punda Maria

In addition, there are inputs from the Mozambican side:

• Pafuri Border Post
• Giriyondo

The roads in the park are paved in part, otherwise it is gravel and sand roads.

Camps

Distributed in the park there are a number of camps and rest areas where you can relax and eat something or where you are staying the same. In total there are 21 so-called rest camps with accommodation facilities as well as 11 private lodges upscale in the park. The rest camps are divided into two groups, the larger and the smaller Bushveld Camps Main Camps. Furthermore, were awarded seven areas as a concession to private companies that operate there also lodges.

Main Camps

The 13 Main camps ( German: main camps ) of the Kruger National Park to take on the bulk of the guests. They offer more comfort than the smaller bushveld camps, often with restaurants, shops and gas stations.

• Berg-en- Dal: This modern camp was opened on 24 February 1984 in the vicinity of a prehistoric settlement on the banks of the river Matjulu Spruit. It is the only camp in the park in a mountainous region offers accommodation for about 500 visitors.
• Crocodile Bridge: This relatively small camp was opened in 1930 in the Southeast corner of the park on the banks of the Crocodile River. The camp serves as the park entrance.
• Letaba: This camp is one of the largest in the park, on the banks of the Letaba River
• Lower Sabie: The camp is located on a dam that impounds Sabie River, and can accommodate almost 300 guests.
• Mopani: It was opened in 1989 on the eastern bank of a reservoir and can accommodate about 500 guests
• Olifants: about two hundred yards above the Olifants River Located in the north of the park with panoramic views
• Orpen: This relatively small camp in the west of the park serves as the park entrance
• Pretoriuskop: Located on the wagon route from the Lydenburg gold field to the coast. Was named after the son of Andries Pretorius, Willem Pretorius. It is the westernmost and highest camp in the park.
• Punda Maria: It was built in 1919 as a station for the rangers in the northern corner of the park and converted in 1933 into a rest camp. From this camp, the nearby archaeological site Thulamela can be visited.
• Satara: Prior to the establishment of the park, the area was inhabited by Satara by settlers of the Transvaal Republic. One of the Indian surveyor marked today Satara with the Hindi word " Satra " which means 17. Mt a capacity of about 450 overnight guests, it is one of the largest camps in the park.
• Shingwedzi: This is the largest camp in the northernmost parts of the park.
• Skukuza: The main camp of the park on the south bank of the Sabie River offers more than 1,000 visitors a place to stay. The camp offers a 9- hole golf course and a bank. The camp was called when it opened in 1902 Sabie Bridge, but was renamed in 1936 after the name of Stevenson - Hamilton in the Shangaan language in Skukuza.

Bushveld Camps

The Bushveld camps are smaller than the large Main Camps and do not have gas stations, shops and restaurants. In contrast to the Main Camps are only available to overnight guests.

• Balule: On the south bank of the Olifants. Very small camp without electricity.
• Bateleur
• Biyamiti Bushveld Camp at Biyamiti
• Malelane: A small camp near the Berg-en- Dal larger camps, based on the remnants of an earlier, larger camps. It offers up to 19 guests accommodation.
• Maroela: A small camping site at the Timbavati River next to Orpen Camp
• Sirheni: A small camp in a gallery forest at Sirheni dam, which impounds Mphongolo River
• Shimuwini: Bushveld Camp
• Talamati
• Tamboti Tented Camp: A small tented camp in a forest on a loop of the Timbavati river
• Tsendze Rustic camp: a small camping site, which was opened about 7 km from the Mopani Camp next to the resting place Mooiplaas 2006

Private Lodges

• Boulders Bush Lodge
• Roodewal Bush Lodge
• The Outpost Lodge: Located in the Crook 's Corner.

Rest areas ( with service)

• Afsaal Tearoom ( on the track input Malelane Skukuza )
• Balabala (on the route Shingwedzi, Punda Maria)
• Tschokwane (on the route Skukuza, Satara )
• Nkhulu (on the route Skukuza, Lower Sabie )

Private concessions

• Imbali: A 100 km ² concession area with the two Lodges Imbali Safari Lodge on the banks of the River Nwatswitswonto Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge and which was built in the style of a traditional Tsonga village on the banks of the River Mluwati.
• Hamilton's Tented Camp
• Jock Safari Lodge: A 60- km ² concession area between Pretoriuskop and Lower Sabie. The lodge, with its 12 suites, was the first private lodge in the park.
• Lukimbi: A 150- km ² concession area in the southern part of the park. The lodge is situated on the banks of Lwakahle River near Malelane
• Mutale
• Mutlumuvi: The only concession to the authorization and guided walks in the acre concession area offering 120 km ( Rhino Walking Safaris ). In addition, the Rhino Post Safari Lodge offers 5- star luxury.
• Ngala Tented Safari Camp: A tent camp in a 147 km ² concession area
• Singita Lebombo Lodge: A 100 km ² concession area in the east of the park. The lodge is situated on the south bank of the River Nwanetsi east of Satara camp near the Lebombo mountains.
• Tinga: A 50- km ² concession area with the two lodges Narina Lodge and Legends Lodge.

Wilderness trails

Seven 3-day hiking trails offer the opportunity to explore on foot the more remote regions of the park and experience the wilderness immediately. For the routes no paths have been created, the hikers use Wildwechsel or go across country.

• Bushman: In the near Berg- en- Dal
• Metsi - Metsi: Near the Orpen Dam and the mountains N'wamuriwa
• Napi: between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop
• Nyalaland: North Punda Maria near the River Luvuvhu
• Olifants: Near the Olifants Rest Camp, along the Olifants River
• Sweni: Near N'wanetsi
• Wolhuter: Between Berg-en- Dal and Pretoriuskop

Swell