Kruger National Park People Live There Also

But for the park's employees, living in the Kruger National Park is a reality that ALSO READ: Drones not Permitted in any National Park.
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The only mode of transport when the Park was first proclaimed was the Selati railway line, ox wagons, buggy carts, pack donkeys and horses. There were no roads and no vehicles in the Park in those days. The construction of roads within the Park for tourists followed a few years later. Three pontoons were built on the main rivers and a new causeway was built over the Sand River and the Letaba River. The road network that had developed by was a massive achievement, considering the fact that the Kruger National Park was in dire financial straits, had a shortage of equipment and lacked manpower.

Stevenson-Hamilton was strongly opposed to tarring the roads, saying it would result in speeding incidents and the death of animals. Permission to tar the roads was only granted in and only for the main strip between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza. Today there are more than kilometres of tarred roads in the Park.

He was not a well-educated man, with only three formal months of education spent in a rural farm school, but he grew up in the wild frontiers of the old country and had an enduring love of nature and wildlife. Kruger was born in on a rural farm. When the Great Trek started in , his father uprooted the family and moved them to what was known as the Transvaal, where they settled in a town called Rustenburg. At the age of 16 years, he was entitled to choose his own farm and settled on a property at the base of the Magaliesberg Mountains.

He married in and shortly thereafter moved to the Eastern Transvaal. He lost his wife and young infant son to what was suspected to be malaria and re-married a woman who bore seven daughters and nine sons, although many of his children died in infancy. Kruger showed strong leadership qualities and eventually became Commandant-General of the then South African Republic, later known as the Transvaal. His leadership skills became more prominent when he was appointed member of a commission of the Volksraad, the Transvaal Republican Parliament who were tasked with drawing up a constitution.

He resigned as Commandant-General, in and retired to his farm, Boekenhoutfontein. His retirement was short-lived and he was elected to the Executive Council. Shortly after that he became Vice-President.

Living Amongst the Wild in the Kruger National Park

Kruger led a resistance movement and became leader of a deputation. The first Anglo Boer war was and the British forces were defeated in a battle at Majuba in At this time Paul Kruger was instrumental in negotiations with the British, which later led to the restoration of Transvaal as an independent state under British rule. In , the year old Paul Kruger was elected president of Transvaal. He left for England in to revise the Pretoria Convention of , an agreement which was reached between the Boers and the British that ended the first Anglo Boer War.

Paul Kruger acquired many allies in Europe during this time. In Germany, he attended an imperial banquet at which he was presented to the Emperor, Wilhelm I, and spoke at length with the renowned Bismarck. The political climate of the Transvaal changed with the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand basin.

It spurred a gold rush and immigrants from around the world descended on the gold fields in search of fortunes. The South African war broke out in and Kruger, now 74, remained in Pretoria due to ill health until When the war swung in favour of the British army, Kruger was forced to flee the capital just days before Lord Roberts occupied the city. He died of heart failure at the age of 79 years while still living in Switzerland. Kruger made allies of the European sovereignty and arch enemies of the British and was regarded as a fierce politician and military man.

However, his abiding legacy was the formation of the Kruger National Park. The Park had a precarious start with numerous factions threatening its survival. The train stopped in the reserve and travellers were allowed to explore the surrounding bush with a game ranger on hand. Awareness of the Park and growing interest in it empowered conservation lobbyists to secure the future of the Kruger National Park as a tourist destination that would generate revenue for it to be self-sustainable.

Kruger National Park finally received international acclaim when Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret visited the Park on their royal tour of South Africa and stayed in one of the first luxury lodges built in the reserve. By , over people visited the Park each year. In , the fences were removed between South Africa, Mozambique on its eastern border and Zimbabwe on its northern border. His journals are housed in the Memorial Library in Skukuza and make fascinating reading. James Stevenson-Hamilton was born in Scotland, the eldest of nine children. He came to South Africa in as a member of the 6 th Enniskillen Dragoons.

This is the first time he came across wild game in the bush and he immediately fell in love with the country. He did not want to return to England at the end of the war and secured the position of Warden of the Sabi Game Reserve. Stevenson-Hamilton took his job seriously and when he caught two policemen poaching game he had them arrested and convicted. This incident earned him quite a reputation.

Amongst other tasks, he stopped the movement of cattle through the Park and stopped all prospecting for coal and minerals. He left the management of the Park in the hands of a ranger who ultimately let the administration slide. On his return to the Park, Stevenson-Hamilton found his beloved Park was in a shambles. He fought tooth-and-nail to save the Kruger National Park, as the war had stimulated greedy development of the land for agricultural purposes. The Selati Railway Line was established and this ultimately saved the Park.

A 9-day tour of Mozambique and the Lowveld included a one-night stop at what is present-day Skukuza. Stevenson-Hamilton invited members of the Provincial Council to visit the reserve which helped these influential members of government to understand the value and importance of the proclaimed Park. The main rest camp at Sabie Bridge was called Skukuza in his honour. Stevenson-Hamilton remained with the Park until he retired in , on the eve of his 80 th birthday. He was instrumental in developing the first wilderness trails in in the Kruger National Park.

When it was established in , there were only about 50 southern white rhinos left in the world and all of them were on the reserve. There was also the threat of an anthrax breakout from stray infected cattle that wondered into the reserve. This would ensure the survival of the rhino by establishing a gene pool in other regions of the country.

The Park lies in the north-east of South Africa on the confluence of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The Luvuvhu and Limpopo Rivers converge at Crookes Corner in the Pafuri triangle at the most northerly point of the Park and if you stand in the river bed, you have Mozambique on your right, Zimbabwe straight ahead and South Africa on your left.

The Lebombo Mountains in the eastern region of the Park separates it from Mozambique. The Limpopo and the Crocodile Rivers act as its natural boundaries on the north and south of the park. The Kruger National Park varies in altitude between metres feet in the east and metres 2 feet in the south-west near Berg-en-Dal. The highest point is a hill called Khandzalive. Fences were removed based on a Memorandum of Understanding that did away with political boundaries that restricted the free movement of animals along old migratory routes.

In , the first 40 including 3 breeding herds of a planned 1 elephants were translocated from the over-populated Kruger National Park to the Limpopo National Park. The transboundary protected area TBPA is an area that spans the boundaries of more than one country, where the political border sections that are enclosed within its area are abolished. This includes the removal of all man-made physical boundaries, such as fences. Such areas are also known as transfrontier conservation areas or peace Parks. The aim of these transfrontier parks is to preserve traditional animal migration patterns, and ensure there are sufficient food and water sources as the population of animals increase.

Peace Parks also encourage tourism and economic development that is mutually beneficial for all parties. It is entirely reliant on the goodwill and integrity of the frontier countries. It is a summer rainfall area and the rainy season lasts from September until May. The driest period in the Park is September and October, and is regarded as the best game viewing time as the grass is thin and short which is excellent for seeing animals.

The winter months from May to end of August are popular because the mosquitos are less active in the cold months and there is less chance of contracting malaria if you are not taking prophylactics. The game stay close to the waterholes in the drier winter months and this attracts the predators which makes it an ideal time of the year for game viewing. There are currently 6 Biosphere Regions established within South Africa, of which the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere is the largest and the third largest in the world.

The Kruger to Canyon Biosphere comprises savannahs, grassland and forests that roughly cover over 4. The Kruger National Park is characterised by four bushveld regions that each have their own distinctive appeal:. This area lies between the western boundary and roughly the centre of the Park south of the Olifants River. Combretums, such as the red bush-willow Combretum apiculatum and Acacia species predominate while there are a great number of marula trees Sclerocarya caffra.

The Acacias are dominant along the rivers and streams. South of the Olifants River in the eastern half of the Park, this area provides the most important land for grazing. Species such as red grass Themeda triandra and buffalo grass Panicum maximum predominate while the knob-thorn Acacia nigrescens , leadwood Combretum imberbe and marula Sclerocarya caffra trees are the main tree species. This area lies in the western half of the Park, north of the Olifants River. The two most prominent species here are the red bushwillow Combretum apiculatum and the mopane tree Colophospermum mopane.

Shrub mopane covers almost the entire north-eastern part of the Park. There are a number of smaller areas in the Park which carry distinctive vegetation such as Pretoriuskop where the sickle bush and the silver cluster-leaf Terminalia sericea are prominent.

First European Colonists

The sandveld communities near Punda Maria are equally definitive, with a wide variety of unique species. There are between 25 and 30 breeding pairs of saddle-billed storks in the Park, besides a handful of non-breeding individuals. Pafuri and Punda Maria in the far north of the Park are regarded as one of the birding hotspots of the world. There are a number of species in the Kruger National Park that are not found anywhere else in the world. The rest camps in the Park are where birds often see some of the best birds, particularly those bushveld camps that are situated on one of the main rivers.

The comical hornbills and glossy starlings have made the rest camps their home, with easy pickings from picnic scraps and family barbeques. The many dams scattered around the Kruger National Park are excellent birding spots, with the African Fish Eagle being a prize sighting. Its signature call is an absolute delight.

Let us take a look at the few bird routes in the Kruger National Park that attract avid birders to the region. This is a popular birding route in the southern part of the Park which is a sub-tropical area with a lot of open bushland. Typical species of trees in the area include the acacia, leadwood, marula and tamboti trees.

Common species found in the area include the African scops-owl, bateleur, crested francolin, lilac-breasted roller, southern ground hornbill and white-crested helmet shrike. Some of the sought-after and rare birds found in this route include the martial eagle, narina trogon and southern bald ibis. This route falls within the northern region of the Kruger National Park and is part of the Greater Limpopo birding route which extends beyond the borders of the Park through Mapungubwe National Park, the Soutpansberg mountain range and Venda. Punda Maria is known for sightings of the crowned hornbill, eastern yellow-spotted nicator and mosque swallow.

African Culture

This route incorporates parts of northern Kruger National Park and big sections of the central region. The Big 5 was the collective term given by hunters to five of the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. With hunting now strictly prohibited in the Park, the Big 5 is a tourism term that attracts animal enthusiasts to the Park.

The Big 5 includes elephants, the Transvaal lion, the Cape buffalo, the rhino and leopard. All five species are endangered to some extent and under threat of extinction from rampant poaching that continues despite earnest anti-poaching programmes.

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The Kruger National Park can only sustain a population of 8 elephants but by last count in had close to 17 elephants. The Park suffered from extensive elephant poaching in the s which has since abated. It holds over 48 tons of ivory in storage and, according to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna CITES , has been allowed to sell 30 tons to raise much-needed revenue for anti-poaching measures.

Kruger is home to at least 12 rhinos. Rampant poaching is the scourge of game reserves in South Africa but the Kruger National Park is particularly vulnerable as its western boundary lies on the border of Mozambique, a country ravaged by civil war and one of the poorest in southern Africa. Asian criminal syndicates have captured the heads of poor villages, luring desperate men into their trap with promises of extreme wealth.

Anti-poaching units consist of SANParks game rangers who are assisted by the state police and defence force. The Asian crime syndicates have equipped the poachers with state-of-the-art equipment like night vision googles and large calibre rifles fitted with suppressors and sophisticated rifles. The rhino population of the Kruger National Park is most vulnerable during the Full Moon when the night sky is illuminated.

Most private game reserves in southern Africa have implemented de-horning programme to reduce the incidences of poaching but the Kruger National Park has not taken this route. Some Kruger rhinos have been fitted with invisible tracing devices in their bodies and horns which help the anti-poaching teams keep track of them via satellite systems.

The Transvaal lion is the southern-most African lion most commonly seen in the Kruger National Park, living in the savannah, grasslands and hilly regions of the Park. There are more than 2 lions of this protected subspecies in the Kruger National Park and one of the more famous Big 5 that visitors delight in sighting. They are majestic animals, with males weighing up to kilograms and females up to kilograms. The average lifespan of a lion in the bush is about 15 years. They tend to live in prides although males lions come and go, and pride leadership often shifts between several individual males.

The intimate social structure depends heavily on related lionesses that are the primary hunters and jointly rear young cubs. Intense battles over territory and individual dominance occur between the male lions but the pride is usually led by the dominant females.

Pre-History

Lions will follow the big game herds and hunt mostly at night, resting for long periods of time during the hot daylight hours. The best time to view lions is between dawn and dusk when they are most active but a sighting of a resting pride is just as exciting, particularly if it is a pride with young cubs. Lionesses usually give birth to litters of between two and four cubs.

They are kept well hidden in the bush for about six weeks and then brought out to mingle with the rest of the pride. Lionesses hunt exclusively for their cubs and will have taught their young offspring to hunt by the time they are two years old. At around this age, male cubs are kicked out of the pride and form groupings of nomadic bachelors. They will either find new territories or return to their pride and challenge the aging male in spectacular fashion.

Buffalo herds are very important for the ecological health of the bushveld. They are known as bulk grazers and are responsible for converting long grasslands into short grassy environments that are suitable for other browsers. Female cows are pregnant for days and usually give birth to a single calf in the months between January and April. Herds can consist of up to several hundred buffalo although a herd might break up into smaller groups during dry, arid seasons. Lions are the greatest threat for buffalo and a herd will aggressively defend one of its own if taken down by a lioness.

As an angry, defensive group, buffalos can hold off an attack by a whole pride of lions. A wounded buffalo is probably the single-most dangerous animal you will encounter in the bush, a trait that gave rise to the original term the Big 5 most dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. The Cape buffalo is a carrier of viruses that are fatal for domestic livestock. Breeding programmes in the Eastern Cape have been implemented to breed up a stock of virus-resistant bovines.

These buffalo sell on auctions for ridiculously high prices. Leopards live a solitary existence in the bush and will only spend a brief time together with a mating companion. A male leopard will aggressively defend his territory against other males but will share his space with females.

Leopards usually spend a restful day in dense riverine bush or in deep crags on rocky outcrops, coming out late afternoon or early evening to hunt.


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Unlike lion, they are silent creatures and you may only be aware of its presence when it gives a soft cough-like call. With an average body mass of between kilograms, this graceful cat has an elongated body, fairly short legs and a long tail. Leopards have often been spotted in the trees when only the white tip of their long tail has given them away. They also live up to 15 years, like their cousin the lion. Much like the domestic cat, a leopard will either ambush its prey or stalk it. It needs to get as close as possible to its prey before it makes a short and explosive charge.

It is heavier than a cheetah and lacks the speed to chase down a panicked meal on legs. A leopard can carry animals much heavier than its own weight and will usually drag its prey up a tall tree and lodge it in a fork in the branches several metres off the ground. Once ensconced up a tree with its prey, it will take its time to feed without having to worry about other scavengers. This majestic big cat will eat anything from wildebeest and antelope to fish and baboons.

If you hear blood-curdling screaming in the Park, it is usually a group of panicked baboons who have spotted a leopard lurking in the area. A leopard will approach a group of baboons cautiously because one leopard does not stand a chance against an attack by a number of angry male baboons and their lethal fangs. A leopard will lick the fur off its prey before it feeds, starting with the thighs and chest. They get most of the moisture they need from their prey and can survive long periods without drinking water from riverbeds and streams.

The heavily-poached rhino population receives the most attention as a highly-threatened species in the Kruger National Park, but there are many Red Data severely endangered species in the Park — including a number of bird species. The status of the African wild dog, affectionately known as the painted wild dog, is actually far more perilous. The Kruger National Park is home to the only viable pack of wild dogs in South Africa and without protection, their future looks bleak. There are about wild dogs left in the whole of South Africa. The wild dog has been brought to the brink of extinction due to persecution by humans they were viewed as pests , genetic inbreeding and diseases like rabies and distemper that they contract from domesticated dogs in the rural areas.

A continent-wide programme has been established by the The Wildlife Conservation Society and Zoological Society in London, and the group is rolling out plans to save this precious species. On the birding list, there are a number of species that are endangered and being monitored by conservation groups. These include the Baleleur and southern-ground hornbill, aswell as the lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, kori bustard and grey-headed parrot.

These bird species are relatively well-protected in the Park but they are under threat from poaching and poisoning in areas outside of the Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park offers nine different wilderness trails; some of them are in the deep bush and virtually untouched by humans. Game rangers take groups on trails made by the animals, and armed with a rifle in case they run into something wild and hungry.

Groups stay in rustic, fairly primitive accommodation and the aim is for guest to experience an authentic wilderness experience with game viewing being a secondary attraction. Trails offer the more adventurous tourists complete isolation, tranquillity and peace. A walking trail generally lasts between three and four days, and you are accompanied by a highly-experienced armed ranger.

Guides who take walking safaris in the Kruger National Park have to complete a series of rigorous assessments and must renew their advanced rifle-handling certificate every two years. There are walking trails designed for an extreme wilderness experience and others that cater for those who want a less rustic experience. The Mphongolo Trail in an area that is completely remote, no tourist roads currently run through this area of the park, and tourists are equipped with the bare essentials.

Everything you need is carried on your back. The Lonely Bull Trail takes you along the Letaba River or you can opt for the Olifants Backpack Trail ; both are for the more adventurous and fit tourist, with the Olifants trail being probably the toughest. There are seven trails that are run by the Kruger National Park that provided catered meals, and sleeping quarters that are simple but comfortable. Wilderness Safaris run the Pafuri Walking Trail, which is located in the far north of Kruger in the private Makuleke concession.

For a five-star option, Tanda Tula has a field camp that is immersed in the bush but offers tourists delicious meals, all your home comforts and comfortable accommodation in luxury tents. Typically you have the choice of the following:. Visitors share communal kitchen and ablution facilities. Have a choice between basic bungalows or more luxurious types that are situated on the river banks.

Kruger National Park - Wikipedia

The main rest camps are all self-catering but each one has a good restaurant on site if you feel like a few days break away from the stove. The rest camps have purposely been kept humble and there is nothing flash about them. Staying at one of the main camps is reminiscent of the early days, where accommodation is relatively basic in rondavels round houses that were part of the early character of the Park. The Matjulu Spruit runs through the rest camp so the gardens are usually kept green and lush, and there is a path that follows the perimeter of the fence which is popular for evening strolls or a quick jog.

Berg en Dal is a great spot if you own a caravan or prefer to camp, and has all the usual facilities. It has two guesthouses, a selection of bungalows and a six-bed family cottage. Caravan and camping sites have their own braai facility and a power outlet. This is the ideal rest camp if you want to get away from the crowds and prefer a smaller, more intimate camp. There is no restaurant at this camp but there is a small shop that stocks the basics and takeaways.

The camp has a choice of accommodation including camping facilities, and there is a picnic spot for day visitors. Morning and night game drives can be booked, aswell as bush walks with an armed ranger. The spectacular views over the Letaba River make this one of the most beautiful rest camps in the Kruger National Park. Letaba Rest Camp has a variety of accommodation from the typical rondavals to bungalows, guest houses and cottages.

It also has a charming site for caravans and camping. Lower Sabie is ideally situated in the central region of the Park and is popular because of the large variety of animals in the area. The Sabie River flows past the camp and you can see just as much game from the camp as you can see on a game drive. The chalets and safari tents positioned on the river bank offer visitors fantastic views and excellent game viewing.


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Lower Sabie Rest Camp boasts one of the best restaurants in the Park with a spectacular view. Visitors have the choice of secluded safari tents that are positioned away from the camping site. Mopani Rest Camp is situated on the banks of one of the original dams, which means visitors sometimes prefer to remain in the camp for excellent game viewing.

The Pioneer Dam is fed by the Tsende River, and the surrounding bush is lush and green for most of the year. The camp is named after the Mopani tree that is a dominant species in the area. Mopani Rest Camp lies very close to the Tropic of Capricorn, and in fact there is a drive called the Tropic of Capricorn loop which allows you to drive along the parallel of latitude. Mopani Rest Camp offers a variety of accommodation from budget-friendly cottages to more luxurious guesthouses.

Dine in a beautiful setting at Tindlovu restaurant, or enjoy a sundowner at Pioneer Dam. This is a four-day trail that crosses the divide between the Mingerhout Dam and the low-water Letaba Bridge. This is one of the more prestigious camps in the Park with a rich history. A fully-equipped shop and a good restaurant sits perched higher above the gorge with sweeping panoramic views. Chalets on the river frontage are booked way in advance because they are so popular.

A real treat is an authentic African bush braai. There are also two huts available that are wheel-chair friendly. This is a smaller camp situated close to the Orpen gate. All the bungalows face onto a watering hole that is illuminated at night. Honey badgers, hyena and leopard are often spotted on night drives, aswell as the white-tailed mongoose. There is a small shop that sells the basic necessities and there is a nice pool for hot summer days.

There is no restaurant at the camp so accommodation is completely self-catering. Your accommodation at Orpen Rest Camp is a choice of two- or three-bed thatched cottage, but there are also guest cottages offering room for six people. The Orpen game was named in honour of the Orpen family who donated land and boreholes at a time when the Park had only recently opened up to visitors. A white hut in the camp acts as a museum to JH Orpen and his wife, Eileen. It stands in the exact spot where the original gate in the Kruger National Park used to be.

This rest camp has huge sentimental value for those that know the history of the Park and is the oldest rest camp. It was named after Willem Pretorius, a pioneering developer in its early days. The rest camp has a spectacular pool, built around a massive granite rock. There is a restaurant on site but it offers simple food without all the bells and whistles of other camp restaurants.

It is one of the more convenient rest camps for local South Africans as it is less than 10 kilometres from Numbi Gate closest gate to White River. It offers visitors a wilder, more remote experience. The area is most popular for birding, with game viewing being a bit leaner than the southern regions. For many, a few nights spent in the Kruger National Park are bliss, and returning to the city is always difficult. For Nick Zambatis, a retired former employee, the Skukuza staff village, has been home for nearly 30 years.

His wife Guin, curator at the Skukuza Biological Reference, will retire in three years.


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For him, the life of a park employee is an amazing lifestyle, one which he would not swap for anywhere else. For city dwellers, it is easy to pick up bread and milk on the way home. But for those living in the park, a monthly trip to a big town is the order of the day. For the Zambatis family, online shopping have become helpful for small amounts of groceries, but still require a monthly trip to either Nelspruit or Hazyview. Medical emergencies and specialised medical attention is only available in Nelspruit.

One always needs to be alert as any wildlife can enter the unfenced village.

To prevent incidents, properties are fenced. Gates must be closed at all times.