Why is Kruger Park so famous
South Africa is globally known for its wildlife. Every year, millions of tourists flock towards the Southern Tip of the African continent. The popularity of South African Game Reserves outsmarts even the biggest and most unique National Parks abroad. But why do people monthly search over 300,000 times the phrase Kruger Park? Why is one of the most online viewed videos the ‘Battle at Kruger’? Is it because of the different species, the accommodation or is its climate the honey that draws the bees?
History
One of the aspects where Kruger National Parks differentiates itself from others must be its history. The land that formerly accommodated nomads that hunted the ground, gave way to the Europeans in the beginning of the eighteenth century.
In that dark period of history, Europeans hunted down thousands of elephants, which resulted almost in the extintion of the wild elephant in South Africa. President Paul Kruger introduced a motion to government to create a safe have for elephants as well as other exotic species. In 1898 the Government Wildlife Park was established. It extended in the following years to receive the name of Kruger National Park in 1927. That’s the year the first public visitors arrived.
Today the park covers over 18,989 square kilometer and crosses 350 km from north to south, 60 km east to west. The park is located in the North Eastern part of South Africa, in the provinces Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Sabie River is the most famous one running through the park.
The board at Kruger has plans to extend the current park into its neighbouring countries, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Animals, flora and fauna
If it’s not for the history of the park, it might have something to do with the diversity in plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and people you find on your Kruger National Park safaris.
Kruger has six different eco-systems that houses almost 2,000 species of plants. Even more, 517 different species of birds can be found at the park of which 253 are natural residents.
However big troups of busses come to see the mammals and reptiles in Kruger Park. Not only does it houses the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, hippo and elephant), it has 147 species running in and out of bushes. The main attractions for tourists are buffalos, hunting dogs, black rhinos, white rhinos,zebras, bushbucks, cheetahs, elands, giraffes, kudus, hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, waterbucks, wildebeeste, impalas and 3,000+ crocodiles.
Accommodation
Hmm. Still not convinced why Kruger is the greatest? Let’s have brief look at the accommodation. Kruger has 21 rest camps, 18 lodge facilities and hundreds of accommodation possibilities in the surrounding area. As a result it has an enormous impact on the local economy, making it the primarial export product.
Wilderness trails offer short and multi-day hikes that take tourists in virtually untouched places.
Part of the Big Picture
If none of the above or even the UNESCO’s world heritage seal can be the reason, I finally figured it out. Kruger National Park is so popular because South Africa is the perfect travelling spot. Many South Africa tours start in either Pretoria or Cape Town and work their way towards eachother. Travelling from Pretoria you meet the true African country showing unique history, wildlife, culture, nature and people to tourists.
Along the Mozambique border, travellers go along the wildlife beauty, places like God’s window, to arrive at St Lucia, a world heritage site as well. Along the coast you travel through places as KwaZulu Natal, Drakensberg area, Durban, Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route into the Western Cape Town area. Fanatics can go up the Western Coast towards Namibia.
Do you get the Big Picture? Instead of flying to some exotic location, visiting a Game Park and fly back, Kruger is part of a dream holiday package that offers something for every type of traveller.
Jacob has an open mind. That mainly happens when writing. Covering various topics, Jacob brings brief on-topic subjects that answer specific questions he often runs into.
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