Kruger National Park Tourism And Travel Guide

The enormity of Kruger National Park resembles that of an entire country. The park is studded with rest camps and exclusive game lodges. Tourists are treated to the breathtaking sight of a number of wild animals in their natural habitat. With innumerable species of wildlife and splendid vegetation such as fever trees, marula, baobabs, mopane trees, and knob thorns, Kruger National Park attracts tourism from all over the globe. In addition, the park also boasts of colorful bird life such as lappet-faced vulture, ground hornbill, pel's fishing owl, and kori bustard. Let us delve deeper into this travel guide to understand why Kruger National Park is such a tourism hotspot.

By Air:

The Skukuza Airport that lies within the vicinity of Kruger National Park, offers perfect connectivity to its game reserves. Other airports that ply international and domestic flights close to the park include Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Nelspruit Airport, and O.R. Tambo International Airport. Tourists can hire a taxi or cab from these airports to get to the game reserve of their choice.

By Rail:

The nearest railway station to Kruger National Park is Hoedspruit Railway Station, which is situated around 70 km from the park's area. This railway station has trains plying in and out of the area on a regular basis, offering good connectivity to the game safaris of Kruger. Tourists can also take up a scenic long drive from Pretoria to the park, basking in the glory of splendid landscapes along the way.

By Road:

The roadways that lead to Kruger National Park offer visitors with a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. Many of the entrance points to the park fall in Johannesburg, including Paul Kruger, Numbi, Malelane, Phalaborwa, Punda Maria, and Crocodile Bridge. Most of the game organizers in the park provide tourists with pick-up and drop vehicles right from the time they land at a neighboring airport.

Kruger National Park mostly experiences pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28°C. Tourists prefer visiting the park during the winter season as the weather remains dry and welcoming. Some visitors also visit during summer to relish the lush vegetation of the region.

Spring (August to Mid-October):

With a drop in precipitation, the spring season provides perfect weather for tourists to explore Kruger National Park's game reserves. The climate alternates between 15°C and 30°C, causing the dense wilderness to turn sparse. This is beneficial as visitors can spot fascinating wildlife when they come to the water bodies in search of water.

Summer (Mid-October to Mid-February):

During the summer season, Kruger National Park receives heavy precipitation of rainfall. This means that the park area is adorned by lush greenery and attracts photographers from all over the world. The fascinating birds that migrate to this region during summer bring along with them several intrigued bird watchers.

Autumn (Mid-February to April):

Autumn season at Kruger National Park brings with it a comforting climate, with temperatures normally ranging between 13°C and 28°C. With the dip in rainfall, this season witnesses a drop in the density of the lush grasslands that prevailed during summer. However, the clearer view provided by shorter bushes means that tourists enjoy better chances of spotting the Big Five animals of Africa.

Winter (May to September):

Winter is the best time of the year to explore the bushveld of Kruger National Park. Enthralling wildlife gathers around the rivers, dams, and waterholes, offering visitors with an up close and personal view of their features. The temperatures regularly hover between 12°C and 25°C, providing tourists with comfortable game rides through the park's vicinity.

Exhilarating Game Safaris:

Kruger National Park is spread across more than 350 km of jungle territory, forming one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the whole of Africa. Tourists have the luxury to choose how to explore the park's wildlife reserve, with both elephant-back safaris and game safaris available. If visitors want to see these wild animals from closer range, they are also free to indulge in walking safaris through the fascinating jungles of Kruger National Park.

Get up close and personal with wildlife at the River:

Kruger National Park has several water bodies spread across its expanse. Several animals throng the banks of these water bodies regularly in search of water. Tourists are presented with an intimate view of these exciting creatures at such times. Visitors can additionally partake in fishing too, the Sand River being one of the popular fishing sites in the park.

Enjoy a thrilling aerial view of the wildlife reserve:

Tourists have the rare opportunity to capture a bird's-eye view of Kruger National Park from atop a helicopter or a hot air balloon. The helicopter ride over Blyde River Canyon is one such famous tourist activity. Another hotspot is the Hazyview adventure park, which offers hot air balloon rides that glide past the Sabie River Valley.

A number of lodges at Kruger National Park provide luxurious banquets that serve food indoors as well as outdoors. Lodges such as Singita Sweni and Rhino Post Safari Lodge store some of the finest South African wine in their cellars. The specials board of the food menu at Kruger National Park includes dishes such as morogo, mieliepap, potjiekos, and braaivleis. Most of the camp quarters at the park also provide sumptuous snacks such as chips and beef jerky along with raw meat. If visitors wish to cook for themselves, then they are free to make use of the grills located at the camp areas.