Fun facts about the Kruger National Park – It is the oldest conservation park in Africa and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa. But, as you may expect, there’s more.
The “People’s Park”, as it’s affectionately known, is popular for good reason; the amazing wildlife sanctuary offers unforgettable safari experiences. From thrilling safari activities to luxury accommodation and conveniences, the Kruger Park provides it all. It’s a historic place where nature-loving friends, families and groups can bond, learn, have fun and make lifelong memories.
Fun Facts About the Kruger National Park in South Africa
It is bigger than you think. The game reserve is quite massive. It covers an expansive area of 19 633 square kilometres (7,580 square miles). This makes it a little smaller than the country of Belgium and approximately the size of Israel. The park is larger than three US states – Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Kruger National Park lies between two South African provinces. To the west is the province of Limpopo. To the south, you find Mpumalanga. The park connects to Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and to the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, now forming part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
There are several thriving ecosystems at Kruger Park. Six diverse ecosystems extend across the conservation park. The grasses, plants and trees within each ecosystem develop based on the type of topsoil formation on the underlying rocks. The age and type of these rocks determine the type of topsoil growth.
A watchful Kruger Park leopard scouting for prey.
About the Wildlife at the Park
The Kruger Park houses a large variety of animal species. Many different reptiles and amphibians reside in the park, and many types of fish can be found in its rivers. More fun facts about the Kruger National Park… There are over 500 species of bird in the wildlife reserve and more than 140 species of mammal.
It’s home to not only the Big 5 but also the Little 5. A lot folks know about the Big Five game animals at Kruger Park (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo). However, not many people are aware of the ‘Little Five’. They are the ant lion, the leopard tortoise, the rhino beetle, the elephant shrew and the buffalo weaver.
The Kruger even has a Big 6! Visitors to the reserve can observe an abundance of animals of all shapes, colours and sizes. That includes the Big Six, a bird group that consists of the lappet-faced vulture, the ground hornbill, the kori bustard, the martial eagle, Pel’s fishing owl and the saddle-billed stork.
The Martial Eagle, in all its glory.
Other Interesting Kruger Park Facts
Bushmen once roamed the land, which has more than 300 archaeological sites. Evidence of Bushman tribes has been found on site that dates back to around 1 500 years ago, with San art sprinkled throughout the reserve. These fun facts about the Kruger National Park draw a lot of interest from visitors.
More than a million tourists visit the Kruger National Park every year. That works out to 83 000+ visitors each month and about 2 800 each day. There are numerous safari lodges and camps on the reserve that provide excellent accommodation for tourists going on safaris in the Kruger National Park.
Kruger Park is over 120 years old. Paul Kruger (who was President of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900) opened the park, which is named after him, in 1898 to minimise hunting and preserve wildlife. It only opened to the public with its current name in 1927, however. The entrance fee was £1.00.
Ancient rock art by the hunter-gatherer San bushmen.
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These are just a few fun facts about the Kruger National Park, there are many more. The best way to discover them is in person, though. Contact us here for help planning an awesome Kruger safari.
