The park is also part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area specifically designated by UNESCO as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve.

Where it is located

Kruger Park has Limpopo in its west and Mpumalanga to the south, the two South African provinces. Zimbabwe is in the north while to its east lies Mozambique. The park is also part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National with the Gonarezhou National Park on Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

From the pages of past

Thousands of years ago nomadic hunter-gatherers occupied the region. Europeans entered the region in early eighteenth century. Jakob Louis van Wyk is credited with introducing in Volksraad of the South Africa Republic, the motion to set up a game reserve, later R. K .Loveday got into motion, in September of 1895 by majority of just 1 vote, Paul Kruger president of the Transvaal Republic, accepted to build a “Government Wildlife Park”. The park was later called Sabi Game Reserve and in 1926 it got transformed into Kruger National Park.

Park was created with the intension of controlling the hunting activities and preserve the diminishing animals.

James Stevenson Hamilton was the first warden of reserve in the year 1902 and then reserve was just southern one-third of the modern park. In 1903, Shingwedzi Reserve was proclaimed which is now part of the Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park opened for public visitors in 1927.

Flora and fauna

There are 6 eco-systems in the Kruger National Park namely: Baobab sandveld, Mopane scrub, Lebombo Knobthorn-marula bushveld, mixed acacia thicket, Combretum-silver clusterleaf woodland on granite and riverine forest. Almost 1,982 species of plants can be found here.

At Kruger about 517 species of birds are seen, 253 resident, 117 non-breeding migrant and 147 nomad.

The Kruger National Park is privileged to have all the big five game animals and with 147 species of mammals it stands out among all the game reserves in Africa. Webcams have been placed at various places to observe wildlife of the park.

According to 2009 census the park has African Buffalo -27000, African Hunting Dogs-350, Black Rhinoceros-350, Burchell’s Zebras-17197, Bushbucks- 500, Cheetahs- 200.

Common Eland- 300, Giraffes- 5114, Greater Kudus- 5798, Hippopotamus- 3000, Lions- 1500, Leopards- 1500, Spotted Hyenas- 2000, Elephants- 11672, Waterbuck- 5000, Blue Wildebeest- 9612 and  Impalas-90000.

Kruger National Park is instrumental in preserving endangered African Wild Dog, which is said to just around 400 in number in whole of South Africa.

Kruger is home 114 species of reptiles and there are about 3000 crocodiles.

Where you can stay

There are various rest camps to choose from:

• Bateleur Bushveld Camp
• Berg-en-Dal Camp
• Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
• Boulders Bush Lodge
• Bulula Private Camp
• Crocodile Bridge Camp

• Letaba Camp
• Lower Sabie Camp
• Malelane Provate Camp
• Maroela Private Camp
• Mopani Camp
• Olifants camp
• Orpen Camp
• Pretoriuskop Camp
• Punda Maria Camp
• Roodewal Bush Lodge
• Satara Camp
• Shimuwini Bushveld Camp
• Shingwedzi Camp
• Sirheni Bushveld Camp
• Talamati Bushveld Camp
• Tamboti Tent Camp
• Tsendze Rustic Camp

When you should visit Kruger National Park

The climate in the region is subtropical, summers are really hot and temperature often rises above 38 degree. The dry winter season is the best time to visit the park, the days are mild and you won’t contradict infamous malaria of Africa. Animal watching would be easier as the vegetation would be sparse and animals come down to waterholes to drink water every morning and evening.

How you can reach the park

Johannesburg International Airport is the closest international airport and Skukuza

Airport is the nearest domestic airport. Coach services can be availed from Mpumalanga and you also travel by car using Mpumalanga Highway to reach the park.

Where it is located

It is located at 14 miles south of Malindi, the park starts from the mouth of the Mida Creek in the southern end and stretches to Turtle Bay’s north.

Features of the Watamu National Park

1. The park has astonishing amount of coral reefs forming great biological and physical atmosphere in the region. There are around 150 species of soft and hard corals, brain corals, fan corals and sponge you name it and you would find that category of coral. These corals provide the necessary amount of nutrients to the large number of fish present there. The park has more than 500 species of reef fish and the Reserve has more than 1000 species. You can easily think of the diversity that you would enjoy in this park and the biodiversity that you would find in this small park is not found in any other small park of the world.

1. Huge diversity of species of Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Sonneratia aba and Avicennia marina are found here with the mangrove forests.
2. Watamu is an extremely important turtle breeding area as well; there is an active turtle watch group to take special care of the turtles. Hawksbill and Green turtles are major specie found here but other species such as Loggerheads, Olive Ridleys, and Leatherback Turtles are also seen at times.

1. Watamu National Park has an unique fish named cleaner wrasse who survives by picking other fishes scales.
2. On this planet whale sharks are known to be the largest living fish specie and sharks that generally live in the warm water are found in large numbers in the Watamu.

1. One of the world’s best diving area with whale sharks, manta rays, octopus and barracuda around, you just need to do it once and then you would realize how amazing the experience is.

Activities you can enjoy here

You must enjoy diving, Wind Surfing, water skiing, snorkeling and sunbathing here. Apart from the mesmerizing shark watching and other marine life, you are provided with some adventure sports as well. Best place to unwind you, beaches, sports and extremely beautiful biodiversity to watch, all together it makes a perfect destination.

When you should visit this place

You can explore the marine beauty all year round but it is advisable to go in the dry months around September and March.

How you reach this place

You can land at Mombasa or Malini Airports, these are nearest airports. You can reach the park by hiring a car and use tarmac road from Mombasa or Malindi.

Where it is located:

The Kilimanjaro National Park is situated extremely close to the border amid Tanzania and Kenya. The National Park is spread all over the mountain.

From the pages of the past:

In the early 20th century Mount Kilimanjaro was announced as a Game reserve by German colonial government and then in the year 1921 the area was declared to be a forest reserve. In 1973 the government decided to make mountain above the surrounding plain as a National Park and finally in the year 1977 the gates were opened for common people.

Features of Kilimanjaro National Park:

• Kilimanjaro is a massive strato-volacno and is counted among the largest volcanoes in the earth.
• 5 main vegetation zones are there: the montane forest, sub-alpine moorland, alpine bogs, sub-montane agro-forest and savanna bushland.
• 2500 plant species, 130 tree species, 170 species of shrubs, 100 lianas, 140 epiphytes and 140 pteridophytes.
• There are 140 mammals (with 87 species of forest) 5 antelopes, 25 carnivores and bats of 24 species.
• There are 179 in total the number of bird species found in the highland.
• P.atavau subspecies of butterfly is found only in the Kilimanjaro.

Activities that you must do:

Apart from animal and bird watching and gazing at stars at night, you must get involved in hiking and trekking. You can’t climb the mountain on your own, there must be a guide to accompany you and since Tanzania is a developing nation it is advised that you carry hiking and camping materials with yourself.

When to visit the park:

The best time to visit is between September to December and the other ideal time when you can truly enjoy is between May to July.

How to reach the National Park:

It is about 128km away from Arusha, you can hire a car from here to reach the park and it is just 1 hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro airport. There are bus services available from moshi bus station.