Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Landscape kruger-park.jpg
Landscape in the Kruger National Park
Map showing the location of Kruger National Park.
Location of the park
Location Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa
Nearest city Nelspruit, South Africa
Area 18,989 km2 (7,332 sq mi)
Established May 31, 1926[1][2]
Visitors 1,336,981   (in 2004)
Governing body South African National Parks
Official website

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers 18,989 square kilometres (7,332 sq mi) and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from east to west.

To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").

The park has 9 main gates that allow entrance to the different camps. The names of these gates are Paul Kruger Gate, Numbi Gate, Malelane Gate, Crocodile Bridge Gate, Punda Maria Gate, Orpen Gate, Phalaborwa Gate, Phabeni Gate and Pafuri Gate.

The park is the site of the popular eyewitness viral video Battle at Kruger.

Contents

History

The area that the park currently encompasses was occupied by nomadic hunter-gatherers for thousands of years. People from Europe arrived in the early eighteenth century.[3]

Jakob Louis van Wyk introduced in the Volksraad of the old South African Republic, a motion to create the game reserve which would become the Kruger National Park. That motion, introduced together with another Volksraad member by the name of R. K. Loveday, and accepted for discussion in September 1895 by a majority of one vote, resulted in the proclamation by Paul Kruger president of the Transvaal Republic, on March 26, 1898, of a “Government Wildlife Park.” This park would later be known as the Sabi Game Reserve and was expanded into the Kruger National Park in 1926.[4]

The park was initially created to control hunting[5] and protect the diminished number of animals in the park.[3]

James Stevenson Hamilton became the first warden of the reserve in 1902.[5] The reserve was located in the southern one-third of the modern park.[6] Shingwedzi Reserve, now in northern Kruger National Park, was proclaimed in 1903.[7] In 1926, Sabie Game Reserve, the adjacent Shingwedzi Game Reserve, and farms were combined to create Kruger National Park.[8]

During 1923, the first large groups of tourists started visiting the Sabie Game Reserve, but only as part of the South African Railways' popular "Round in Nine" tours. The tourist trains used the Selati railway line between Komatipoort on the Mozambican border and Tzaneen in Limpopo Province. The tour included an overnight stop at Sabie Bridge (now Skukuza) and a short walk, escorted by armed rangers, into the bush. It soon became a highlight of the tour and it gave valuable support for the campaign to proclaim the Sabie Game Reserve as a national park.[9][10] After the proclamation of the Kruger National Park in 1926, the first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927, jumping to 180 cars in 1928 and 850 cars in 1929.[2]
Warden James Stevenson-Hamilton retired on the 30th April 1946, after 44 years as warden of the Kruger Park and its predecessor, the Sabie Game Reserve. He was replaced by Colonel J.A.B. Sandenburg of the South African Air Force.[9] During 1959, work commenced to completely fence the park boundaries. Work started on the southern boundary along the Crocodile River and in 1960 the western and northern boundaries were fenced, followed by the eastern boundary with Mozambique. The purpose of the fence was to curb the spread of diseases, facilitate border patrolling and inhibit the movement of poachers.[9]

The Makuleke area in the northern part of the park was forcibly taken from the Makuleke people by the Apartheid South Africa government in 1969 and about 1500 of them were relocated to land to the South so that their original tribal areas could be integrated into the greater Kruger National Park.[11][12] In 1996 the Makuleke tribe submitted a land claim for 19,842 hectares (198.42 km2) in the northern park of the Kruger National Park.[13] The land was given back to the Makuleke people, however, they chose not to resettle on the land but to engage with the private sector to invest in tourism, thus resulting in the building of several game lodges.[14][15]

In 2002, Kruger National Park, Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique were incorporated into the a peace park, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.[8]

Geography

Geography of the Kruger National Park

Olifants River
Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers at Crookes Corner in Pafuri triangle

The park lies in the east of South Africa,[6] in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Phalaborwa, Limpopo is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park. It is one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of almost 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi).[16] The park is approximately 360 kilometres (220 mi) long,[6] and has an average width of 65 kilometres (40 mi)[8] at its widest point, the park is 90 kilometres (56 mi) wide from east to west.[6] Several rivers run through the park from west to east, including the Sabie River.

Climate

Skukuza
Climate chart ()
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
94
 
33
21
 
 
96
 
32
20
 
 
66
 
31
19
 
 
38
 
29
15
 
 
14
 
28
10
 
 
11
 
26
6
 
 
11
 
26
6
 
 
8
 
27
9
 
 
28
 
29
13
 
 
40
 
30
16
 
 
63
 
31
18
 
 
92
 
32
20
average max. and min. temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: SAWS[17]

The climate of the Kruger National Park and Lowveld is subtropical. Summer days are humid and hot with temperatures often soaring to above 38 °C (100 °F). The rainy season is from September until May. The dry winter season is the ideal time to visit this region for various reasons. There is less chance of contracting malaria and the days are milder. Viewing wildlife is more rewarding as the vegetation is more sparse and animals are drawn to the waterholes to drink every morning and evening.

Flora and fauna

Fauna of the Kruger National Park

A male lion
Elephant crossing a road
Leopard

Plants

The Kruger National Park is divided into six eco-systems: Baobab sandveld, Mopane scrub, Lebombo knobthorn-marula bushveld, mixed acacia thicket, Combretum-silver clusterleaf woodland on granite and riverine forest. Altogether it has roughly 1,982 species of plants.

Birds

Out of the 517 species of birds found at Kruger, 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants, and 147 nomads.

Mammals

All the Big Five game animals are found at Kruger National Park, which has more species of mammals than any other African Game Reserve (at 147 species). There are webcams set up to observe the wildlife.[18]

Wildlife population As of 2009
Species Count
African Buffalo 27,000
African Hunting Dogs 350
Black Rhinoceros 350
White Rhinoceros 7000 to 12000[19]
Burchell's Zebras 17,797
Bushbucks 500
Cheetahs 200
Common Eland 300
Giraffes 5,114
Greater Kudus 5,798
Hippopotamus 3,000
Lions 1,500
Leopards 1,000
Spotted Hyenas 2,000
Elephants 11,672
Waterbuck 5,000
Blue Wildebeest 9,612
Impalas 90,000

The park stopped culling elephants in 1989 and tried translocating them, but by 2004 the population had increased to 11,670 elephants, by 2006 to approximately 13,500 and by 2009 to 11,672. The park's habitats can only sustain about 8,000 elephants. The park started using annual contraception in 1995, but has stopped that due to problems with delivering the contraceptives and upsetting the herds.

Kruger supports packs of the endangered African Wild Dog, of which there are thought to be only about 400 in the whole of South Africa.[20]

Kruger National Park holds over 48 tons of ivory in storage. According to Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), it is allowed to sell 30 tons.

Following approval by CITES, 47 metric tons of stockpiled ivory from Kruger were auctioned on November 6, 2008. The sale fetched approximately US$6.7 million which will be used towards increasing anti-poaching activity. The average price for the 63 lots on auction was US$142/kg.

Reptiles

Kruger houses 114 species of reptile, including 3000 crocodiles.

Accommodation

The Kruger National Park has 21 rest camps, as well as 2 private lodge concessions, and 15 designated private safari lodges. The concessions are parcels of land operated by private companies in partnership with communities, who outsource the operation of private lodges.

Rest camps

  • Bateleur Bushveld Camp
  • Berg-en-Dal Camp, near Malelane Gate.
  • Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
  • Boulders Bush Lodge
  • Balule Private Camp, near Olifants Camp.
  • Crocodile Bridge Camp, near Crocodile Bridge Gate.
  • Letaba Camp
  • Lower Sabie Camp
  • Malelane Private Camp, Malelane Gate.
  • Maroela Private Camp, near Orpen Gate.
  • Mopani Camp
  • Olifants Camp
  • Orpen Camp, near Orpen Gate.
  • Pretoriuskop Camp, near Numbi Gate.
  • Punda Maria Camp, near Punda Maria Gate
  • Roodewal Bush Lodge
  • Satara Camp
  • Shimuwini Bushveld Camp
  • Shingwedzi Camp
  • Sirheni Bushveld Camp
  • Skukuza Camp, not far from Paul Kruger Gate.
  • Talamati Bushveld Camp
  • Tamboti Tent Camp, near Orpen Gate .
  • Tsendze Rustic Camp

Designated Private Lodges

  • Camp Shawu near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
  • Camp Shonga near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
  • Hamiltons Tented Camp
  • Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge
  • Imbali Safari Lodge
  • Jocks Safari Lodge & Spa
  • Lukimbi Safari Lodge
  • Pafuri Camp, near Pafuri Gate .
  • Plains Camp
  • Rhino Post Camp
  • Shishangeni Lodge near Crocodile Bridge Gate .
  • Singita Lebombo Lodge
  • Singita Sweni Lodge
  • The Outpost Lodge, near Pafuri Gate.
  • Tinga Game Lodges

Gates to the Kruger Park

The Kruger Park has the following gates:

Name Road From Town Coordinates Remarks
Crocodile Bridge Gate on the extension of Rissikstreet from Komatipoort
Malelane Gate on the R570 off the N4 near Malelane
Numbi Gate on the R569 road from Hazyview
Phabeni Gate on the road off the R536 from Hazyview
Paul Kruger Gate on the R536 road from Hazyview
Orpen Gate on the R531 road from Klaserie
Phalaborwa Gate on the R71 road from Phalaborwa
Punda Maria Gate on the R524 road from Thohoyandou
Pafuri Gate on the R525 road from Musina

Wilderness trails

Nine different trails are on offer in the Kruger National Park. Some are overnight and they last several days in areas of wilderness virtually untouched by humans. There are no set trails in the wilderness areas; a visitor walks along paths made by animals or seeks out new routes through the bush.

See also

References

  1. ↑ House of Assembly Debates, cols 4366-81, 31 May 1926.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Stevenson-Hamilton, James. (1937). South African Eden: The Kruger National Park 1902-1946. Struik Publishers, 1993.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Foxcroft, Llewellyn C.; David M. Richardson (2003). L.E. Child. ed. Plant Invasions: Ecological Threats and Management Solutions. Backhuys Publishers. 
  4. ↑ Edmeades, Baz T. (2003). "Author's Statement". Extinct Megafauna - The First Victims of the Human Caused Extinction. Edmeades (self). http://www.megafauna.com/author.htm. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kruger National Park, Lonely Planet, page 467.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Ornamental Plants as Invasive Aliens: Problems and Solutions in Kruger National Park, South Africa". Environmental Management 41 (1): 32–51. 2008. doi:10.1007/s00267-007-9027-9. PMID 17943344. 
  7. ↑ McNeely, Jeffrey A., International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2001, The Great Reshuffling, IUCN, ISBN 2831706025.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Kruger National Park, Lonely Planet, page 468.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Bulpin, T.V., Treasury of Travel Series: Kruger National Park, Creda Press, 1974.
  10. ↑ Pienaar, U. de V., Neem uit die Verlede, Sigma Pers, 1990.
  11. ↑ Steenkamp, C. (2000). "The Makuleke Land Claim". IIED Evaluating Eden Programme. http://hdgc.epp.cmu.edu/misc/IIED%20paper.pdf. 
  12. ↑ Kruger National Park (2007). "Kruger History". http://www.krugerparkreservations.com/History.asp. Retrieved 2007-08-04. 
  13. ↑ "COMMISSION ON THE RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS MEDIA STATEMENT ON A CLAIM BY THE MAKULEKE TRIBE ON A PORTION OF THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AND OTHER AREAS". South African Commission on Restitution of Land Rights. 1996-08-06. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1996/960812_0x70796.htm. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
  14. ↑ Siyabona Africa (2007). "Pafuri Camp". Kruger Park. http://www.krugerpark.org/Luxury_Safari_Lodges-travel/gamelodges-pafuri-camp.html. 
  15. ↑ Siyabona Africa (2007). "Outpost". Kruger Park. http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Kruger_Park_Private_Concession_Lodging-travel/the-outpost-lodge.html. 
  16. ↑ Schutze, Heike, 2002, Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park, Struik, ISBN 1868725944.
  17. ↑ "Climate data for Skukuza". South African Weather Service. http://old.weathersa.co.za/Climat/Climstats/SkukuzaStats.jsp. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
  18. ↑ Kruger National Park webcams
  19. ↑ "Response from SANParks to Misleading Reports and Claims about Rhino Sales and Hunting in National Parks". 2009-07-15. http://www.sanwild.org/NOTICEBOARD/jundec09/Response%20from%20SANParks%20to%20Misleading%20Reports%20and%20Claims%20about%20Rhino%20Sales.HTM. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
  20. ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg

External links

National Parks of South Africa
Addo Elephant National Park · Agulhas National Park · ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park · Augrabies Falls National Park · Bontebok National Park · Camdeboo National Park · Garden Route National Park · Golden Gate Highlands National Park · Karoo National Park · Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park · Knysna National Lake Area · Kruger National Park · Mapungubwe National Park · Marakele National Park · Mokala National Park · Mountain Zebra National Park · Namaqua National Park · Table Mountain National Park  · Tankwa Karoo National Park · Tsitsikamma National Park · West Coast National Park · Wilderness National Park