Renowned the world over, the Kruger National Park is South Africa’s largest national reserve and stretches 350 km (220 miles) from north to south and is 60 km (40 miles) in breadth. Boasting an exceptional diversity of game, it is home to more different species of wildlife than any other natural sanctuary in Africa.
Visitors can set out in search of the Big Five in their own cars or on guided game drives. Thanks to its large size the Kruger covers a variety of different landscapes, from the grassy plains of the south to the thick mopane thickets and baobab trees of the north. The park is home to a large population of elephant, as well as large herds of buffalo. Predators include lion, cheetah and hyena, as well as the elusive leopard, which are mainly nocturnal, and African wild dog, which are occasionally spotted in the park.
The park is intersected by a number of rivers, home to crocodile and hippo. The Kruger also boasts exceptional birdwatching, which is best enjoyed from one of the camp’s hides.
Together with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, the Kruger forms the Great Limpopo, Transfrontier Park. It also shares unfenced borders with a number of private game reserves on its western border.
Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Gqeberha in South Africa and is one of the country’s 20 national parks. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Gqebe in South Africa and is one of the country’s 20 national parks. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The park is home to more than 600 elephants.
Addo is mostly associated with elephants with over 600 of the animals now living within the reserve borders. These elephants are descendants of the herds that once roamed the eastern and southern cape freely. The national park is also home to the Big Five animals, namely; black rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and of course elephant. Aside from the Big Five there are 13 species of antelope including eland, kudu, red hartebeest and 22 species of carnivore; including cheetah, hyaena and wild dog.
Situated between Mossel Bay and George, Botlierskop Private Game reserve offers a great diversity of wildlife with more that 26 different animal species and over 200 bird species. Botlierskop reserve is stretching over 4200 ha of mountains and grasslands.
Rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, elands, bonteboks and 26 more species, make up a total of more than 1800 animals. Botlierskop is proud of their relationship with the IFAW, which enabled them to assist in the rescue of 3 African lions, which are also seen during the game drive.
Located in the Hex River Valley around two hours drive from Cape Town, the biodiverse habitat at Aquila Game Reserve ensures plenty of variety for the avid wildlife watcher.
Since opening in the late 1990s, when the reserve was home to a variety of antelope species, it has evolved considerably and now supports all of the Big Five – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – as well as other wildlife including giraffe, wildebeest and zebra.