Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is amazing. I had no idea it was so big, it’s just a little smaller than Belgium! We had basic accommodation but it was still fantastic, camping but not quite – little hut with beds. We drove around ourselves but we also joined a bus tour that was organized in the evening when most of the animals go hunting. The main reason you do that is because you want to see the big 5 (the lion, the elephant, the leopard, rhino and the buffalo)! We’ve see them all apart from the leopard. I cannot describe the feeling you get when you see all those animals roaming free. I cannot describe the stupidity of some tourists either. I don’t know much about wild animals, I just know you have to be very careful around them. When you see an elephant it’s probably not the best idea to start screaming out of excitement. The poor animal didn’t know what was going on and almost started charging our bus. Other than that, an amazing experience.
The name of the park comes from Paul Kruger, a man who proclaimed a Wildlife reserve in the Sabie river region 1898. He was the president of the Transvaal Republic and has helped with the plans to protect the animals there. Although not entirely forbidden, hunting was restricted. First motorists arrived there for a visit in 1927. What I didn’t know at the time of my own visit is that there are also prehistoric archaeological artefacts on the grounds of the park. They stretch back in time to Homo Erectus who roamed the grounds more than 100 000 years ago.
For more info on the park you can visit various sites:
Kruger National Park in Images
