South Africa Holiday - Kruger Nat. Park

The Kruger National Park stretches from Limpopo Province in the south up to South Africa’s border with Zimbabwe in the north. Roughly half of the park falls within Mpumalanga and half in Limpopo, the Limpopo regions being drier and more arid than the dense bushveld of Mpumalanga which is hotter and humid. More than 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds and over 300 species of trees provide the greatest diversity of wildlife in Africa. Searching for the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) , forms the basis of a classic wildlife safari in the park where accommodation can be in luxury lodges to a campsite according to taste and budget.

For those touring or driving in the region a major attraction is the Panorama Route through the mountains of the northern Drakensberg. Here the Great Escarpment of the Highveld plateau falls steeply to the Lowveld some 1000 metres below, creating magnificent scenery and views at such sites as God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. Also in the area is Pilgrims Rest, a living museum recreating a Victorian gold rush village where you can try panning for your own gold.

If you are travelling to the Kruger Park, an alternative to a short break from Johannesburg is to continue to the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban.