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The Kruger National Park

South Africa is known for the ancient archaeological sites, dense forest lands, presence of 'megadiverse' flora and fauna and rich cultural heritage. One of the top attractions of South Africa are the different national parks which give the tourist a glimpse of the wild life of the country. For those who want to taste some adventure are presented with number of options like self-drive safaris, guided walks and hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, swimming and lots of other facilities.

Among the national parks of South Africa, one of the most famous is the The Kruger National Park. It is the largest game reserve in South Africa and stretches for about 350 km from north to south and 60 km from west to east.

The Kruger National Park is bordered by province of Limpopo in the south, Mpumalanga in the west, Zimbabwe in the north and Mozambique in east. Generally, the topography of the National Park is flat and undulating with an average height of 260 m above the sea level and mountainous regions are found in the eastern boundary.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the climate of The Kruger National Park remains hot during most of the time in the year. The summer season is from September to April with sporadic rainfall . In the winter months, there is almost no rainfall. The varying climatic conditions affects the vegetations in the ecosystem which in turn influence the density and distribution of fauna in the park.

The national park has been divided into five broad zones – Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4 and Zone 5. Zone 1 is the most arid region of the park, but Zone 2 on the eastern side of the park receives more rainfall. Zone 3 is the largest area stretching between Crocodile and Olifants Rivers.

Stretching between Sabie and Crocodile Rivers, lies the zone 4. Tropical riverine forest is found in the smallest area of Zone 5 in the northern boundary of the national park. Giraffe, Buffalo, Impala, Zebra, antelopes, elephants, cheetahs, hippopotamus are some of the common animals found in the park.

Luxurious lodges are waiting for you in The Kruger National Park and in the adjoining private game reserve. The lodges, guest houses, camps are equipped with all the facilities and modern amenities for your comfortable stay in the lap of nature. From luxurious camps to economy family guest houses, every kind fo accommodations are available for ever budget.

Some of the luxurious lodgings within the park are Camp Shawu, Camp Shonga, Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge, Jocks Safari Lodge & Spa, Pafuri Safari Camp and many more. You can get excellent cuisine, world class service, game drives, bush walks and safaris during your stay in these camps. Within the boundaries of the park, there are self catering chalets , family cottages, bungalows, guest houses and huts where you have to bring food with you or can purchase from restcamp.

Outside The Kruger National Park, lots of activities are regularly held like Elephant back safaris, horse back riding, hot air balloon trips and spa treatments. There are also the Endangered Species Centre, the Cheetah Breeding Project and various cultural villages which are worth visiting.