Overview of Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s premier national park and is extremely popular amongst South African residents and other countries across the globe. The reserve is 19,623 square kilometres in size. It is 360 km in length from north to south.
In 1898 some parts of what we today know as Kruger National Park were given protected status. In 1926 it became a national park and as such was South Africa’s first national park.
There are four main vegetation types in Kruger. These are:
- Shrub Mopane Veld
- Red Bush-willow and Mopane Veld
- Thorn trees and Red Bush-willow Veld
- Knob-thorn and Marula Veld
Kruger National Park is home to an extensive list of mammals, birds and other animals. Amongst these are the Big 5 which is a major drawcard to the reserve.
Only Plains Zebras occur in Kruger National Park. Their numbers fluctuate significantly as they can be badly impacted by droughts. For example, in 2009 their numbers were estimated to be around 18,000 while in 2011 the top estimates put the population at 35,000.
Zebras may be found almost anywhere in the park, but they are particularly abundant in the eastern half. They have a reliance on water and are typically found within a few kilometres of a water source.
