Page 342 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

340  GA UTENG , LIMPOPO AND MPUM ALANGA
L i m p o p o
q Kruger National Park Makuleke
ContractualPark
Pafuri
South Africa’s largest national park, Kruger, ranks
among the most rewarding wildlife sanctuaries The Kruger
anywhere in the world. Equivalent in size to Israel, National Park Punda Maria J
this vast wilderness covers an area of 19,633 sq km Johannesburg
(7,580 sq miles), extending for 352 km (220 miles)
from the Limpopo River in the north to Crocodile
River in the south, and averaging 60 km (38 miles) Cape Town Mphongolo
from east to west. It comprises 16 distinct
vegetation zones, ranging from open grassland to Key
dense forest, and supports an astonishing species Kruger National Park
count: 148 mammals, 505 birds, 118 reptiles, 35
amphibians and 50 fish. Kruger is readily accessible Shingwedzi
to tourists thanks to an excellent network of 0 km 20
rest camps, picnic sites, and surfaced and 0 miles 10 J
unsurfaced roads.

Mopani

Phalaborwa Letaba
Olifants
Umbabat
Nature Reserve
Game-watching
Elevated viewing platforms are found at many of the Kruger Klaserie
National Park’s rest camps. Game Timbavati
Reserve Game Reserve
The Big Five
Kruger supports around 35,000 buffaloes, 14,000 Orpen
elephants, 1,600 lions and 1,000 leopards. It is also
the world’s most important rhinoceros preserve,
with estimated populations of 6–8,000 white and
500-plus black rhinos. Manyeleti
Game Reserve
Avian wonders
KEY Dedicated twitchers
can easily notch up Mala Mala, Londolozi,
1 Berg-en-Dal is studded with Sabie Sand and Sabi
magnificent ancient granite outcrops 100 species in a day, Sabi Game Reserves
including Khandzalive, the park’s especially during the
highest point at 839 m (2,752 ft). southern summer.
Even casual visitors
2 Lower Sabie This small, relaxed should prepare to be
camp stands at the pivot of two wowed by Kruger’s
productive game-viewing roads. colourful array of Pretoriuskop
3 Central savanna, the park’s most rollers, bee-eaters,
open habitat, attracts herds of wilde- kingfishers and hornbills,
beest and zebra, and is the best as well as the outsized
place to look for cheetahs. ostrich and Kori bustard, Berg-en-Dal
and raptors such as
4 Olifants Camp stands on a African fish-eagle and
wooded cliff overlooking the river lappet-faced vulture.
after which it is named.
For keys to symbols see back flap

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