Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park has its origins in the Sabi Game Reserve, proclaimed in 1898 by President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic as a protected area between the Sabie and Crocodile rivers. James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed the first warden in 1902 and would remain in the role for 44 years, during which time he transformed the reserve from a modest sanctuary into one of Africa's great wildlife refuges.

The Sabi Game Reserve was officially proclaimed Kruger National Park in 1926 under the National Parks Act, named in honour of Paul Kruger. The park was subsequently expanded northward to its present 350 km length, incorporating the Shingwedzi and Letaba regions, and the concept of public access by motor vehicle was introduced — a revolutionary approach that established the model for game reserves worldwide.

Today Kruger National Park covers 19,485 km² — an area slightly larger than Wales — spanning the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Its western boundary adjoins a string of private game reserves, including the famous Sabi Sand, Timbavati and Klaserie, from which fences were removed from the late 1980s onwards, effectively extending the greater ecosystem to over 22,000 km².

The park supports 147 mammal species, 507 bird species, 114 reptile species, 49 fish species and 34 amphibian species. Over 1,700 plant species occur within its boundaries. Annual visitor numbers exceed 1.5 million, making it one of Africa's most visited wildlife areas.