Proclaimed a game reserve in 1898 and formally established as South Africa's first national park in 1926, Kruger is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, linking it to reserves in Mozambique and Zimbabwe to form an even larger cross-border conservation area. It's home to the "Big Five" — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo — along with hundreds of other species, and remains one of South Africa's most visited destinations.
Source: South African National Parks (SANParks)
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Kruger National Park come about?
It began as the Sabi Game Reserve, proclaimed in 1898 by the old South African Republic to protect dwindling wildlife populations from overhunting, and was later expanded and renamed Kruger National Park in 1926 after President Paul Kruger.
Why is a reserve of this size necessary for African wildlife?
Large mammals like elephants and predators need vast home ranges to find food, water, and mates across seasons, so a park spanning hundreds of kilometres allows near-natural migration and population dynamics that smaller reserves can't support.
How does Kruger's size benefit conservation today?
Its connection to reserves in Mozambique and Zimbabwe through the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park allows wildlife corridors to cross national borders, supporting genetic diversity and giving animals room to roam well beyond South Africa's fence lines.