Kruger National Park, Kruger Park, Kruger Park Safari

Kruger National Park & Kruger Park Safaris

The world-renowned Kruger National Park in South Africa offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa and the world.

With nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa and the ultimate start for your African Safari!

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.

Established in the world-famous Kruger National Park, wilderness trails allow adventurous visitors a close personal encounter with nature by traversing large areas of unspoiled wilderness on foot, under the guidance of armed and experienced trail rangers.

In keeping with the wilderness atmosphere, sites for the trails camps are carefully selected for their scenic beauty and diverse plant and animal life. Groups spend three nights in four rustic two-bed huts. Ablution facilities comprise reed-walled showers and flush toilets. A covered lapa serves as a dining/socialising area where the campfire’s flickering shadows encourage stories of adventures in the African bush.

Albasini Ruins

The remains of the 19th century trading post of the famous Portuguese trader, Joao Albasini is found at the new Phabeni Gate, 10 km from Hazyview. Over the ages trading activity has taken place in the south-eastern region of Africa. Lourenco Marques, now known as Maputo (Mozambique) would have been the starting point (or end point) of many of the ancient trading routes that criss-crossed the countryside. When Albasini arrived in the, then Portuguese occupied, port in the early 1800’s, he began setting up his trading business. He set up a network of trading routes that reached the inland as far as the Lowveld and by 1845 he had established a trading post at Magashula’s Kraal (now known as Albasini Ruins). This trading post was conveniently positioned along two of these ancient trade routes.

It is popular belief that Albasini’s settlement at Magashula’s Kraal was the first European settlement in the disease ridden Lowveld. He only stayed here for a short time and moved to the growing town of Ohrigstad, where he married 18year old Gertina Maria Petronella Janse van Rensburg. Shortly after, they moved to the new town at the foot of the Soutpansberg Mountains, Schoemansdal. Here Albasini established himself on the farm “Goedewensch” which proved to be a very prosperous time him and his family.

In 1858 he was appointed vice-consul of Portugal in the ZAR as well as a superintendent of the Native tribes in and around the Schoemansdal area. His election as vice-consul made it necessary for a postal service to run from Goedewensch to Lourenco Marques every month by a Portuguese soldier, the Boer government was offered the to make use of the opportunity. He remained in service as vice-consul until 1872.

Albasini most probably inherited his adventurous spirit and business sense from his father, who was an ivory trader under the Portuguese flag. When Albasini was 17years old he accompanied his father on one of his trading journeys to Brazil and Lourenco Marques. According to legend their ship was stranded on the east coast of Africa and Albasini, with the help of his father and his determination began setting up his own trade business. His father left for Lisbon shortly afterwards never again to see his son. Under the difficult conditions of poor trade and threat of the deadly diseases, such as malaria and tsetse fly, Albasini was determined to make a success of his career. He began trading the merchandise his father left him and annually, during the safer winter months, he would take clothes, beads, knives and mirrors along the ancient trade routes into the interior of the sub-continent and exchange them for ivory. He would return laidened, when the dangerous summer months began approaching. This ivory was then traded with visiting ships for ammunition, merchandise and foodstuffs.

On his first trip to the newly established Boer (Afrikaans) town, Ohrigstad, Albasini bought some land from the Kutswe chief Magashula for 22 head of cattle. Here he established his first mentioned trading post. This post was conveniently positioned along two ancient trade routes and offered wonderful opportunities of trade with both the local black people and the Boers. He would transport goods from Lourenco Marques through the tsetse fly area to Magashula’s kraal for the Boers, who would then travel down the escarpment to collect their goods. Albasini also appointed two headmen to run two other posts, one at the foot of Manugukop (just south of Pretoriuskop), which was run by Manugu, after whom the koppie was named. The other was run by Josekhulu near Ship Mountain (along the Voortrekker Road).

Albasini only stayed at Magashula’s Kraal for two years, as he was drawn by the growing settlements on the escarpment. In 1847 he bought a farm outside Ohrigstad and opened a shop there.

Magashula’s Kraal was renowned for its fine white bread, which was made from grain grown at the post

Albasini was born to an Italian father and Spanish mother in Lisbon in May 1813. He enjoyed his childhood with his parents and brother and sister in Lisbon. In 1830 at the age of 17 years he arrived on the East Coast of Africa. He had a strong personality, sharp intellect and determination and due to this he became a personage in the Portuguese Port of Lourenco Marques (Mozambique). He played an important role in establishing this port as the gateway to the seas for the Zuid Afrikanshe Rebuliek (ZAR) and was the first Portuguese to trade with the Boers (Afrikaners) in Ohrigstad.

Excavations were again done this year and a new museum will be established at the site.

1898 - The Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa having been established in 1898. The park is home to an impressive number of species and also has a great collection of archeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela. These ...The Kruger National Park covers an impressive 18000 square kilometres and features a varied choice of wildlife, from lions and rhino's, to elephants and giraffes. The Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa having been established in 1898. The park is home to an impressive number of species and also has a great collection of archeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela. These combine to represent the diverse cultures that have ...

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Mar 26, 1898 - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK On 26 March 1898, President Paul Kruger signed a proclamation establishing a sanctuary for wildlife between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers. It was an auspicious day for conservation as the first national park in Africa had been ...KRUGER NATIONAL PARK On 26 March 1898, President Paul Kruger signed a proclamation establishing a sanctuary for wildlife between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers. It was an auspicious day for conservation as the first national park in Africa had been created. Today the Kruger National Park covers an area of nearly 2,000,000 hectares and is renowned for its conservation and wildlife management techniques.

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1926 - Founded in 1926, it occupies a tract of about 19490 sq km (about 7525 sq mi). Nearly every species of wildlife indigenous to the country is found in the park. Other notable game reserves include Klaserie Natural Reserve, the largest private game reserve in ...Founded in 1926, it occupies a tract of about 19490 sq km (about 7525 sq mi). Nearly every species of wildlife indigenous to the country is found in the park. Other notable game reserves include Klaserie Natural Reserve, the largest private game reserve in South Africa, which borders Kruger National Park; Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, in the NW; Addo Elephant National Park, near Port Elizabeth; and Mountain Zebra (Bergkwagga) National Park, near Cradock.

From SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, - Related web pages

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1969 - In 1969, the Makuleke were removed from the land, which had been proclaimed part of the expansion of the Kruger National Park. "We had been warned that we would be moved from the land, but we ignored those warnings. When they came in their large trucks to move us ...In 1969, the Makuleke were removed from the land, which had been proclaimed part of the expansion of the Kruger National Park. "We had been warned that we would be moved from the land, but we ignored those warnings. When they came in their large trucks to move us, we tried to put up some resistance but it was not enough." The Makuleke were loaded on to trucks and dumped on a piece of land between Giyani, Thohoyandou and Punda Maria in Limpopo, about 75km away.

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Aug 22, 1998 - At this point in my two-day trip through the Kruger National Park, I almost began to think longingly of the huge, air-conditioned luxury tour-buses that had whisked ... The Kruger National Park is said to harbour the biggest concentration of species of any national park in the world. ...

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Apr 2000 - In April 2000, the Kruger National Park replied that “the Letsitele River is an important tributary to the Letaba River and as such is an important contributor to water availability in the already stressed Letaba catchment. This river has been reduced from a once ...Concerned that the original erosion situation might return to the Letsitele headwaters after the farms were handed over, Amm wrote to the Kruger National Park for an update and advice. In April 2000, the Kruger National Park replied that “the Letsitele River is an important tributary to the Letaba River and as such is an important contributor to water availability in the already stressed Letaba catchment. This river has been reduced from a once perennial river to one that now ...

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Dec 9, 2002 - It will link the Kruger National Park in South Africa with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. ... The Kruger National Park and the Gonarezhou National Park are already operational. Most of the planning has focussed on developing the ...

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2003 Aug 10, 2003 - The decision to remove the statue is based largely on research by a University of Natal academic, Jane Carruthers, for her book The Kruger National Park: A Social And Political History, which found that Kruger's supposed role in creating the park was a myth. The South African National ...

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2004 Jan 8, 2004 - Over one million plants and animals, including 60 percent of the protected animal species in the Kruger National Park, are destined to die out within decades due to manmade ... Of 179 species that were studied in the Kruger National Park, four species are certain to become extinct. ...

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2005 Feb 11, 2005 - Ecca Lodge is young, fun and extremely colourful, with décor that reflects the 1820 settler history. There is also Uplands Manor, which is a self-contained historical lodge for ... Kruger National Park is its core, covering more than 19000 sq km, or an area roughly the size of Wales. ...

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Kruger National Park History - Timeline

This enormous and magnificent park is one of the most popular public-entry game parks in the world. Its density of permanent game is unrivalled with hundreds of different species; 507 birds, 336 trees, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 34 amphibians!

Few visitors leave South Africa without visiting the Kruger National Park or one of the private reserves along its borders but it is also frequented by locals in their own vehicles, as you can drive yourself around and stay overnight in one of the many public restcamps. There are also a few exclusive private lodges that have been granted concessions within the Kruger National Park.

The far north of the park is the wildest and most difficult area to access and because of this, it has alluring qualities for the real adventurer.

With greater ecological co-operation across African borders, several countries bordering South Africa have agreed to take down some fences, and those between Kruger and Mozambique's Limpopo National Park and Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou, have been demolished to create the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. This unique political innovation is creating a colossal wilderness area.

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