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Wildlife of the Kruger Park
Kruger Park, Mpumalanga,
South Africa
It is possible to see all the classical African big game, including elephant, black and white rhino, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and many antelope species. Large carnivores include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena.
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Kruger is one of the premier game-watching destinations in the world. Approximately 145 mammal species occur in the park.
It is possible to see all the classical African big game, including elephant, black and white rhino, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and many antelope species.
Large carnivores include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammals equally enticing species
For those interested in viewing the "Big Five”, the Kruger National Park has an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino (black and white).
Lions are scattered throughout the Park, most commonly found in the grasslands, where the favorite prey of Zebra and Wildebeest are found.
Leopards are shy animals that hunt at nighttime and hides away during the daytime. Even if they do venture into open ground, it is difficult to spot the lithe, tawny-yellow body with black rosette spots, as it blends in perfectly into its surrounds.
It is easier to observe the beautiful Cheetah, the fastest of all land animals, capable of reaching speeds of 75 km/h and more in short, explosive bursts of sinuous movement. These, however, have to compete for food with larger predators, and prefer clear grasslands in order to run down their prey, with the result that their number is not growing at a very good rate.
Elephants are everywhere in the Park and to be seen in groups of around 30, as are the Buffalo in herds of up to 200.
Crocodiles and Hippo's are in abundance, as are the various antelope species, especially the Impala, which number about 120 000.
Then there are the Kudu, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Waterbuck (Nyala), Warthog, Sable, Reedbuck, Tsessebe, Eland, Hyena, Wild Dog - too many to name them all.
As are the bird-species, with the Bateleur as probably the most handsome of the birds of prey, and the Martial Eagle a common sight, even though it prefers more mountainous areas.
Kruger has a list of over 500 species, some of which are not to be found elsewhere in South Africa.
The only way you can experience the magnificence of the Kruger Park is to come and experience it for yourself, and while you're at it, experience this country with its unique peoples, heritage and beauty - a world in one country.
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Location: Kruger Park,
Mpumalanga |
