which is the biggest national park in south africa

What is the oldest national park in South Africa?

Kruger National Park. Kruger National Park is the oldest Park in South Africa. It was established in 1926 after a motion in the parliament raised the concern of the declining animal population in the area.It is also the largest National park in the country covering an area of 7,500 square miles.

What is the third largest park in South Africa?

Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is the third largest in South Africa and is famous for being home to more than 350 elephants. The Augrabies Falls thunders down from the Orange River Gorge and was aptly referred to as “Aukoerebis” by the Khoi people.

What is the biggest national park in Africa?

You forgot the national park of the Hoggar in Algeria with 450,000 km², the biggest in Africa , second in the world after the Groenland. Also the Tassili national park also in Algeria with 72,000 km².

What are the best places to visit in South Africa?

1 Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape. 2 Augrabies Falls National Park, Northern Cape. 3 Camdeboo National Park, Eastern Cape. 4 Garden Route National Park, Eastern & Western Cape. 5 Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State. 6 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape. 7 The Kruger National Park, Limpopo & Mpumalanga.

What are the most famous national parks in South Africa?

What is the Garden Route National Park?

How many game rangers are there in Kruger National Park?

What are the animals that live in Kruger National Park?

What river flows through the park?

What are the threats to South Africa?

What is the only amphibian species in Table Mountain National Park?

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Where is the largest National Park in South Africa?

Kruger National Park, the largest national park in South Africa. It is located in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, west of the Lebombo Mountains on the Mozambique border.

What is the biggest park in South Africa?

the Kruger National ParkWhy visit the Kruger National Park? Renowned the world over, the Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest national reserve and stretches 350 km (220 miles) from north to south and is 60 km (40 miles) in breadth.

Is Kruger National Park the biggest National Park in South Africa?

Kruger National Park is both the first national park established in South Africa as well as the largest in the country. The park extends across an area of 7,523 square miles (19,458 sq km) making it the sixth-largest national park across the entire continent of Africa.

Which one is the biggest National Park in Africa?

Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia You can find all that in the Namib-Naukluft National Park in western Namibia. It's one of the largest national parks in the world, at nearly 20,000 square miles, and the largest in Africa.

How many national parks are in SA?

21 national parksTourists from all over the world flock to this country to be one with nature; and many mostly find it in the many South African national parks. South Africa houses 21 national parks, together covering 4,000,000 hectares or over 3% of the country's total area.

Where is the smallest national park in South Africa?

It is the smallest of South Africa's 18 National Parks, covering an area of 27.86 km2 The park is part of the Cape Floristic Region, which is a World Heritage Site....Bontebok National ParkArea27.86 km2 (10.76 sq mi)Established1931Governing bodySouth African National Parkswww.sanparks.org/parks/bontebok/5 more rows

What is world's largest National Park?

The uncontested heavyweight champion of the National Park System is Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. At 13.2 million acres, it's larger than Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined.

What is the number 1 National Park in the world?

YellowstoneYellowstone. With numerous attractions scattered throughout its more than 2 million acres, Yellowstone is a national treasure. This protected area in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho is America's first national park (established in 1872), but its age has not dulled its natural beauty.

Why is Kruger National Park so famous?

All of Africa's iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – thrive here. The Kruger National Park is home to over 12,000 elephants, 27,000 African Buffalo, 2,000 leopards and 2,800 lions. It's also regarded as the best place in the world to see a leopard.

Which national park is the smallest?

What is the largest national park site? Smallest?Largest: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK, at 13.2 million acres.Smallest: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, PA, at 0.02 acres.

What is the second largest park in Africa?

Central Kalahari is a game reserve found in Botswana. The park has an area of 52,000 square km, making it the second-largest in Africa. Here, tourists can see animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, hippos, and many more.

What is the third largest park in South Africa?

Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is the third largest in South Africa and is famous for being home to more than 350 elephants.

What is the largest park?

Biggest of Them All The uncontested heavyweight champion of the National Park System is Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. At 13.2 million acres, it's larger than Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined.

What is the second largest park in Africa?

Central Kalahari is a game reserve found in Botswana. The park has an area of 52,000 square km, making it the second-largest in Africa. Here, tourists can see animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, hippos, and many more.

What is the third largest park in South Africa?

Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is the third largest in South Africa and is famous for being home to more than 350 elephants.

Is the Kruger park bigger than Israel?

The Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, covering an area of just under 20 000 square kilometres (7 500 sq/miles). It is about the size of Israel, slightly smaller than Belgium and about the third of the size of Ireland.

How many hectares are there in SANParks?

SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of 3,751,113 hectares (37,511.13 km 2 ), over 3% of the total area of South Africa. Many parks offer a variety of accommodations. The best known park is Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 2,000,000 hectares ...

What is the largest park in South Africa?

The best known park is Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 2,000,000 hectares (20,000 km 2 ). Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions.

How many species of plants are there in Namaqua National Park?

More than 3,500 species of plants, of which more than 1,000 are endemic, dominate Namaqua National Park. For those visiting out of flower season there’s much to do; from hiking and visiting national monuments to camping and birding. Namaqualand daisies in full bloom | Courtesy of South African Tourism.

What is the name of the waterfall in the Orange River Gorge?

The Augrabies Falls thunders down from the Orange River Gorge and was aptly referred to as “Aukoerebis” by the Khoi people. The name means “place of great noise” and the 56-meter descent results in a deafening sound as water drops down into the river below.

What is the most famous discovery made in Mapungubwe National Park?

The most famous discovery made here is that of the Golden Rhino, evidence of the population’s wealth. Besides a fascinating history the park also boasts amazing wildlife sighting opportunities and diverse birdlife, with over 400 recorded species.

How many elephants are there in Addo?

Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is the third largest in South Africa and is famous for being home to more than 350 elephants.

What is the most famous park in South Africa?

The Kruger National Park, Limpopo & Mpumalanga. The Kruger National Park covers nearly two million hectares of land and is one of the must-visit destinations in South Africa. It’s important to note that the massive park contains different environments, each with a unique accumulation of fauna and flora.

Where is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape. The arid, desert landscape of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park seems unassuming at first glance. That is until a black-maned lion walks through the unfenced camp, or a leopard and her cubs lie down in the shadow of your game-viewing vehicle.

Where is Garden Route National Park?

Garden Route National Park, Eastern & Western Cape. The massive Garden Route National Park stretches from Tsitsikamma to Knysna to Wilderness across one of the most beautiful parts of the country. From forest excursions and mountain biking to birding, water activities and of course, the Otter Trail – one of the most popular hiking trails in South ...

What is Africa known for?

Known for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife, Africa’s national parks are the world’s premier safari destinations.

When did national parks start in Africa?

The idea of protecting large tracts of lands as national parks took off in Africa in 1925 with the establishment of Virunga National Park in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Soon after that – and in ever-increasing numbers after the second world war – many other African countries followed suit, leading to the creation of some ...

Where is Tsavo National Park?

Your list leaves Tsavo National Park (East & West) which cover over 20,000 sq. kilometres in SouthernEast of Kenya.

What is the Isimangaliso Wetland Park?

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a Unesco World Heritage site, stretches for 137 glorious miles from the Mozambique border to Maphelane, at the southern end of Lake St. Lucia. With the Indian Ocean on one side and a series of lakes on the other, this park protects five distinct ecosystems, offering everything from offshore reefs and beaches to lakes, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest along the park’s shores, and whales and dolphins appear offshore. The park is occupied by numerous animals, including antelopes, hippos and zebras. The ocean beaches pull big crowds during the holiday season for everything from diving to fishing.

How long is the Blyde River Canyon?

The stunning Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve centers on the 19-mile-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye views abound at the dramatic meeting of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the lowveld. It's one of the world's largest canyons and one of South Africa’s most outstanding natural sights.

What is the best place to see big cats?

The Kgalagadi is a wild land of harsh extremes and frequent droughts, where shifting red and white sands meet thorn trees and dry riverbeds. Yet despite the desolate landscape, it’s teeming with wildlife. From prides of black-maned lions to packs of howling spotted hyenas, there are some 1775 predators here. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot big cats, especially cheetahs. Add in giant, orange-ball sunsets and black-velvet night skies studded with twinkling stars, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered the Africa of storybooks.

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What does "isimangaliso" mean?

iSimangaliso means "miracle" or "wonder" and, given its extraordinary beauty, it’s an appropriate title.

What is the Eastern Cape known for?

It protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park, and you’d be unlucky not to see some. A day or two at Addo is a highlight of any visit to this part of the Eastern Cape, not only for the elephants but for the lions, zebras, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas and myriad birds. The park is also one of few which boasts the "Big Seven," thanks to sightings of great white sharks and southern right whale (in season) off its coastal sections.

What is the best place to see elephants in Africa?

Kruger National Park is one of the world's greatest wildlife-watching destinations. All of Africa's iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – share the bushveld with a supporting cast of 137 other mammals and more than 500 varieties of birds. Beautiful granite kopjes (hills) pepper the south, the Lebombo Mountains rise from the savanna in the east, and tropical forests cover the north of the 7520-sq-mile park.

What are the Big Five in South Africa?

South Africa’s fastest-growing conservation area is home to not only the Big Five, but also the rare and endangered Cape leopard. However, it is rhinos Thandi and Thembi who are stars of the show on this Eastern Cape stage. Thandi became famous in 2012, when she was one of three rhinos attacked on the reserve during an especially prolific period of poaching in South Africa. Whilst her two companions sadly died, Thandi not only survived but, as tests during her lengthy treatment revealed, was found to be pregnant. Thembi, whose name means ‘hope’ in the indigenous language of isiXhosa, was born in 2015 and has remained by her mother’s side, and has been Kariega Game Reserve’s star attraction ever since. Both rhinos roam free under the protection of the reserve, which blankets almost 25,000 acres of the Eastern Cape and incorporates the Kariega and Bushman’s rivers within its verdant and mountainous wilderness.

What is the oldest game reserve in Africa?

Established in 1895, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is the oldest game reserve in Africa, and whilst it was once the Zulu kings who hunted here, it is the Big Five which now stalk the savannahs. The park is in fact made up of two reserves, the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in the north and iMfolozi in the south, with the two combining to cover an area of over 370 sq. miles. The usual safari suspects are joined by crocodiles and hippos loitering in the watering holes in their masses, whilst the park has become best-known for nurturing one of the world’s most notable populations of black and white rhino. It was at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park that the ‘Operation Rhino’ conservation programme oversaw efforts to bring the Southern white rhino back from the brink of extinction during the 1950s. The park’s conservation team continues to grow the black rhino population too, at a time when poaching continues to be rife. Aside from its rhino conservation, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is best known for its wilderness trails.

What is the significance of Isimangaliso Wetland Park?

A name meaning ‘miracle and wonder’ leaves a lot to live up to but, if anything, iSimangaliso Wetland Park manages to exceed expectation. The park was South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, an accolade which came in recognition of its incredible natural beauty and ecological importance. A mosaic of ecosystems, from 25,000-year-old sand dunes, to the majority of South Africa’s remaining swampland along with 135-miles of beaches, makes iSimangaliso Wetland Park the jewel in the country’s coastal crown. Its unique charms also impressed Nelson Mandela, who once remarked “iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish and the world’s biggest marine mammal”. Game viewing occupies uMkhuze and the Eastern and Western Shore areas of the park, whilst its position on the migratory path of the humpback whale makes whale watching a popular activity, too. Year-round scuba diving in Sodwana Bay is considered some of the best in the world, with over 100 corals and 1,200 fish species found on Africa’s southernmost reef.

What river runs through Kruger National Park?

Geography of the Kruger National Park. Olifants River. Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers at Crookes Corner in Pafuri triangle. The park lies in the north-east of South Africa, in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Phalaborwa, Limpopo is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park.

How many archaeological sites are there in Kruger Park?

Over 420 recorded archaeological sites in Kruger Park attest to its occupation before modern times. Most sites however had relatively short occupation periods, as the presence of predators and the tsetse fly limited cattle husbandry.

What are the two South African provinces that surround the Kruger National Park?

To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, respectively. To the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

How many gates are there in Kruger National Park?

The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.

What is the first national park in South Africa?

First national park in South Africa. Kruger National Park. Burchell's zebra in a Kruger landscape. Location of the park (red area) in South Africa. Location. Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. Nearest city.

How many hectares are there in Makuleke?

In 1996 the Makuleke tribe submitted a land claim for 19,842 hectares (198.42 km 2 ), namely the Pafuri or Makuleke region in the northernmost part of the park. The land was given back to the Makuleke people, however, they chose not to resettle on the land but to engage with the private sector to invest in tourism. This resulted in the building of several game lodges from which they earn royalties.

When was Singwitsi Reserve proclaimed?

Singwitsi Reserve, named after the Shingwedzi River and now in northern Kruger National Park, was proclaimed in 1903. During the following decades all the native tribes were removed from the reserve and during the 1960s the last were removed at Makuleke in the Pafuri triangle.

What are the most famous national parks in South Africa?

Famous national parks in South Africa include Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park.

What is the Garden Route National Park?

Garden Route National Park was established in March 2009 along the south-eastern coast of South Africa. The park’s 470 square miles area is made up of tall cliffs, rocky beaches, lagoons, temperate evergreen forests and large rivers. Vegetation at the park includes ferns, lichens, and mosses. Garden Route National Park supports animals like Cape clawless otters, blue duiker, vervet monkeys, and leopards. Human settlement in the park although sparse poses a threat to the park’s resources. The park is under the management of South Africa National Parks.

How many game rangers are there in Kruger National Park?

The big five inhabit Kruger National Park. Additionally, amphibians, reptiles, and fish are found in the park. The park is guarded by 650 game rangers and two drones. Webcams are strategically placed to monitor the wildlife.

What are the animals that live in Kruger National Park?

Kruger National Park supports more than 500 bird species like the martial eagle, ground hornbill, Pel's fishing owl and saddle-billed stork. It is home to the largest number of large mammals in all African reserves. The big five inhabit Kruger National Park. Additionally, amphibians, reptiles, and fish are found in the park.

What river flows through the park?

Several rivers flow through the park including River Limpopo which forms the North border of the park and River Crocodile which forms the Southern boundary. The Lebombo Mountains are on the eastern border of the park. The park experiences subtropical climate and temperatures often rising above 38 °C.

What are the threats to South Africa?

The parks were established to protect endangered plants and animals in the country. Some of the threats are poachers, illegal loggers, and human settlements in the parks. South Africa has many game rangers who guard the parks and keep off poachers.

What is the only amphibian species in Table Mountain National Park?

The rare amphibian species of Table Mountain ghost frog only exists in the Table Mountain National Park. The park's wildlife and vegetation are threatened by rapid urbanization that leads to habitat destruction for the plants and animals.