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South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the African continent.
Covering 471,442 square miles(1,221,337 square kilometres), South Africa is home to approximately 44,000,000 inhabitants.
74 percent are African, 14 percent European or European descent, 9 percent% Coloured (Mixed race) and 3 percent Asian (mostly Indian).
South Africa has three capital cities, these are PRETORIA (Administrative), CAPE TOWN (Legaslative) and BLOEMFONTEIN (Judicial) and is divided into 9 Provinces, namely:
Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Orange Free State, North-West Province, Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumulanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal.
South Africa is one of the world's largest producers of GOLD and also mines DIAMONDS, CHROME, PLATINUM, VANADIUM, MANGANESE AND FLUORSPAR.
The other main industries in South Africa are MOTOR MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHING AND TOURISM.
The main tourist areas in South Africa are WESTERN CAPE, which includes CAPE TOWN and the CAPE WINE ROUTE, KWA-ZULU NATAL and the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK. Animals
Kruger National Park Game Census Historical Overview
Weather
General Topography
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There are very few, if any, of the other national parks in the world who can match the Kruger National Park in the sheer concentration of species. Below is an estimated number of animals in the Kruger National Park according to the latest game census and information from Park rangers. This mini-census details just a few of the 147 species of mammals recorded in the Park.
Cheetah 300, Hippopotamus 3,000, Leopard 900, Impala 160,000,
Lion 1,500, Kudu 8,000, Spotted Hyaena 2,000, Mountain Reedbuck 150
Wild Dog 300, Nyala 800, Black Rhino 200, Oribi 100, Blue Wildebeest 15,000,
Reedbuck 1,500, Buffalo 30,000, Roan Antelope 300, Burchell's (Plain) Zebra 32,000
Sable Antelope 2,000, Bushbuck 1,500, Tsessebe 720, Eland 750, Warthog 3,000,
Elephant 7,500, Waterbuck 4,000, Giraffe 5,000, White Rhino 1,300.
In addition to the many mammals in the Park, there are also 507 bird species, 114 reptile species, 50 fish species, and 33 amphibian species. As a matter of interest, a bull shark was actually seen in the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers back in 1950.
The Kruger National Park boasts the world's greatest concentration of species and is the largest game reserve in the Republic of South Africa. The Park as it is known today covers roughly 2,000,000 hex acres or the equivalent of 20,000 square kilometres. In 1844, the eastern boundary of the Park was agreed upon with the Portuguese. The eastern boundary happens to be a major portion of the border between Mozambique and South Africa. In 1869, a "gold rush" exploded throughout the region and caused the number of game to dramatically decrease due to hunting and trading of animal skins and horns. President Paul Kruger, in 1884, proposed that boundaries in the region be defined as game reserves to protect the flora and fauna. He encountered inevitable resistance with the proposed restrictions and did not succeed until 1898 when the Crocodile and Sabie river areas were officially deemed reserves. These reserves would eventually expand into today's Kruger National Park. The very first ranger in the reserve was Paul Bester who made his residence in a rustic rondavel which is now the site of the headquarter's camp, Skukuza. After the Anglo-Boer War, James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed as the first park warden. He spent the next 40 years protecting what the war had destroyed. His actions are no doubt an ever-living contribution to the Park's current existence. In addition to his animal conservation, James Stevenson Hamilton was also responsible for acquiring another 10,000 hex acres for the reserve. After World War I, the Park was protected by the government of South Africa and remains under the watchful eye of the government even today. The Park is a living memorial to people like President Paul Kruger, hence the name Kruger National Park.
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the Kruger National Park has its share of rain and hot weather. During the summer months (September-April), the Park experiences sporadic rainfall in the form of quick thunder showers. April through August represent the winter months in Southern Africa which in turn means very little rain. As far as rainfall is concerned, the southern region receives the largest amount of rainfall while the central plains receive the least. The temperatures average from 30 degrees Celcius in January (summer) to 23 degrees Celcius in July (winter). Please be aware that the maximum temperature can reach 47 degrees Celcius (January) and 35 degrees Celcius (July). For your information, the average nightly temperature can range from 7-18 degrees Celsius (January) and most certainly freezing in July. It is highly advisable to wear "breathable" clothes to avoid heat exhaustion or stroke during the day, drink plenty of water and ensure that appropriate clothing is available in the often cold nights. For more information on the necessary gear and other frequently asked questions, I suggest that you Click Here to locate a book on the Park.
Malaria medicine should be started well in advance of any visit to the Park, especially in the rainy season. In addition to anti-malarial medicine, mosquito spray should also be utilized. .
Rivers
The Limpopo is the Park's northern-most river and the Crocodile river forms the southern boundary. In addition to these rivers, the Sabie, Letaba, Olifants and Luvuvhu rivers provide the Park's interior with water. There are some seasonal rivers like the Shisa or Timbavati which are usually dry in the winter months.
While driving on the main roads, the Park tends to be mostly flat bush (plains) and savannahs (woodland) with occasional rocky outcrops, otherwise known as "Koppies," and rivers. It is important to note that the Kruger National Park has an amazing 16 different ecosystems
Information courtesy of Kruger National Park Home Page
