Around a four hour drive from Johannesburg, Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. Covering some 7332 square miles, punctuated by mountains, rivers, dams and designated safari routes, the park is home to almost 300 000 mammals (including ‘the Big Five’ of black rhinos, leopards, African buffalos, African elephants and lions, not to mention all the reptiles, amphibians and birds that reside here. World famous and a once-in-a-lifetime experience; Kruger National Park is a must.
The park is perfect for self drive safaris, with many visitors preferring to view the wildlife at their own pace. There are a number of designated routes through the park, many of which are tarmac and each offering the opportunity to see an array of magnificent animals in their natural habitat. For those a little less adventurous, there are also many guide-led expeditions available.
With so much to see within the park, it is recommended that you plan ahead and book your accommodation before making your journey. There are various settlements dotted strategically around Kruger, so visitors are able to discover the park at their own pace; resting at a new location each night should they so choose. Each camp is unique, some sit on beautiful prehistoric mountain ranges and others overlook the waterside. If you like your home comforts and have a more luxurious safari in mind, then head for the exclusive safari lodges of the private game reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park.
The Panorama Route
The Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province, with its staggering scenic routes and unparalleled landscape is arguably South Africa’s - if not the world’s - most picturesque drive. Running through the northern side of the Drankensberg Mountains (more on these later) until the eastern area of the Great Escarpment, the Lowveld plains unfold before you in a truly spectacular fashion, as waterfalls, game reserves and the dominating view of surrounding mountains greets you as you progress along the route.
Whilst travelling the Panorama Route the most notable points of call to fully appreciate the brilliance of the views the route has to offer are God’s Window - a 250km continuation of cliff edge offering unrivalled views of the Lowveld plains, punctuated along the way with canyons, waterfalls and rock formations that offer a picture of such widespread beauty; many have described its vastness as reaching as far as the eye can see. The Blyde River Canyon slightly further on is the third largest on earth, and for visitors - the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve offers travelers the opportunity to take a set route, designed specifically to bring in the incredible view over the edge of the canyon; some 2600 feet up from the riverbed.
Pilgrim’s Rest is the ideal place to stop along the Panorama Route to experience a traditional South African ‘gold rush’ town. Almost untouched since the gold rush period of 1880 - 1915, the town acts as a historical monument to one of the many gold-discovering settlements. Visitors are able to do some ‘gold panning’ of their own at the National Gold Museum.
Should you be bringing youngsters with you on your travels, there are plenty of exciting family activities on offer also at various locations on the route. White water rafting, walking trails, 4x4 game drives, tennis, abseiling or even hot air ballooning - the ultimate way to experience the Panoramic Route.
Drakensberg Mountains
Known by visitors and hikers simply as ‘the berg’, the Drakensberg Mountains in the Kwazulu-Natal Province, offer some of the most dramatic scenery that South Africa has to offer. Perhaps the most famous of all its sectors is the Royal Natal, which sits at the summit area of the northern side of the Drakensburg, as this is the place to be to get the best view of the famous ‘Amphitheatre’ - a four kilometre crescent of basalt cliffs - arguably the most eye-opening of all South Africa’s natural sights. An hour drive to the bottom of the Royal Natal will bring you to the Royal Natal National Park, which offers tourists hiking and accommodation facilities for those looking to explore “the theatre” - but be warned: conquering the cliffs will take two full days!
Natal Drakensberg Park, in the centre of the range, is equally inspiring. This area of the berg is populated by enormous bearded vultures who are always circling overhead as baboons can be heard barking from the cliffs! The park is also awash with beautiful colours that dominate the fields and hillsides in autumn, as varieties of pink, orange, white and red prehistoric flower types bloom alongside ancient tree ferns
What attracts most tourists to the central Drakensberg Mountains are the thousands of Bushman Rock Art sites. The oldest of the cave paintings is believed to be 800 years old.
Southern Drakensberg is popular with sports enthusiasts, but not so much by tourists as it has been dubbed ‘no man’s land’ by locals, as its demanding, rugged terrain can only be tackled by 4x4 vehicles or by the keenest of mountain bikers! Check out all of our great South Africa Car Hire deals
