South Africa
National Parks & Game
Reserves
Addo Elephant Park
Augrabies Falls N P
Bontebok N
P
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Kalahari Gemsbok N P
Karoo N P
Kruger N P
Mountain Zebra N
P
Madikwe G R
Pilanesberg
N P
Links to Private
Reserves
| The Africa Guide's - Recommended
Video |
 |
Safari to South
Africa VHS (amazon.com) - USA
Travel from the Shamwari Game
Reserve, to the wine country of South Africa. Get within a whisper of the
wildlife known as Africa's Big Five as you join hippos and rhinos, lion's and
elephants at play. Join us as we track a rhino in need of eye surgery - from
the take down by the local vet to the operation in the wild, you'll see this
fantastic animal so close up that you can almost feel his breath.
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| The Africa Guide's - Recommended
Map/Atlas |
 |
.
Atlas of National Parks and Reserves of South
Africa - Atlas
(Maps Worldwide)
Published by Map Studio
Atlas
covering all national parks, reserves of SA with useful information and
detailed maps. Detailed coverage of over 300 parks, reserves with informative
text, over 150 photographs, site and location maps with up to 192
pages |
Most
visitors to South Africa will want to visit at least one of the country's
protected wilderness areas, so they can experience, first-hand, the wonder of
nature in an untamed environment. Game viewing is highly enjoyable throughout
the year, but the ideal time to visit is from April to September, during the
South African winter. In the wildlife areas most rain falls during the South
African summer, encouraging lush vegetation and making wild animals more
difficult to spot. In the winter the bush is more sparse, forcing the game to
drink at rivers and waterholes, where it can be more easily viewed. Best time
of the day for seeing the game is in the early morning or late afternoon
through to dusk. This is when the animals are at their most active. In the heat
of the day they will retreat to the shadows so look for them sheltering under
trees or bushes.
Nevertheless, the wildlife in South Africa's parks
and reserves is so prolific that an unforgettable experience is more or less
guaranteed and many visitors will get the chance to see at least some of the
"big five" - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as cheetah,
giraffe, hippo, a numerous variety of antelopes and an abundance of bird
species.
South Africa's wildlife sanctuaries fall into three main
categories: nature parks, private and national game reserves.
ADDO ELEPHANT PARK
The
Addo Elephant Park is located in the Eastern Cape Province approximately 70km
north of Park Elizabeth near the Zuurberg Range in the Sundays River valley.
Addo Elephant park is small and was established to protect the huge herds of
elephants that once roamed the area, you would be unlucky not to see one during
a visit. Tours to the park can be arranged in Port Elizabeth.
Accommodation
There is a camping area
and a few rondavels with self catering facilities.
click to view recommended Tours and Safaris to Addo Elephant
Park
AUGRABIES FALLS NATIONAL PARK
This park is
located in the Northern Cape Province approx 120kms west of Upington, featuring
the Augrabies Falls, where the Orange River drops into a solid granite ravine.
The main falls drop 56mtrs and is quite impressive particular during the
raining season. Most the mammals in the park are small and include,
klipspringer antelope, squirrel, rock dassie, although recently introduced to
the park, on the north bank of the river, are black rhino, eland, springbok and
kudu.
Accommodation
consists
of a camping ground and self contained chalets and advance bookings are taken
by the South African National Parks .
BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK
 Bontebok is located in the Western Cape Province six km south
of Swellendam, and is a small plot that was specifically set aside to protect
the almost extinct Bontebok antelope, that is found nowhere else. Birdlife in
the park is abundant and it is home to numerous antelope. The park also has
large variety grasses and other plant species..
GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK
 Situated in
north-eastern Free State, Gate Gate Highlands National Park is a small park
covering an area of about 116 sq km. The park derives its name from the
brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs,
especially the imposing Brandwag rock, keeping vigil over the main rest camp.
This is a unique environment; a true highland habitat, providing home to a
variety of mammals – black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok
and Burchell's zebra - and birds, including the rare bearded vulture
(lammergeier) and the equally rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the
sandstone cliffs. Ribbokkop, the highest point in the park, reveals a
breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge
with the cool mountain shadows towards evening.
There is a lovely
camping site situated next to Mushroom Rock and there is a restcamp with
Rondavals and rooms - booking in advance is adviseable.
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve
Hhe oldest game reserve in South
Africa, which was formed for the sole purpose of saving the
Rhino
THE KALAHARI GEMSBOK NATIONAL PARK
This park,
although not as well known as some other parks in South Africa is worth a
visit. It is located in the Northern Cape Province and borders with Namibia to
the north west and Botswana to the north east and covers an area of
approximately 9591 sq km on the South African side and a further 1.8 million
hectares in Botswana which makes it one of the largest protected areas in
Africa. Although much of the landscape is semi-desert it is the territory of
the majestic, rapier-horned gemsbok, the delicate springbok and the Kalahari
lion as well as supporting large populations of birds, reptiles and small
mammals and antelope. Much of the wildlife is concentrated around and along the
Nossob and Aoub River beds and waterholes, where wildlife viewing is quite
remarkable.
Accommodation
There are rest-camps at Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata and Nossob offering a range of
fully equipped cottages and camping facilities. Again, if you want to stay in
the park you will need to pre-book accommodation with the South African
National Parks . There are plenty of places offering accommodation on route to
the park.
KAROO NATIONAL PARK
Located in the Western Cape
Province near Beaufort West covering an area of 330 sq kms. The Karoo landscape
and scenery is spectacular and the park home to 60 species of mammal, the most
common being the dassie and bat-eared fox. A few rhino's have recently been
introduced but not much big game is found here. There is a three day hiking
trial within the park.
is available in the form of a
caravan park and 2 person chalets. It is best booked in advance through the
South African National Parks .
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
 The world famous Kruger National Park was established in 1898
by Paul Kruger, and borders with Mozambique. It is located to the eastern side
of Northern Province running southwards into the Eastern Lowveld of Mpumalanga,
covering an area of two million hectares. Home to a wealth of wildlife,
including 147 species of mammals, 500 types of bird and 33 types of amphibian.
The flora is equally diverse with 300 difference types of trees. All the big
game can be found here including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo,
giraffe, rhino and buffalo.
The Kruger National Park is huge (about 350km
from North to South) and would be very difficult to see it all in one trip. The
Southern section of the Kruger National Park is the most popular as it has the
richest diversity of habitats and animal life.
The Park attracts more
than 750,000 visitors annually and caters for day-trippers and well as
overnight guests and campers with the accommodation available being relatively
inexpensive. Accommodation, apart from camping, must be pre-booked through the
National Parks Board. The park offers numerous organised wilderness trails as
well as ranger guided day and night safaris in open vehicles. All the main
camps have petrol stations and shops. Skukuza is the biggest rest camp and has
a large information centre, a bank, post office as well as a photo developing
service and AA workshop.
| Recommended Map
|
 |
Kruger
National Park Souvenir Map
Buy from Maps Worldwide
Published by Map
Studio
A comprehensive map showing landscape zones, rest camps, places
of interest and much more. |
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| Recommended Books |
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Kruger
National Park Travel Pack
(amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
The handy pocket-size guide is
packed with useful information, tips and recommendations, accompanied by colour
photographs, charts and maps for the first-time traveller who wants to
experience the major highlights that the Kruger National Park has to offer. The
fold-out map of the Kruger National Park is ideal for tourists and visitors.
|
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Field Guide to
the Mammals of the Kruger National Park
(amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
A superb book - and a must if you
are visting the Kruger. It boasts a huge variety of mammals, ranging from
bushbabies to elephants; this book describes all the mammalian species known to
occur in the Park. Detailed information is provided on the distribution,
habitat, reproduction, physical characteristics and behaviour of each species,
as well as predation rates and percentage kills - unique and specific to the
Kruger National Park |
MADIKWE GAME RESERVE
Located 360 km from
Johannesburg, an easy 3 ½ hour drive on National roads. It is situated
in the North West Province and is bordered by Botswana in the north, the
spectacular Dwarsberg Mountains to the south, the Marico river to the east. The
diverse habitat in the Madikwe Reserve, from acacia savannah to riverine,
ensures a unique combination of species such as springbok, gemsbok, sable and
impala. The birdlife is spectacular and it is also one of the few reserves in
South Africa that is malaria free.
In 1992, Madikwe Game Reserve,
created from 750 sq km of farmland, which had been extensively degraded by
overgrazing, was chosen as the site of Operation Phoenix. The
government-sponsored, biggest-ever game- relocation programme in Africa
involved re-stocking and conserving flora and wildlife, which had long since
disappeared from the region. Ten thousand animals of 27 major species,
including wild dog, cheetah, lion, white and black rhino, buffalo and elephant,
have been re-introduced to the Reserve over a six year period with animals
coming from various reserves and breeding centres and game viewing is now at
its prime. Madikwe Game Reserve is currently the country’s fourth largest
game reserve.
MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK
Located
approximately 30kms from Cradock on the northern slopes of the Bankberg
Mountain Range offering magnificent view over the Karoo. This small park
protects on of the rarest animals in the word - the mountain zebra, but it is
also home to many antelope species. There are few roads and you can choose to
go on a three day Mountain Zebra Trail or two short day walks.
Accommodation
is available at The
Doornhoek, which is a restored farmhouse dating back to 1836 and located in a
secluded valley. There are also camp sites and cottages available which can be
booked through the South African National Parks .
PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Located in the North-West province, the park adjoins Sun City and protects
an area of more than 500 sq. km. It is situated on the site of an ancient
volcanic crater and boasts a large diversity of plant and animal life,
including the white and black rhino, elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra,
leopard, jackal, hyena and wide variety of antelope and although rare, you
could even be fortunate to spot a cheetah.
Accommodation
There are various types of
accommodation available in the park: two restcamps with chalets, three
restcamps with safari tents and some luxurious lodges and
hotels.
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