Beyond the Kruger: Top 10 Wild

Beyond the Kruger: Top 10 Wildlife Destinations in South Africa

As wonderful as the Kruger National Park is, there are a number of other destinations that can give you the thrill of experiencing wildlife. Whether it is lush forests, sparse deserts or historic sites, South Africa’s natural parks are something to behold. Here’s our list of other wildlife destinations to see if you have already been to the Kruger.

Beyond the Kruger: Top 10 Wild

KgalagadiKgalagadi Transfrontier Park

With 3.6 million hectares of space, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park amalgamation of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa (proclaimed in 1931)and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana which makes the park one of the biggest in the world. Famous for the black-maned lions, gemsbok and meerkats, this park offers sights that the Kruger National Park could never give you.

uKhahlambauKhahlamba /Drakensberg Park

Drakensberg Park is an area of exceptional beauty featuring rolling high altitude grasslands, pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges. Many of the caves shelter the largest concentrated group of rock art in sub-Saharan Africa . Also, the site’s diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants. No wonder it is a World Heritage Site.

HluhluweHluhluwe iMfolozi Park

Situated in Kwazulu-Natal, the oldest natural park in Africa has a lot to shout about. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the park, it now has the largest population of white rhino in the world. On top of this, the park also has populations of the big 5 and black rhino.

NamaqualandNamaqua National Park

When in season, the park becomes a kaleidoscope of colour.  Valleys filled with Namaqualand daisies and other spring flowers come alive in season. With its winter rainfall, Namaqualand is home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world and more than a 1 000 of its estimated 3 500 plant species are found nowhere else on earth.

Cape VidalCape Vidal

You can enjoy a different sort of big game at this park, with migratory marlin, sailfish and dolphins on the must-see list. You can also enjoy the best of both worlds with access to the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia where there is a variety of game including reedbuck, other antelope, hippos, crocodiles and buffalo and an array of marine animals.

Proteas Table MountainTable Mountain National Park

Most of you will know about this pristine area of land. From hiking to forest walks and picturesque picnics. Highlights of the park include; the Cape of Good Hope and the Boulders Penguin Colony.

African Elephant, Loxodonta africana - up close and personal in MapungubweMapungubwe National Park
Perhaps you want to experience some history while you enjoy the wildlife. The park protects the historical site of Mapungubwe Hill, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe. This is where the legendary gold rhino was created. The park supports numerous animals and bird species such as; elephant, giraffe, white rhino, lions, leopards and hyenas.

Golden Gate 3Golden Gate National Park
If you  ever get bored of the savannah, you might want to take a trip to the mountains. The Golden Gate National Park is 320 kilometres from Johannesburg and it boasts some breath-taking scenery and some rare antelope, the Bearded Vulture and the endangered Cape Vulture and Bald Ibis.

dassiesGarden Route National Park
The Garden Route National Park was created 2009 where there was amalgamating the existing Tsitsikamma and Wilderness National Parks, the Knysna National Lake Area, and various other areas of state-owned land. With lush forests, fynbos areas and gorgeous coastline, this is really a jewel of a wildlife destination.

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