Kruger National Park was proclaimed as early as 1898 as the Sabie hunting reserve. At the time, President Kruger believed that the animals of the Afrique du Sud Lowveld should be protected, but it took 12 years before the expanse between the Sabie and Crocodile rivers was declared a restricted hunting zone, and James Stevenson-Hamilton appointed the first park ranger in 1902.

The first visit comprising an overnight stop at Sabie Bridge (now Skukuza) was organized by Afrique du Sud railways in 1923. Tourists visiting the park slept in the train, and a game ranger would spend an evening with them around a campfire, sharing fascinating anecdotes about the bush.

The popularity of this circuit gave rise to a whole series of tourist facilities within the park, including rest huts at Satara, Pretoriuskop, Letaba, Malelane and Skukuza, among other camps. Roads were constructed in the 1930s to allow tourists traveling by car to enjoy the park at their leisure, and by 1934, approximately 1,200 km of road had been completed.

For nearly 100 years, local and international visitors have had access to the park and enjoyed one of the world's premier destinations for wildlife viewing. It is estimated that Kruger is home to 1,500 lions, 12,000 elephants, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and white and black rhinoceros. Apart from the Big Five, there are countless other wild species to admire, with approximately 145 mammal species present in the park, including hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah and African wild dog, among others.

Amateur birdwatchers will love a visit to Kruger National Park, with nearly 500 bird species on the park's checklist. From the vibrant colors of the kingfisher and the distinctive call of the African fish eagle, to the giant martial eagle perched in a bare leadwood tree, you could spend your days marveling at our feathered friends.

But Kruger is more than just wildlife and flora. It is home to approximately 254 known cultural heritage sites, including 130 recorded rock art sites, 300 archaeological sites from the Stone Age and San rock art.