MVURADONAPRIVATE GAME LODGE

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e-mail: jay@africaunleashed.co.za

Telephone: + 27 (0) 83 326 2835

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

DESTINATION KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

SOUTH AFRICA

OVERVIEW OF LOCATION

The Kruger Park is located in Mpumalanga the land of milk and honey in the South African Lowveld between the magnificent northern Drakensberg escarpment and the Mozambique coastal plains.

The Kruger National Park was the brain child of Paul Kruger in the late 1800's, to preserve one of the South Africa 's natural miracles and was opened to tourism in 1927. Only 3 cars entered the Park in the first year and today must classify as one of the Seven Wonders of the World ” and in the top10 most favourite destinations in the world.

The Kruger Park consists of 20 000 square kilometres, bigger than Wales or Israel .

In time the Kruger will become the major participator in the world's largest game reserve the 30 000 square kilometre Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

The Limpopo Transfrontier Park will also incorporate the neighbouring Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe .

GEOLOGY

Kruger National Park 's geology is made up of igneous granite which forms some of the oldest rocks in the world, dating back 3.5 billion years.

On top of much of the granite base a layer of shale developed from an extremely wet period in the planets history over 250 million years ago. This layer is fossil rich and contains coal from petrified plants.

The Kruger you see to day is mainly the result of the great geological trauma that accompanied the break up of the ancient super-continent, Gondwana. This gigantic land mass made up of Africa, South America, Australia, Madagascar, India and the Antarctic, began fragmenting 200 million years ago.

The separation of Madagascar from the African mainland, some 110 million years ago,

caused a gigantic tilting and geological upliftment in eastern Southern Africa forming the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains and the escarpment dividing the Highveld Panorama from the Lowveld, home of the Kruger National Park and all its magnificent wildlife.

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THE ANIMALS

Kruger is home to 520 recorded bird species, 146 mammal species, and 114 reptile species. Rich plant diversity in the Kruger Park is the foundation for such an incredibly rich animal diversity.

The co-dependency between animals is purely that between the hunter and the hunted.

The hunters, carnivores, which Kruger is most known for, are seen throughout the Park but more populated in the south eastern Kruger where the plains game concentrates over the rich open grasslands. The most dominant predators in the Park are lions, cheetahs, leopards (which make up part of the Big 5) hyaenas and the endangered wild dog. It is said that these main predators kill a combined total of

70 0000 large animals in the Kruger a year.

The Big 5 originated from old game hunting terminology referring to the 5 most dangerous animals to hunt: the lion, .buffalo, elephant, leopard and black rhino.

However, a more conscientious and fulfilling approach to wildlife safaris is to appreciate the intricate ecosystem and relationships between animals plants and seasons and to seek out the Rare Five the aardvark, black rhino, pangolin, suni and roan antelope and the Little Five which are the leopard tortoise, ant lion, buffalo weaver ,rhino beetle and the elephant shrew.

LION Estimated numbers in the Kruger 2000

King of the Jungle and that they certainly are!

Males weigh in at up to 230 kg and are able to carry up to seven times their own body mass., you will be overcome by their majestic poise, which comes from being Africa's most formidable apex predator and most feared and respected animal in the world. You can distinguish between male lions and lionesses by the male's distinct Maine . Lions are the most social of all the cats, living in prides, they are extremely territorial each pride demarcating an area of about 10 square kms in which to hunt.

The thundering roar of a lion can be heard up to 8 kms away, the loudest vocal sound created by any field.

The best part of the Kruger to see lion is in the grasslands around Satara, Skukuza, Lower Sabi down to the Crocodile River and Crocodile Bridge .

(Mvuradona Private Game Lodge is located on the Crocodile River overlooking the Kruger Park 15 kms from Crocodile Bridge Gate)

HYAENAS “ Estimated numbers in the Kruger 2000

Hyaenas are the second major group of predators in the Kruger Park after lion accounting for more kills than leopard and cheetah. They have a reputation for scavenging but studies shown that in the Kruger they tend to do their own hunting.

There is no love lost between hyaena and lion, hyaena often attacking old lion and lion cubs. The most common in the Kruger is the spotted hyena as apposed to the rarer brown hyaena, they live in matriarchal clans of up to 15 members.

They usually hunt in packs at night and when excited about a possible feast make a giggling and whooping sound, hence the nickname “laughing hyaena”.

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LEOPARDS “ Estimated numbers in the Kruger 1000

Leopards are the most illusive of all the big cats, they are solitary characters, and love the mountainous outcrops and thick riverine bush. Leopards hunt mostly at night or early hours of the morning and will get up to a speed of 60kms an hour on a kill.

They often drag their kill up a tree to escape the scavengers of the night.

CHEETAH “ Estimated numbers in the Kruger 200

Cheetahs are very shy animals, mostly found in the grasslands areas. They can reach an amazing speed of up to a 100 kms on a hunt and will devour their prey on the spot.

Cheetahs are very difficult to spot in the Kruger due to such a small population, so if you see Cheetah on your safari consider yourselves very lucky!

WILD DOG “ Estimated numbers in the Kruger 400

These animals are the most incredible species and they are endangered. They live in packs of up to 30. Wild dogs are constantly on the move and cover up to 250 square kms in the Kruger Park , travelling over 50 kms in a day. Wild Dogs are masters in pack hunting; they will isolate an animal from its herd and chase it in a relay method, biting all the time until the animal collapses from shear exhaustion.

Female dogs will take food back to their young at the den and feed by regurgitating the food, if young are close at hand on a hunt they will let the young eat before they move in.

CLIMATE

The Kruger Park area has very hot summers, sometimes reaching 45 degrees Celsius

with warm nights and sporadic rainfall. Our summer months range from October to April. Winters are generally mild and dry with a cool nip in the late evenings and early mornings, but rarely dropping below 15 degrees.

CLOTHING ADVICE

In summer, you need to bring light cool cotton shirts, shorts and summer weight long pants for the evenings with perhaps a summer jersey or jumper and of course a costume and a hat for the sun.

In winter, especially when travelling in open safari vehicles, you need long pants, T shirts, tracksuits and a good warm jacket. Layer your clothing so you can strip off as the day gets warmer. Bring a costume in case you need a midday dip and of course a hat.

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MALARIA

Malaria is more prevalent in the rainy season in summer, during winter there is little risk. It is advisable to consult your doctor and start prophylactics prior arrival +-2 weeks. Also carry a good mosquito repellent (spray or cream) when visiting the park.

Most private lodges supply repellents, mosquito nets, room repellents and burners around the lodge.

The most vulnerable times are between dusk and dawn, so it is advisable to put on your long pants and long sleeve tops in the evenings.

Remember not every mosquito carries malaria. Should you develop flu like symptoms within 7-20 days after visiting a malaria zone consult your doctor.

Malaria Hotline +27 82 234 1800

SELF DRIVERS

Most guests ask what car would be the best to hire; my advice is a 4x4. You are coming to the bush where there are dirt roads and the game viewing from a 4x4 is more pleasurable from an elevated position. The Kruger has many dirt road options and if you really want to be adventures a 4x4 is much more comforting.

However, you can still get around in a standard car.

There are frequently located petrol stations in and around the Kruger.

If you intend travelling cross border to Swaziland and Mozambique remember to ask the car hire company for approval documentation prior you journey for convenience.

The Kruger National has information kiosks at all the Gate Entrances and convenience stores where you can buy maps, drinks, snack foods and curios.

Mvuradona Private Game Lodge is located in the greater southern Kruger National area, known as the Wild Frontier, 35 kms from the Malelane Kruger Gate and 15 kms from the Crocodile Bridge Gate ( between the 2 gates).

The N4, toll road via Witbank and Middleburg, is the carrier from JHB through Nelspruit to Malelane Kruger Gate and Crocodile Bridge Gate and carries on right to Maputo Mozambique .

When travelling from JHB a great midway stop is “Milly's” Machadadorp/Dullstroom, (approximately 1.45 hours from JHB) there is a fuelling station, spotlessly clean cloakrooms, fast food takeaways, a convenience store and a thatched restaurant overlooking the trout fishing lakes.

If you want to turn your journey to the Kruger National into a great historical experience, take the route to Barberton , the best kept secret in South Africa , and visit the oldest Gold Mine in the world, learn about its ancient geological history, experience the gold panning and visit the jewellery project. There is a delightful restaurant and quaint guest houses if you choose to do an overnight stay.

The other alternative is to vist the Sudwala Caves on the way to Nelspruit (+-20 kms from Nelspruit) and the Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit. There are some great restaurants in Nelspruit and some beautiful guest houses, my favourite Loeri's Call.

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