Little beats the feeling of waking up in the African bush, and with so much beauty and natural wonder in every direction, there’s no telling what you might see! In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Peace Parks Foundation’s Aviation Manager and Chief Pilot, Hannes van Wyk, wakes up to a noisy cacophony of birdsong in Letaba Rest Camp. His morning view gets better by the minute as he is soon joined by several other early risers in camp, including a pair of inquisitive bushbuck.
The Magic Of The Kruger National Park
Covering an area of 19,485 square kilometres –roughly the same size as Israel – the Kruger National Park attracts visitors from far and wide to come and view nature in all its glory. With several different habitats and landscapes ranging from vast, open savannah grasslands to dense riverine forests, the park supports a host of different species. This includes 147 animal species and over 500 varieties of birds.
With biodiversity of this scale, it’s not hard to see why this is one of Africa’s most renowned and iconic safari destinations.
The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Together with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, South Africa’s Kruger National Park forms the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park – one of the first formally established transfrontier parks in southern Africa – with the project being spearheaded by Peace Parks Foundation.
The larger Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which includes Banhine and Zinave National Parks, is an important conservation area as it is home to several ecological corridors and wildlife dispersal areas. Alongside the Government of Mozambique, Peace Parks Foundation actively supports the development and management of all three national parks, which collectively measure over a staggeringly large 2.2 million hectares.
The Envy Of Many
Being a conservation pilot in Africa is often the envy of many as it takes them to many beautiful destinations across the continent. Not only do they help to keep protected areas safe, but being able to wake up in a place like the Kruger, is undoubtedly a major perk of the job!
