Kruger National Park, a 2-million-hectare park with lots of diversity and ecozones, is the go-to park for the best chance of finding not just the Big 5, but also the Big 7, which includes Wild dog and cheetah. There are six large rivers running through Kruger: the Crocodile; Sabie; Olifants; Letaba; Shingwedzi; and Luvuhu Rivers, crawling with crocodiles and hippos; and has a prolific birdlife.
The highest density of tourism and game can be found in the south of the park where there are seven camps: Skukuza; Lower Sabie; Crocodile Bridge; Berg en Dal; Malelane; and Pretoruiskop Camps, as well as Biyamiti Bushveld Camp. Entry into the park are through the Paul Kruger, Crocodile Bridge, Malelane, Numbi, and Phabeni Gates.
Central Kruger is known for big cat sightings, with eight camps to choose from: Orpen; Satara; Olifants; Letaba; Talamati; Roodewal; Shimuwini; Balule; and Balule Camps. Enter the Park through Orpen and Phalaborwa Gates.
Northern Kruger is my favourite part of the park, with fewer tourists, and you are usually alone at sightings, or there are only a couple of other vehicles. There are seven camps in the north: Mopani; Shingwedzi; Punda Maria Camps; Boulders; Bateleur; Sirheni Bushveld Camps; Tsendze Rustic Campsite; and Pafuri Border Camp. Entry into the Park is through Phalaborwa, Punda Maria and Pafuri Gates
