Kruger National Park Celebrates 100 Years of Conservation

South African authorities and nature lovers celebrated the centenary of Kruger National Park on Sunday, marking 100 years of conservation in the 7,500-square-mile wildlife reserve.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Willie Aucamp led celebrations at Skukuza Rest Camp inside the park. He said he was “proud” to be associated “with those who’ve maintained and managed it so magnificently” over the last century.

One of Africa’s largest and oldest national parks, Kruger was named after the Republic’s first president, Paul Kruger. Inspired by earlier laws organizing private game camps, Kruger sought to create a large game reserve in what is now northern Kruger National Park to protect species needing wide ranges.

Though Kruger was no longer in office when the park was created, his role in establishing its predecessor, the Sabi Game Reserve, was recognized when choosing the name.

Today, Kruger receives 2 million visitors annually. It hosts more species of large mammal than any other place in Africa, along with hundreds of bird, reptile, and plant species. The park has been a testing ground for endangered species protection, wildlife research, and balancing conservation with tourism.

“As a united people, we are celebrating this success story, realizing we have the responsibility to take this forward to another 100 years so that our grandchildren and great grandchildren can see what it is like to see when a herd of elephant is walking and hear lions roar in the most pristine natural area in the world,” said Minister Aucamp.