Kruger National Park Marks 100 Years of Conservation

South Africa's Kruger National Park celebrated its centenary on May 31, 2026, at Skukuza Rest Camp. The park, spanning 19,485 square kilometers across Limpopo and Mpumalanga, originated from the Sabie Game Reserve established in 1898. James Stevenson-Hamilton, the first warden appointed in 1902, fought poaching and advocated for a protected landscape. The National Parks Act of May 31, 1926, merged the Sabie and Shingwedzi Game Reserves to create Kruger, named after former president Paul Kruger. It opened to visitors in 1927. Today, the park hosts the Big Five and more large mammal species than any other African protected area. In 2002, it joined the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, linking South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Minister Willie Aucamp highlighted four pillars: conservation, science, tourism, and community involvement. On May 29, a Beneficiation Scheme Framework Agreement was signed with seven neighboring communities to foster economic opportunities.