Mammals of the Kruger National Park

Mammals

Whether you want to observe a herd of slow moving elephants or are more partial to watching the shenanigans of frantic baboons, all the Kruger Park's mammalian residents are large in both number and personality. Nearly 150 species of mammals are commonly seen in the Kruger.

Large mammals

The Kruger is home to Southern Africa's largest lion population as well as stable communities of cheetah and spotted hyena. Add to this a large variety of antelope, a massive elephant population, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hippo ... the list goes on.

Whether you want to sit among a herd of buffalo and watch these impressive beasts graze, or watch a pride of lion playing their rather grisly games over a kill, there are enough large mammals in the park to keep your jaw firmly on your lap during your game drives.

Small mammals

Big game may be the Kruger Park's main attraction, but visitors will soon discover that the smaller creatures in the Kruger offer just as much (if not more) entertainment value.

Sitting near a waterhole you can easily lose an hour watching baboons playing in trees, or male impala chasing one another off as they frantically try to keep track of their many females. Warthogs are another wonderfully odd, small mammal to observe. These fierce little creatures are known for their bravery and will even stand up to lions when threatened.

The Kruger's small mammals provide hours of fun and entertainment for the patient observer who is willing to sit in the bush and savour the experience in contemplative quiet.