Welcome to Americanparks.info - Information on Kruger national park lodges

RENDEZVOUS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 1999--1st South African International Wildlife and Photographic Convention:

The world's first international Wildlife and Photographic Convention will be hosted under the auspices of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa at Skukuza Camp in the Kruger National Park, South Africa from August 10 to 13, 1999.

Accomplished speakers with an International reputation in both the photographic and wildlife fields will lecture during the convention which is expected to attract about 500 delegates. The convention is to be opened officially by the chief executive of the National Parks Board, Mr. Mavuso Msimang, and the keynote address will be delivered by Dr. John Hanks of the Peace Parks Foundation.

Internationally acclaimed photographers who will lecture are Heather Angel from Britain and Darrell Gulin, George Lepp and Art Wolfe from the USA. Experts in the field of wildlife and environmental conservation who will participate are Doctors Roy Bengis, Lee Berger, Anthony Hall-Martin, Gus Mills and Bob Scholes. Clive Hopcroft, a birding expert will present an intensive bird identification course as well as lead birding field excursions and Quinton Coetzee will lecture on the San Bushmen.

Funds generated from the convention will be utilized for wildlife research and to further photography in South Africa. A number of student photographers will be hosted at the convention.

The Kruger National Park was chosen as the convention venue because it is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in the world and having been established in 1898, is the oldest on the African continent. The park is situated in northeastern South Africa in Moumulanga Province and borders Mozambique. The park is approximately 350km in length from north to south and 60km wide covering approximately 2.5 percent of South Africa's total surface area.

The Kruger National Park has an immense diversity of fauna and flora. There are 33 types of amphibians, 507 species of birds, 147 species of mammals, 114 species of reptiles and 300 species of trees. The big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) are ever present as well as the endangered African Wild Dog.

Skukuza is the largest rest camp and the operational and administrative headquarters of the park. Situated in the southern part of the park on the banks of the Sabie river, a variety of accommodation is available from camping and caravan sites to furnished tents, family cottages and luxury guest houses. All lectures will be presented in air-conditioned auditoriums and the facilities offered at Skukuza include a post office, banks, shops, a library, medical care, an E6 film processing unit, restaurants and an airport.

The convention committee extends a warm welcome to you to utilize this ideal opportunity to explore South Africa, known as a world in one country. Pre and post convention tours offer destinations such as Cape Town, "fairest cape of all," the splendors of floral Namaqualand, the idyllic tropical beaches of Natal and numerous nature reserves, wildlife lodges and exotic destinations.

This is a wildlife photographic experience of a lifetime and we will ensure your ultimate satisfaction. For further information visit the convention Internet web addresses; http:// www.pssa.co.za or http:// www.iwpc.co.za or contact the convention organizers, Reservations Hotline, via email: reshot@sprintlink.co.za or Internet http://www.reshotline.co.za.

In the United States further information is available from Dr. Martin Bruce, FPSA, 22516 Caravelle Circle, Boca Raton, Florida 33433; email: Brucepubl@)aol.com. In Canada from Mrs. Mary Longman, 445 Platts Lane, London, Ontario N6G 3H1; email: mlongman@execulink.com. Elsewhere Barrie Wilkins, Hon FPSSA, FPSSA (Dux), Hon FRPS, FPSA, P.O. Box 5060, Walmer, 6065, South Africa; email: bwilkins@iafrica.com

The Kruger National Park is just one of the wonders of South Africa and we are inviting you to experience it with us. Photographic opportunities abound, whether you have bags full of equipment or a simple camera and 70 to 200 zoom lens, you are sure to find something to interest you.

Some of the creatures you may be able to capture on film at Kruger National Park include the following (not pictured).

Klipspringer -- (Rock jumper) -- these creatures have an amazing ability to prance from rock to rock and "perch'" on their specially evolved hooves. The Kruger National Park is a country in itself with a diverse variety of landscape offering sanctuary to a wide variety of animals.

Buffalo -- from time to time the Buffalo hold up the traffic as they cross the road. It is not always ideal to photograph them in the road, therefore I went in close, used a long lens, and just photographed the magnificent head.

Emerging Cicada -- in the Kruger National Park there is something for everyone, be it large or small animals, insect, flowers or history. An emerging cicada with its beautifully colored wings may be photographed in the rest camp.