Trees and other plants of Kruger National Park

Afrikaans name: Bome van Krugerwildtuin

The Kruger National Park is nearly 20,000 square kilometres in size which is around 2.5% of South Africa’s surface area. It is obvious that in such a large area there is a variety of different climates, altitude, soil types and more that result in different ecozones which support different trees, shrubs, flowers, and other types of plant.

If you are even mildly interested in trees, I would suggest that you get hold of a copy of the Field Guide to the Trees of Kruger National Park by Piet van Wyk. It will make your visit that much more rewarding. Most people visiting the park are there for the mammals and birds but there is much more to look at.

Here is a tiny sample of the many trees, flowers and other plant-life that may be found in Kruger National Park. The gardens in the camps are a great place to start. My favourite thing about looking for trees in the camps is that many of them have their names on them which helps if you can't identify them.

Bushveld Albizia / Bushveld False-thorn

Round-leaved Teak

Weeping Wattle

Weeping Boer Bean

Fever Tree

Knob Thorn

Matumi

Black Monkey Thorn

Velvet-leaved Corkwood

Common Corkwood

Flat Crown Albizia

Sycamore Fig

Natal Fig

Broom Cluster Fig

Wild Date Palm

Eastern Bushveld Gardenia

Sweet Thorn

Marula

Common Cabbage-Tree

Umdoni

Leadwood

Russet Bush-willow

Lowveld Chestnut

Baobab

Common Coral Tree

White Pear

Green Thorn

Naboom Euphorbia

Tamboti

Coastal Golden-leaf / Mitzeeri

Tassel-berry

Natal Mahogany

Jackal-berry

Giant Raisin

Common Hook-thorn

Black Thorn

Scented Thorn

Paperbark Acacia

Broad-pod Albizia

Num Num

Sjambokpod

Transvaal Saffron

Red Bushwillow

Sickle Bush

Zebra Wood

Lowveld Milkberry

Monkey Pod

---

For more info on Kruger National Park: SanParks