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Photo: User:מנחם.אל, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Made up of buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and black rhino, the Big Five were considered the most difficult African animals to hunt. Today, they are considered amongst the crown jewels of Kruger Park and many an adventurer tries to shoot all five on their trip - with a camera this time. You're almost certain to see elephant and buffalo (though don't confuse the wildebeest you see for buffalo). Lions are a bit more difficult as they easily camouflage into the surrounding landscape but you'll probably see them if you have at least 3 days in the park. Look for lions napping in the shade of small trees or bushes. Leopards and black rhinos, however, are elusive. White rhinos love to graze on the short grass, but the black rhino are much more skittish. Black rhinos browse on shrubbery, so they tend to be found not on the plains but in stands of trees and shrubs. They're also smaller and more easily frightened. Leopards and black rhinos can often be found in the same areas. Look for a leopard in every big tree overhanging a river - especially on horizontal branches of marula trees. Binoculars and telephoto lenses are almost essential for leopard viewings are they are usually far away from roads and up in trees.
In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. The term was coined by big-game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot. The Big Five has a long hunting history that started at the end of the 19th century during European control of Africa.
The ruins of a trading post of famous Portuguese trader João Albasini lie just inside of Phabeni gate. His trading post was once the connection between the Afrikaans-speaking Boers of the South African Republic (a.k.a. the Transvaal Republic) and the Portuguese colony in modern-day Mozambique. The site also has some picnic tables, but without a shop or any way to cook food. Toilet facilities are at the Phabeni gate.
This small library and museum holds a treasure trove of Kruger Park history. A nice breather in the heat of the day, the museum tells of the history of the area and contains anthropological and archaeological artefacts. The library contains the written history of the park.
The Stevenson-Hamilton memorial plaque sits near the top of Shirimantanga hill in the Rhenosterkoppies (rhino hills) section of the park. A small memorial to the man nicknamed Skukuza, who was warden of the Sabi Nature Reserve (which later became Kruger National Park) from 1902-1946, the area is also a good excuse to stretch your legs as it's one of the few locations where you're allowed to leave your car. Be warned, however, that the area is not guarded and leopards are quite active around, so it is crucial to take caution before leaving your car. If you do, however, and walk a short distance from the parking area, you will be rewarded with one of the most spectacular views in the park.
Probably the most famous bird hide in Kruger, the Lake Panic bird hide is on the western end of Lake Panic, a manmade lake on Mafuyana Creek. Common sightings include hippos, crocodiles, terrapins, pied kingfishers, great heron and African fish eagle. It's common to see dozens of species just in a half hour at the hide.
Overlooking the Nthandanyathi ("where the buffalo drink") waterhole is a small wheelchair accessible hide. Sharptooth catfish, terrapin, crocodiles and three-banded plovers are common sightings from this hide. The hide is easily accessible from both Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge, and is relatively accessible with a day trip from the other main camps in the Marula region.
Despite being in one of the most accessible areas of the park, Gardenia hide is still generally relatively quiet. Elephants are especially common in this region of the park, but bushbuck, honeybadger, kudu, giraffe, lion, yellow-billed hornbill, grey go-away birds and Natal spurfowl are also frequent sightings. Water level varies quite drastically, so it's best to check with someone at a gate or at camp about current levels.