The Kruger National Park — once the pride of South Africa — is showing cracks in its balance. In this episode, I unpack my recent visit to Kruger and the hard truths behind its management.

With over 2 million hectares of land and an estimated 31 000 elephants, 2 000 lions, and 12 000 buffalo, the park faces a growing question:

Is tourism alone enough to sustain it, or has emotional conservation replaced ecological science?

Join me as I break down the numbers, carrying capacity, and income comparisons between Kruger’s current tourism model and a potential controlled hunting approach — revealing just how massive the economic difference could be.

💬 I also discuss my personal frustrations with the current tourism culture, overcrowded sightings, and how we might merge two worlds — tourism and sustainable hunting — to secure Kruger’s wildlife for generations to come.

📊 Topics Covered:

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  Kruger’s estimated wildlife populations

  
  


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  The park’s annual tourism income vs potential hunting income

  
  


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  Predator overpopulation and its ecological impact

  
  


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  Tour guide behaviour and visitor ethics

  
  


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  The future of true wildlife management in South Africa