The Greater Kruger Card App, set to officially launch this week, is a state-of-the-art tourist information system for those visiting the greater Hoedspruit, Panorama, Kruger National Park (KNP) and Lowveld regions in South Africa. It aims to improve tourist safety with live push notifications alerting users to any protest action or blockades, whilst providing up-to-date maps and information on activities, accommodation and restaurants in the area.
Heading up The Greater Kruger Card App, Gerhard Brummer says the app provides current information on the region, and that limited Wi-Fi or GPS will not limit the product.
“The system is developed especially for the international tourism market. There are various reasons, but the most important is that travelling the Lowveld regions require state-of-the-art secure mapping and very detailed security information. The latter are provided to the traveller directly on their mobile phones,” explains Brummer.
Screenshot of the Mpumalanga map on The Greater Kruger Card App.
The app is available for download on Google Play Store, and soon Apple’s App Store. Once downloaded, users can then receive various free portfolio maps of Mpumalanga, including Hoedspruit, KNP, Panorama, the Lowveld region at large, as well as eSwatini (Swaziland) on their mobile phones.
Snippet of KNP Portfolio Map on The Greater Kruger Card App.
Ultimately, Brummer told Tourism Update, the app is centered around tourist safety. Built into the app is a system that pushes notifications through to users, updating them on possible interferences in the Lowveld, such as protests taking place, pinpointing the precise location of the strike action so that tourists can reroute safely. In addition, emergency contact details are also provided on the app.
Furthermore, for international self-drive tourists, Brummer says the notification system also alerts users to upcoming toll-gates ahead, as well as informing them on methods of payment.
The Greater Kruger Card App users also receive incentives and discounts available for various activities and restaurants and so forth. The card is valid for up to four people travelling together, and is valid for 365 days of the year. A major percentage of the card sales are donated to animal rehabilitation. All users need to do is present the digital card at the various participating facilities to receive discounts and incentives.
The Greater Kruger Card App is updated regularly, as are the maps.
“It is a brilliant and professional information portal to the Lowveld Regions of South Africa,” concludes Brummer.
To download the app, click here.
