Hunting in South Africa over a hundred years ago was a massacre. The wild animals were almost extinct. South Africa today has a system of control and balance to make wildlife abundant and allow hunters to recover. The idea of nature conservation in relation to hunting began in 1894 with Paul Kruger. Kruger was president of South Africa and during his administration, he founded the first national park in this country. The Kruger National Park began with 17,000 hectares in the Eastern Province of Transvaal and merged in 1898 with the Sabi Game Reserve. Over the next hundred years, 16 national parks and more than 120 provincial parks were established. This has led to the establishment of more than 560 private nature reserves and more than 800 closed private farms. Conservation is the key to the survival of these reserves and farms. Hunting is necessary to maintain the delicate balance between the number of animals and the food supply available. Hunting tips for South Africa: