Dry season herbivore densities around drinking troughs in the Kruger National Park

Densities of large herbivores within distance annuli around drinking troughsin the Kruger National Park were determined by means of aerial counts. A relationship between herbivore use intensity and distance from drinking troughs was tested for and modelled with the logistic curve. A significant negative relationship was found. High herbivore densities within 0•5 km of the troughs dropped off steeply to a more or less uniform density beyond the immediate vicinity of the water. This has major implications for the rangeland condition in the immediate vicinity of troughs.