The Kruger National Park is most certainly one of the world’s favourite big five safari destinations, with local and international travellers visiting all year round.
Blessed with a gorgeous subtropical climate, there is no bad time to visit the Kruger, but rather periods of the year that are better than others. It all depends on what you are hoping to experience on your safari.
The “better time” to visit the Kruger National Park is during the dry season months of April to September. With the limited supply of water and sparse vegetation, game viewing is generally at its best. Animals tend to congregate around waterholes and graze for longer periods of time.
April to May marks the mating season of various antelope like kudu, wildebeest, and impala; whilst elephants migrate to the northern reaches of the Kruger from Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Although the months of June to August are typically South Africa’s winter months and the driest, temperatures are surprisingly pleasant, averaging around 26 degrees Celsius during the day and between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius at night.
During the months of October to March, the Kruger experiences hot summer days and the most rainfall. Temperatures during the day average between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius, whilst the evenings drop to anything from 15 – 20 degrees Celsius. With the need for water, animals do tend to spread themselves over wider areas during the hotter summer months.
The heat of the day quickly turns into a rainstorm but generally doesn’t stay too long. Although there may be times when you will need to put on a poncho, this doesn’t distract from the park’s beauty or the wildlife, but just makes it a little more challenging to spot animals through the foliage.
The landscape is lush and from around January, sightings of babies and birdlife are at their best. With the arrival of new life, predators are generally not far behind, often lurking in the bushes, waiting for their next meal.
From December to March, migrant birds are present in the park and summer breeding is at its peak, and raptors on the prowl for eggs and the young. This is the perfect time for keen birders to visit the park.
