Greater Kruger National Park

Why

The Greater Kruger Park encompasses a number of private reserves scattered around the edges of the Kruger National Park. Some of these smaller reserves share an unfenced border with the Kruger which allows the wildlife, including the Big Five, to move freely. Travellers are afforded an intimate safari experience with a limited number of lodges and safari vehicles in each private concession. An adventure awaits you in the Greater Kruger Park with a selection of tented and luxury safari lodge accommodation, open-vehicle game drives, guided walking safaris, elephant interactions, hot air ballooning experiences, cultural village tours, and sleep-out experiences beneath the stars.

When

The Kruger National Park experiences two distinct seasons: a dry winter from May to October and a wet summer from November to April. As the area is a year-round destination, when you choose to go largely depends on the type of experience you wish to have.

We rate the dry winter season as ideal for game viewing and safari walks. During this period, the vegetation thins out significantly and animals congregate around permanent waterholes, making them easier to spot. This is also a pleasant time to visit as there are relatively few mosquitoes and little to no rain. Day-time temperatures during winter are warm but not stiflingly hot. Visitors will need warm clothing for the chilly evenings and early-morning game drives.

At the end of the winter season, from around September to October, conditions can become very hot and humid. Concentrations of animals around water sources are at their peak, resulting in exceptional game viewing.

The summer rainfall period typically begins in November and continues until about April. The park is at its most beautiful as the vegetation becomes lush and green, providing an ideal backdrop for wildlife photography. This is also the calving season, when baby animals abound, and bird watching is at its best with the arrival of summer migrants. If you’re keen on combining your Kruger safari with a classic South African beach holiday, this is the time to visit.  

Travellers looking to avoid the crowds should avoid Kruger during the peak tourist seasons from July to August and during the December/January South African school holidays.

Where

At Safari.com, we have more than 50 accomplished Kruger travel consultants ready to help you make your Safari dream a reality. With our in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience of the Kruger region, we’re able to tailor a safari to suit your budget, and our price guarantee ensures that you won’t get it cheaper elsewhere… not even by booking direct. Please let one of our safari experts give you a call to discuss your travel plans, we provide the most convenient flight options with seamless transfers, pre and post safari accommodation, day trips and insider traveler tips or you can go onto Live Chat right now.

There are a number of reserves and concessions scattered around the edges of the Kruger, some sharing a border with the park. These smaller reserves offer diverse landscapes of savannah grasslands, granitic hills and riverine woodlands, often with the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains as backdrop. Most are home to the Big Five and a wide array of other big mammals.

Accommodation varies greatly and is usually far more affordable than the Kruger’s private concessions. You can choose anything from luxury chalets and rustic en-suite rondavels (huts) to self-catering bush lodges and romantic sleep-out decks under the stars.

Activities in these reserves include game drives, guided bush walks, star gazing, horse riding, hot-air ballooning, elephant-back safaris, white-water rafting, boat trips and cultural-village tours. You can even enjoy a game of golf, which might be interrupted by a giraffe strolling across the fairway.

Contact us now to plan your ideal Greater Kruger Park holiday. We have more than 50 expert safari consultants ready and waiting to help you.

Must see: Enjoy the thrill of a hot-air-balloon ride and watch the sun rising over the vast, untamed wilderness of the Kruger.

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