Kruger National Park: When To Go

The Kruger National Park area is a year-round destination. Choosing when to visit the Kruger depends upon your interests and preferences. Obviously, wildlife is the main attraction of a visit to the Kruger National Park, so it's important to understand how seasonal variations affect your chances of game-viewing.

You will also want to decide between staying on a private concession in the Kruger or in a private reserve (such as the Sabi Sands) bordering the Kruger Park.

The seasons in the Kruger Park area are more usefully defined by rainfall. When planning your visit, don't forget about weather variations! It is quite possible to go for days without rain during the wet season, and to experience wet weather in the dry season.

Dry Season (Winter)

This is usually between May and August, although rainfall starts declining in April and is still fairly low in September and October. This is possibly the best time to visit for game-viewing as permanent waterholes attract animals, the vegetation becomes thinned out, and trees don't have so many leaves to obstruct the view.

The climate is comfortable in the dry winter months with warm days and chilly nights. The average maximum temperatures is around 24 degrees in winter, and the average minimum is about 8 or 9 degrees, although it can drop as far as 5 degrees. Take a warm jacket for early morning and evening game drives!

Wet Season (Summer)

From November to March, the Kruger Park area receives most of its rainfall, usually in dramatic afternoon thundershowers. The weather is hot and balmy. Average maximum temperatures are about 30 degrees Celcius, with an average minimum of 20 degrees.

With the arrival of the rain, the grass and foliage becomes lush and green, and while this makes for beautiful scenery, it can also make game viewing difficult. Animals also tend to travel away from waterholes because there are now other sources of water. Despite the tougher game-viewing the summer months are when most people choose to go the Kruger.

If you are a keen birder, the wet season is the best time for travel to the Kruger National Park, as this is when the visiting migrants arrive, and when all the local birds are at their most active.

It's also the best time to go and see baby animals, as most animals calve at the beginning of the rainy season to take advantage of the new shoots.

Peak Season (Holidays)

In the Kruger Park, the so-called 'peak season' is just that. Accommodation during these times needs to be booked well in advance of your travels. Space is at a premium, as the Kruger Park has started to implement a daily limit on the number of visitors allowed into the park. If you have pre-booked accommodation at one of the safari lodges in the park or in one of the private game reserves, you don't need to worry about this.

The Kruger Park is always a popular destination for South Africans. During the school holidays, particularly Christmas, Easter, and in July, it can become rather crowded. If you want to visit during these times it would be a good idea to stay at a Kruger lodge in a private concession, or to visit one of the private game reserves instead.

View our Luxury African Safari website to read more about when to go to Kruger

Request a Quote |  Add to my wishlist