This selection of the finest Kruger luxury accommodation and lodging in Kruger Park is where you will discover a way to appreciate the African wild and do it in comfort – with exceptional cuisine, magnificent wildlife experiences and great hospitality.

Our South African safari and game lodges range from artistically elegant to super luxurious with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Game viewing in the private reserves is conducted in their private vehicles which are generally completely open, driven by an experienced guide and with a tracker perched on the custom front seat. You are also able to do late afternoon/night drives and some of the lodges don’t even have game fences surrounding them so you need to be accompanied by a ranger at all time.

The best time to visit Kruger National Park in South Africa. Game-viewing in Kruger Park is best in winter but some visitors prefer the lush vegetation of the summer months.

A. Best Time to visit:

The Kruger Park is an all year round destination, with each season bringing its own highlights. Whatever time you decide to safari in the Kruger National Park – you will not be disappointed!
Game viewing can be at its best during the dry winters months, however the wet summer season brings full waterholes, lush bushveld, many newborn wildlife and the summer migrant birds arrive.
The Kruger Park has a hot, sub-tropical climate and most of the year it is hot during the day (above 25 ° C).

B. Seasons:

Summer

Summer is the rainy season in Kruger Park. The rains fill the rivers and waterholes, resulting in the bushveld looking lush. Game viewing is sometimes a bit more difficult in the summer season because the vegetation is dense, making it bit harder to locate and observe wildlife.

Towards the end of November and early December, Kruger National Park is filled with newborns and spotting wildlife with their young is a memorable Kruger Park safari experience. Birding is excellent during this time as the summer migrant birds arrive.

If you are planning on visiting the Kruger Park during summer we recommend you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle and stay in air-conditioned accommodation. It can get very hot during the day with up to a high of 30 degrees celsius. Camping can be a bit unpleasant, but if you are a die-hard camping enthusiast the heat and rain should not deter you.

Winter

Although some visitors might prefer the lush vegetation of the summer months, the best time for observing African wildlife in Kruger National Park is the dry winter season.

The bushveld is more open allowing for better visibility. The grass is low, the bushes and trees are sparsely leaved and because it is so dry – with no rain – the wildlife will migrate towards the water. Water holes, dams and rivers become a hive of activity and you are more likely to spot wildlife in the morning and evening as they come for a drink of water.

The day temperatures in winter are pleasant but it can get quite chilly during the night-time so make sure you pack something warm when going on your afternoon/night game drives.

C. Temperatures:

November through December:
The summer months in Kruger Park are very hot and humid with either continual rains or occasional afternoon thundershowers. Many young animals are born during this time.
• November Temperature: (+/-) 16 – 32 °C
• December Temperature: (+/-) 18 – 34 °C

January to April:
These are normally drier months with very hot days. Bird watchers can enjoy the array of migratory birds during this period.
• January Temperature: (+/-) 18 – 34 °C
• February Temperature: (+/-) 18 – 33 °C
• March Temperature: (+/-) 18 – 33 °C

April:
This is Kruger Park’s autumn period and the vegetation starts changing from thick lush green bush to a slightly sparser browning bush. The temperatures start cooling down at night but daytime is still warm. Scattered thunder showers can be experienced in the afternoons.
• April Temperature: (+/-) 13 – 28 °C

May to June:
Cold temperatures are experienced at night and at dawn during our winter months. The vegetation becomes totally brown and trees start losing leaves. Visibility during game drives is enhanced due to sparser vegetation.
• May Temperature: (+/-) 13 – 28 °C
• June Temperature: (+/-) 9 – 26 °C

July to August:
This period is very dry in the bush with very cold night temperatures and therefore chilly during the early morning and late afternoon game drives. Game viewing is generally fantastic as the visibility is good and the game is concentrated around any water source.
July to October is the end of the dry season and the malaria-carrying mosquitoes are dormant.
• July Temperature: (+/-) 9 – 26 °C
• August Temperature: (+/-) 12 -28 °C

September to October:
Spring is the height of the dry season with hot dry winds and colourless, sparse vegetation. Because the rivers and dams are low, high concentrations of game can be viewed at these areas and game viewing in general is good. The first rains may start towards the end of October and the signs of spring and a new wet season are evident.
• September Temperature: (+/-) 12 – 28 °C
• October Temperature: (+/-) 16 – 32 °C

Entrance Gates Opening Times:
• Oct – Mar: 05:30
• Apr – Sep: 06:00

Camp Gates Opening Times:
• Oct: 05:30
• Nov – Jan: 04:30
• Feb – Mar: 05:30
• Apr – Sep: 06:00

Camp Gate Closing Times:
• Aug – Oct: 18:00
• Nov – Feb: 18:30
• Mar – Apr: 18:00
• May – Jul: 17:30

What to Pack for a Safari to Kruger

Is it your first time going on safari in South Africa? Are you unsure what to pack? This is our guide to what you need for a safari in the Kruger National Park.

There are many lists out there telling travellers what to pack, and yet many travellers still get it wrong. Over packing is also a big problem. International flights have a high luggage allowance, but on many of the smaller planes and safari vehicles the amount of luggage you can bring is limited, and you can end up paying a lot of money for being over-weight.

What you should pack?

Light, cotton clothing in light tones: Many first time visitors arrive in South Africa and stick out because they look like a safari cliché. Choose neutral tones and light fabrics, preferably cotton. These fabrics work best in a hot climate. Pack about 3 t-shirts and 3 pairs of shorts. Do not pack white shirts, they show the dirt up easily and make you highly visible to the animals. Other colours to avoid are red which attracts animals, and if you are going into an area where Tsetse flies are present then you should also avoid the colours blue and black.

For the Ladies: You can pack one smarter set of clothing for if you are staying at a private lodge, but for the most part informal. Much more important however is to pack a good support bra, as game drives can sometimes be a little rough.

Long Sleeved Shirt and Trousers: Pack a couple of long sleeved shirts and a pair of long trousers. The evenings can be chilly and they are also good for keeping mosquitoes and other insects at bay.

A Lightweight Waterproof Jacket: The temperatures in Kruger can vary greatly. In winter you can be very cold on a morning game drive, but perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt at midday. The secret is to wear several layers that you can take off or add to as needed.

A Good Pair of Trainers or Hiking Shoes: Unless you are doing a walking safari, there is no need to pack heavy duty hiking boots. A good durable pair of trainers is all that is needed. You might also like to pack a pair of sandals for around the lodge or pool.

A Wide Brimmed Hat: Many first time visitors to Africa underestimate the strength of the Sun even in the late afternoons. Choose a hat that has a wide brim to shade your eyes and the back of your neck (this is an area most people forget, and where they get sunburnt.

Sunscreen: Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF or sun protection factor of between 30 and 50. Do not underestimate the power of the African sunshine – the last thing you want on holiday is a bas sunburn or sunstroke.

Sunglasses: It is a good idea to pack a pair of sunglasses as the glare from the sun during the middle of the day can hurt your eyes and give you a headache, especially if you are not used to it.

A camera, charger and spare memory cards: You will want to take lots of photographs so make sure you take plenty of memory cards for your camera. Don’t forget to pack the charger.

A light weight flashlight: Packing a small flashlight is always a good idea. Sometimes you have to walk in the dark and being able to see where you are going in the bush is always a good thing!

Medical kit: Pack a small bag or medical kit with some pain killers, any chronic medications (enough for the trip), some insect repellent, any vitamins etc. Most of the lodges and Rest Camps will have a basic medical aid kit; just pack the things that you might not be able to get in South Africa. Take Lip balm and a small bottle of moisturizer.

Anti-malarial: The Kruger National Park is in a malarial area. Please consult your doctor about prophylaxis before your trip and do not forget to pack it.

A good book: Consider packing a book that you will enjoy reading. There will be some leisure time during the middle of the day, or while waiting for a flight when you will be grateful to have a book to read.