Kruger National Park Holidays

Kruger National Park has more mammal species than any other African reserve, making it one of the best places in the world to go on safari. The almost 150 different mammals which call Kruger home include the ‘Big Five’ – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo – as well as the lesser known ‘Little Five’ – elephant shrew, ant lion, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver and leopard tortoise. The park is also inhabited by over 500 varieties of bird, more than 100 reptiles, and 49 types of fish. It’s a vast wilderness just waiting to be explored, and the best way to do so is on safari.

Kruger’s extensive road network makes it one of the more accessible game reserves, so you can easily go it alone on a self-drive safari. But if you’d like to learn more about the animals and landscape you encounter, opt for a guided game drive instead. And while there’s plenty to see during the day, the park really comes alive after dark, thanks to its many nocturnal creatures. So make your Kruger National Park holiday that much more memorable by joining a night safari.

If you’re going on holiday to Kruger National Park, chances are you’re going on safari. But that’s by no means the only activity on offer. Seeing wildlife from a 4x4 on a game drive is one thing, but tracking animals on foot makes for a completely different experience. Get closer to nature on an early-morning or afternoon bush walk with an experienced guide – or, if you’re a keen hiker, you can head out on a multi-day wilderness trail. Alternatively, if cycling’s more your thing, there are a number of mountain bike trails throughout the park.

For something altogether different, you can play 18 holes at Skukuza Golf Course – the only golf course located in Kruger National Park itself. The rich wildlife sanctuary surrounding the course is home to the ‘Big Five’, and since the course isn’t fenced in, you may encounter the odd rhino or impala meandering across the green.

You will be spoilt for choice in Kruger National Park with private game reserves offering exclusive experiences and luxury accommodation. Unfenced reserves bordering the Kruger offer a natural safari experience with animals roaming freely. While accommodation varies from one reserve to another, options include exclusive suites, individual chalets and elegant tented camps on raised wooden platforms, all decorated in authentic yet contemporary African style.

Besides standard features like en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning and a mini-bar, you’ll find a host of other amenities of the quality you’d expect from an upmarket hotel. Many rooms at Kruger’s private reserves feature individual viewing decks – some with their own plunge-pools – so you can watch the local wildlife in peace. They’re also a great place to relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day as the sun sets over the savannah.

Kruger National Park is a year-round destination. However, the best time to visit is generally considered to be the dry season, which runs from May to September. At this time of year, vegetation is sparse and animals congregate at water holes, making them easier to spot. Average daytime temperatures are in the mid-to-high twenties, although it does get a lot chillier once the sun goes down. During the peak winter months of June-August, nighttime temperatures usually drop down to single figures.

October marks the start of Kruger’s wet season and, once the rains come, the park quickly turns green and lush. Although this is a treat for photographers, it does make wildlife harder to spot. The wet season can also be uncomfortably hot and humid, with average daytime temperatures reaching 32°C. And while it seldom rains all day, there are typically heavy storms in the afternoons. November and December are the wettest months of the year, and they see the return of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. These months do coincide with calving season, though – so if you want to see baby animals during your Kruger National Park holiday, summer’s the best time to visit.