Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park

Daytime temperatures remain in the high 20°C/68°F and can sometimes rise into the mid 30°C/86°F. February sees the last of the summer rainfall, and the occasional late afternoon thundershower can occur. The evening temperatures are usually mild.

Birding safaris are excellent during the summer months, and the far northern regions (Punda Maria and Pafuri) of the park are especially exceptional since they see many migratory species.

Since the vegetation in the park is very dense this time of year, game viewing is better done in the private reserves where expert game rangers can track the animals off-road, something taboo within the Kruger.

Summer weather makes game viewing harder for several reasons: animals have plenty of water and are not drawn to larger water holes, they prefer to stay put in the shade during the day, and thicker vegetation makes them harder to spot.

On the flip side, the greenery is excellent for landscape photography, birding is good, and many summer-born animals can be seen.

March is the last of the summer months in the Kruger. While daytime temperatures are dropping, you can still expect hot days, pleasant evenings, and the occasional afternoon thundershower.

March is generally a quieter time in the Kruger than the months leading up to it, so the southern and central regions see much fewer visitors. Head for the roads that run along the riverbanks between the camps of Skukuza and Lower Sabie (Sabie River), Olifants and Letaba (Letaba and Olifants Rivers), and Olifants and Satara (Timbavati).

You’ll see fewer visitors in the Kruger, and the thick green and leafy vegetation make for beautiful landscapes, but it also makes game viewing harder. Furthermore, the abundance of water throughout the park means fewer animals congregate around larger water holes.

April brings autumn to the Kruger, and the vegetation in the park gradually fades from lush bushveld to a dry brown and yellow palette.

Rainfall decreases, but the occasional afternoon thundershower still occurs. Daytime temperatures remain hot while nights are getting cooler but not cold.

For the best probability of seeing animals, the private concession areas and game lodges on the western border of the Kruger are a good bet. Here the expert guides can track animals better in the thick vegetation.

April is also the last month in which a birding safari is still good in the northern regions of the park – as soon as winter begins to arrive, the migratory species depart for warmer climates.

April often has good weather with clear skies, so it’s a pleasant month in terms of weather, but the park (excluding private concessions and reserves) gets very busy during the Easter weekend at the end of the month. Finding accommodation in the public camps of the park can be difficult.

May heralds the turning point where the Kruger’s climate starts to transition into winter. Towards the end of the month, the rain begins to dry up, and the landscape becomes dry and dusty. Daytime temperatures remain warm and pleasant, while evenings start getting cooler.

Cooler temperatures make venturing to the far north of the park more pleasant, and the thinning vegetation helps in spotting the less dense populations of animals here.

May is generally your last chance to see the landscape flourishing before winter sets in, turning the vegetation dull and brown. However, the central and southern regions see fewer visitors this time of the year and, due to higher populations of animals, still offer the best game viewing opportunities.

Flights tend to be cheaper this time of the year before going up for the June/July holiday season. The park also sees fewer visitors in May.

On the flip side, if you enjoy sweeping green landscapes, this is not the time of the year to visit, as the impending winter season turns the vegetation brown, leafless and dull.

June is both the coldest and driest month in the Kruger. Daytime temperatures are mild, and humidity is low, but evenings and early mornings can get quite cold.

The southern and central regions of the Kruger are best for game drives during winter since there are more rivers and other water sources, meaning these regions carry a higher population density of animals.

There are also more accommodation options here (besides camping), and you might be interested in staying indoors in the cold evening weather.

From June onwards, the Kruger’s animals, specifically the elusive big cats, become easier to spot in the sparse vegetation and tend to move around a bit more in the cooler temperatures.

Evenings and early morning game drives are quite cold, and the bushveld is not as pretty as in the summer months.

July is second only to June as the coldest month in the year and equally dry. ‘Cold’ in the Kruger, however, only really applies to nights and early mornings since the daytime temperatures are usually quite comfortable and even fairly hot on some days.

The northern parts of the reserve receive fewer visitors, which makes it a good option if you want to avoid crowds. However, there is a greater density of animals in the south, especially when it comes to predators, which makes it your best bet for good sightings. Explore the areas adjacent to the Sabie River: Satara, Skukuza, and Lower Sabie.

The winter landscape is dull and dry, but that’s a good thing for game viewing as the vegetation is sparse and the grass low, making animals easier to spot.

The cooler weather and low humidity make for delightful days in the park. Still, South African school holidays and European summer holidays make July the Kruger’s second busiest time of the year.

Things are slowly starting to warm up during August, but rain is still absent, and the climate remains dry. Humidity is low, daytime temperatures sit in the mid 20°C/68°F, and evening temperatures are mild.

August is the middle of the dry season, and water sources for the animals are scarce. For the best game viewing opportunities, it’s best to stay in the central and southern regions of the park, where there are more water sources and a higher density of animals.

August is a good month for game viewing on safari since the rainless winter season thins out the vegetation, making it easier to spot animals. Camping can be uncomfortable in the colder night temperatures.

Spring arrives a little later in the Kruger, so the flora does not experience a colourful transformation this month. Vegetation is still sparse and colorless after the rainless winter. Temperatures during the day are hot and humid, with little to no rain expected.

At the end of the dry season in September, the vegetation in the Kruger is at its sparsest. For this reason, it’s the best time of the year to visit the Kruger, and any of the large permanent water holes make for good animal sightings. Stick to the southern and central regions for the highest density of animals.

The risk of malaria is low, and you’re likely to find large concentrations of animals at watering holes at this time of the year, but the days are often uncomfortably hot, dry, and dusty.

The first proper rain of the wet season starts to arrive during November in the form of the occasional afternoon thundershower. Expect hot and humid days and balmy evenings.

The southern section of the park has the highest density of animals, and in terms of visitor numbers, November is the calm before the storm of the end-of-year holidays.

The upper central and far northern regions start seeing the first arrivals of migratory bird species and are a good bet for birding-focused safaris.

November is a great time to spot baby animals, and the young impala, one of the most abundant antelope species in the park, is especially cute.

It’s a quieter time of the year, too, as most South Africans plan their visits for the December holidays. On the other hand, humidity is high, and the risk of malaria increases.

The first proper rain of the wet season starts to arrive during November in the form of the occasional afternoon thundershower. Expect hot and humid days and balmy evenings.

The southern section of the park has the highest density of animals, and in terms of visitor numbers, November is the calm before the storm of the end-of-year holidays.

The upper central and far northern regions start seeing the first arrivals of migratory bird species and are a good bet for birding-focused safaris.

November is a great time to spot baby animals, and the young impala, one of the most abundant antelope species in the park, is especially cute.

It’s a quieter time of the year, too, as most South Africans plan their visits for the December holidays. On the other hand, humidity is high, and the risk of malaria increases.

The last month of the year is extremely hot as well as the wettest in the Kruger. Expect plenty of rain with hot and humid conditions as daytime temperatures climb well above 30°C. Evenings can be equally hot and humid.

December is high season, so the whole of Kruger gets pretty busy. Head for the northern parts of the reserve where fewer visitors venture if it is solitude you are after. However the north has lesser densities of animals, so for the best game-viewing opportunities, you might consider the private concessions in the park and the private luxury reserves on the Kruger’s western perimeter. These areas provide exclusivity and much less crowded game viewing.

Many baby animals are born this time of year to coincide with the abundance of water and food sources. This makes for special sightings even though the lush vegetation makes game viewing harder than in winter. The downside is that this is peak season and the park is packed with visitors. Additionally the hot and humid weather might not suit everyone.