When to Travel to the Kruger Park?

When to Travel to The Kruger Park?

The Kruger National Park is an all year-round destination.   The weather does however have an affect at certain times of the year on your quality of game viewing –  and as your main reason for visiting the Kruger is game viewing – you need to take your personal interests into account when making this decision.

Bear in mind that you can have many days with no rain during the rainy season and during the dry season it can sometimes rain.

Best time to travel to the Kruger National Park

The winter months in South Africa [ May to August ] are possibly the best time to enjoy your Kruger National Park safari.  These months are dry months where traditionally there is no rain.   April as well as Sept and October there is very little rain and also an excellent option for safari.

The vegetation is less dense at this time of the year and the temperature more comfortable being less hot.  This allows for better game spotting and the animals roam more freely enjoying the cooler weather.

The permanent water holes attract many animals so it is worth waiting at a waterhole , as suddenly an elephant may stroll along for his morning “tea” break.

The early mornings and evenings can be chilly at this time of the year, so warm jackets for your game drives are essential.

The Winter months are most certainly a better time to travel if doing a self-drive safari.  As you in a smaller vehicle which is lower off the ground,  this time of year with less dense vegetation is better for self drive game viewing.

Summer Season [ November to March ]

This is the Kruger National Park’s rainy season with hot and balmy weather. Temperates can reach 30 degrees celcius during the day.

The scenery becomes beautiful, with lush and green vegetation – and although perhaps more difficult to spot game, the game drive vehicles are situated higher off the ground allowing for a birds eye view.

The summer months are very popular months with travellers for Safari in the Kruger National Park – as these months are fantastic months to visit other parts of South Africa in conjunction with your safari.

Bird Life is at it’s best at this time of the year for those keen bird spotters.

Baby animals are usually born in the months of November and December, so this is a good time to spot those baby lion cubs !

If you are considering combining your Safari with beach, we suggest that the months November to March are ideal.

Packing for Safari

This is most certainly one of our most popular questions.   Please bear in mind when you pack that although you may have very hot days in the Kruger National Park, it can get chilly when on your game drive vehicle particularly early morning and evening.

The best way to dress for your game drive is to layer your clothing.  Wear a lightweight T-Shirt, and take along a jersey as well as a fleece or windbreaker.    This allows you to adjust to the varying temperature changes during the day.

Light Aircraft transfers – it is also important to note that if a Federal Air flight from Johannesburg or Airport is included in your program, that there are luggage limitations on these flights.  The luggage limit is generally 15 – 20kg’s per person in soft sided bags.   If you are returning to your point of departure, you can store excess luggage at the Airport or even Federal Air departure lounges – to be collected on your return.

If storing luggage is not possible,  pack light and remember that hotels and lodges in South Africa do have laundry facilities for your use.

What to Pack

Pack a while ahead. Most of the time you’ll be most comfortable in light, summer-weight clothes but do pack a warm jacket, socks, good shoes and a rain jacket. Pack sunscreen – lots of it – and a hat and sunglasses. Make sure you have at least one cool shirt with a collar for sun protection. Stock up on insect repellent and, if you’ll be in a malaria area, ensure you have a cool, long-sleeved shirt and cool long pants for evenings. Bring good walking shoes.

Always pack a bandanna or cotton scarf and a sarong, kanga, pareo, kikoi – whatever you want to call it. These two garments are probably the most useful and versatile items in the world.

If you’re spending time watching game, you should try to wear reasonably neutral colours such as Khaki, brown, olive and beige colours.  White is not a recommended colour on safari, nor bright colours and these are highly visable by game.

What to take on Safari

• A variety of clothing :  Light comfortable clothing for the hot days and warm windbreakers or jackets for your game drives.  The Game drives are usually conducted in the early morning and the late afternoon into the evening – and it can get chilly.  Clothing should be in neutral colours.   Long sleeved clothing is recommended for the evenings
• Comfortable shoes
• Sunblock / Sunhats / Insect repellent
• Anti Malarial Tablets if entering a Malarial area
• Cameras with plenty of film and video camera’s and binoculars – for capturing those magical moments of perhaps a Lion Kill
• Any personal medical supplies – including those for personal medical conditions.

Must takes

Naturally don’t forget your camera / zoom lenses and binoculars.  Many of the game lodges do have spare binoculars should you require some.

You will need plenty of spare memory cards [ you will fill at least one with all the photo memories of the animals you spot ] and don’t forget your charger or battery.

Drugs/medication

Malaria Information

The Kruger National Park is situated in a Malaria Area.  This should however, certainly not deter you from enjoying your Safari, as it is merely a tablet that needs to be taken.

There are many Malaria Tablets on the market, some to be taken on a daily basis, some weekly – and we recommend that you consult with your travel clinic or medical doctor as to your best malaria medication to suit you individually.

All the private game lodges have insect / mosquito proofing in the rooms – however, common sense should also prevail.

Cover your arms and legs towards evenings with light coloured clothing to cover exposed skin areas and especially the ankles. Wear long sleeved shirts, long trousers, socks and closed shoes.

Make use of insect repellents particularly when you are sleeping.

The highest malaria risk time is between December and April, during the rainy season.  The other times of the year are considered low risk, however, we suggest that precautions are taken year round.

Contact our Safari experts to design your personalised Safari to the Kruger National Park.

Visit our Kruger National Park Safari ideas for travel inspirations.

Why visit the Kruger National Park?

Why visit the Kruger National Park?

Full of wildlife – the elusive leopard, lion prides, elephant herds, amazing bird life and much more….. a classic safari experience awaits you against the backdrop of lush african bush.

What can the Kruger National Park offer you ?

• Fantastic Big 5 game viewing
• Incredible bird watching
• Open Safari vehicle game drives by day and night
• Walking Safaris with experienced trackers
• Superb luxury accommodation in private game reserve concessions
• Wide range of accommodation
• Accessibility to other major cities in South Africa
• Easily combined with beach holidays

The Kruger National Park is ideal for

• Couples
• Family travel
• Adventure
• Big Five Safaris
• Honeymooners

How to make the best choice of Kruger National Park accommodation ?

Our safari experts have an indepth knowledge of what each lodge offers in the way of luxury and game viewing experiences.

 The  luxury lodges in the Kruger National Park are generally exclusive and intimate and ideal for couples and Honeymooners.   Be prepared to be pampered and enjoy a safari in  the lap of luxury.  The list below are some of the top luxury lodges, however, there are many more.\

Our recommended  Super Luxury Lodges:

• Singita Ebony Lodge
• Singita Boulders Lodge
• Londolozi Granite Suites
• Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve
• Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

View other luxury lodge options in the Kruger National Park

Travelling with children on Safari ?

There you are in your game drive vehicle enjoying the scenery of the Kruger bush.  Suddenly you come accross a herd of Elephants with baby’s.  Your children stare open mouthed at this wonder – what a tale to tell their friends back home.  The best family holiday ever – showing your children the true African bush and wonders.

Many of the luxury lodges do not accept children under the age of 12 years old, however,  there are also many lodges who welcome children and want them to experience the joy of a safari.

These child friendly lodges offer child friendly activities and game drives – so you children will be entertained and exposed to animals in a way they never have before.

An ideal family holiday !

Our travel experts will recommend a suitable lodge taking into account the ages of your children 

Why Self Drive in Africa?

Why Self Drive in Africa?

When planning your African holiday, you have the option of either a guided holiday, on a private basis or a group with other travellers, however, many travellers prefer spending their holiday on an independent basis.

Flexibility & Independence

This allows you to enjoy your holiday at your own pace – knowing that all the most important aspects of your holiday have been taken well care of.

Taking all your requirements into account, our dedicated travel team will plan all the distances you will travel each day,  making sure that you don’t spend all your time sitting in your hired car  – with reasonable distances, and time in each area  – ensuring that you relax and also see all the major highlights.

Peace of Mind

Travelling to a foreign country can be daunting, and even more so, knowing that you will need to follow directions, read maps and get yourself from point A to point B without getting lost. At African Welcome Safaris, we take all the stress out of planning your self-drive holiday.

Once we have established all the areas that you wish to enjoy on your holiday, we take time and care to ensure that your routing flows seamlessly.

We plan all your travelling distances carefully – and will include a night en-route to a destination if we feel that the distance is just too great for one day worth of driving.  The vehicles included are hired from a large and reputable international vehicle hire company, with 24-hour back up and map books supplied.

We allocate the correct size vehicle for the number of passengers in the vehicle and include a GPS unit in all our self-drive packages.   With a host of map books, written directions supplied by African Welcome Safaris and your GPS, you are in good hands.

All your accommodation in the various areas are included, as well as selected activities.  You may prefer to leave most days relatively open, in which case we will suggest activities in the area and supply you with contact details so that you may book these along the way.

You will be met at the airport and will be assisted with the collection of your hire vehicle. Our representative will often (if required) go over your itinerary with you and answer any of your queries.

Armed with your complete travel pack, a full itinerary, routing, map books and various brochures – all you need to do is hop in your vehicle and head off on your African adventure.

Affordability

A self-drive holiday remains one of the most cost-effective ways of exploring South Africa.

With a variety of vehicles at your disposal to choose from – from your smaller, more basic vehicles to your more luxury vehicles – you can determine how much you would like to spend on vehicle hire.

Ultimately, you can enjoy a fantastic holiday in South Africa for longer at very reasonable prices – making your holiday of a lifetime come true without breaking the bank.

Ideal for Family Travel

When planning your family holiday, particularly when travelling with small children – you may not want each and every day following a set routine or tour.

Flexibility is of highest importance with little ones – knowing that they have their good and bad days, and often do not want to be subject to a full day of intense activity

Self-drive holidays are ideal for family travel.  You are in the comfort of your own vehicle and timings are your own.

You can decide what activities will be suitable for your family – with no time constraints on any specific day and a self-drive holiday provides just that!

We will ensure that baby seats or booster seats are provided with the vehicle if necessary.

This is perhaps a long planned dream for your family – a South African adventure and our team will make it as comfortable and enjoyable for all.

Best Time to Travel to Victoria Falls

Although the Falls are spectacular throughout the year, the best time to visit is from February to May, after the rainy season. This is when you’ll see the Falls at it’s most magnificent.

At the end of the dry season, (October and November) the Falls are at their least impressive, and this is also the time of year when temperatures can be incredibly hot.

The falls often have very low water levels during the dry season on the Zambian Side of the falls, and during this time of the year it is recommended to view the Falls on the Zimbabwe side of the Falls, where there is water flow all year round.

Late dry season is also peak safari season in Zimbabwe and neighbouring Botswana – the nearby Chobe River in particular offers sensational game viewing at this time of year – so you’ll need to balance the two experiences in deciding when to go on a Victoria Falls safari holiday.

To experience the best of both worlds, we’d suggest visiting during the June – August period as the best time to combine Victoria Falls and a Chobe safari as you will get great game viewing on your safari, warm days and cool nights, little to no rain, and plenty of water thundering over the falls.

If you are combining Victoria Falls with other areas of Africa, one must also consider the general best time to travel – in order to optimise your entire trip.

Devils Pool  – Zambia

One of the advantages of visiting the Zambian Side of the Falls when the water levels are low, in dry season , is the thrill of experiencing the famous Devil’s Pool.

Devil’s Pool is a natural rock pool on the edge of the Victoria Falls, located along the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. During the dry season, Devil’s Pool is shallow enough that people can safely swim right to the edge before the waterfall drops more than 300 feet (100m).

You don’t get swept down by the force of the falls because of a natural rock wall just below the surface. This is as close as you can get to the thunderous roar and permanent rainbows that adorn this magnificent Natural World Wonder.

A guide will tell you exactly where to jump, make sure you bring your camera! Once everyone in the group has jumped safely and you are sitting on the rock wall, the guide will hold your ankles and you can lie and hang your arms over the edge. It is truly fantastic to look down on rainbows, hear the roar of the waterfall as it thunders past you, and look far, far down into the frothy, spray below.

How to get to Devils Pool 

Devil’s Pool is adjacent to Livingstone Island on the Zambian side of the Zambezi river. This is where David Livingstone first set eyes on the Victoria Falls remarking “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”.

To get to Livingstone Island you take a motor boat from the landing at the Royal Livingstone Hotel. On the island you scramble a fair way over rocks and swim through the river. The guide will show you exactly where to swim to avoid the strong currents and rocks.

You do have to be a decent swimmer to feel comfortable. The water is lovely and warm though, and feels great. Once you get close to the right spot you have to make a leap of faith, jump in from a rock, and trust you will not get swept over the side.

This is certainly not an activity for the faint hearted !

Planning Your Self Drive Holiday

All the general information that you require to plan your South Africa self drive holiday.

Many of our clients are becoming progressively confident to visit South Africa and drive themselves around in a hire vehicle. A self drive holiday offers the freedom and flexibility to explore areas at ones own comfortable pace, visiting areas which are of specific interest to each traveler, and discovering hidden treasures making for memorable experiences which you don’t find in a guide book.  This type of holiday is perfect for the independent traveller or those who prefer a more relaxed way of seeing this amazing country.

Most of the packages featured on our website have been designed as a private guided excursion or as a self drive itinerary. Our experienced team are on hand to assist clients in preparing their self drive itinerary, maps and directions provided, as well as suggested sightseeing stops along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• Do I need an International Driver’s License ?
  This is not necessary, as long as your Driver’s License is valid and unendorsed.  Should there be more than one driver  – all drivers need to produce their Driver’s Licenses
• What side of the road do you drive on ? 
  In South Africa and Namibia, you drive on the left hand side of the road
• Will my vehicle be covered by Insurance  ? 
  Yes, we provide you with the top insurance cover for your vehicle, which covers you for theft and damage with no excess liability.
• Do I have to pay an additional amount per Kilometre driven ?
  No,  all vehicles come with unlimited mileage.
• What additional costs will not be included in the vehicle hire ? 
  We include as many costs as possible in your vehicle hire, ensuring there are no hidden surprises.  The only costs that are generally not included are fuel during your rental period, a once off contract fee and should there be an additional driver, a once off fee per additional driver for Insurance purposes.  Should you require a baby seat, this can be included in the costs.
• Are maps and directions provided  ? 
  Yes, you will receive a complete travel pack, including detailed map books and specific directions pertaining to your itinerary booked.   We generally book a vehicle with a GPS unit and GPS co-ordinates for all accommodation are provided.
• What sort of back -up do we have during our self-drive holiday ?  
  Not only is there 24-hour back up provided by the vehicle hire company, but you will also be provided with an after-hours mobile number for our office.   There is generally excellent mobile reception in South Africa, and we always recommend that you consider renting a local mobile phone during your stay
• Is it safe to self -drive in Africa  ?  
  Yes, the roads and infrastructure in South Africa is advanced and very similar to other parts of the world.  We recommend you stay on the main tourist routes and follow our suggested directions.

Important Information When Driving In South Africa 

• Before departing on your journey, always ensure that you have a full tank of fuel – never depart for a day where you have a 4 hour drive ahead of you, with limited fuel as you may not be sure when you will be able to re-fuel along the way
• Credit Cards and cash are accepted as a form of payment as all refueling stationsor  garages
• Road rules prohibit talking on a mobile phone whilst driving , therefore a hands-free kit is highly recommended
• It is compulsory to wear seat-belts whilst driving – this applies to the driver and all passengers in the vehicle
• We recommend locking all valuables in the boot [ trunk ] of your car when the vehicle is left unattended
• Stopping on freeways/highways are prohibited unless you have car trouble or have been instructed to do so by a traffic officer
• You drive on the left hand side of the road in South Africa
• On major highways or motorways,  there is generally more than one lane moving in the same direction.  The right hand lane is considered the fast lane and the middle and left lanes the slower lanes.
• Distance and speed limits are measured in Kilometres
• Drive cautiously in rural areas as these areas are not fenced off and you may find animals wondering on the roads

Speed Limits on motorways/highways: 100 – 120 kph

Speed Limits on open roads:

• Open Roads: 120 kph
• Rural Roads: 80 – 100 kph
• Towns/Urban Roads: 60 kph
• Provincial Roads: 60 – 80 kph
• Road tolls: There are many road tolls across South Africa

How to get to Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is easily accessible from the major Cities in South Africa, making the Kruger National Park a wonderful addition to any South African itinerary.

With direct flights from and to Cape Town, many clients add on a few nights in Cape Town either pre or prior their Kruger National Park Safari.

For those travellers landing in Johannesburg, there are also direct flights into the Kruger National Park on a daily basis, allowing easy travelling to one of the highlights on your trip.

There are various ways to getting to the Kruger National Park – allowing travellers to chose to best option to suit their individual needs.

Fly In Option on South African Airways

South African Airways run daily flights to/from the following Airports situated near the Kruger National Park

• Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Hoedspruit Airport or visa versa
• Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Nelspruit Airport or visa versa
• Cape Town International Airport to Nelspruit Airport or visa versa
• King Shaka Airport Durban to Nelspruit Airport or visa versa
• Vilanculos Airport Mozambique to Nelspruit Airport or visa versa [ operating on certain days of the week ]

Depending on the location of the Private Kruger Game Lodge you have chosen for your Safari, we would advise whether you should fly into Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Airport.

Once you have arrived at either Nelspruit or Hoedspruit Airport, you would then travel to your lodge of choice by either a road transfer or a flight hop with either Federal Air or Bateleur Charters.

Direct Federal Air Flights To/From Johannesburg

Federal Air operate direct flights on a daily basis to and from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport, to all the major Private Lodges in the greater Kruger area.

This option is ideal for travellers who want to enjoy a smooth and direct journey to their luxury lodge.

The Federal Air flights take you directly to the private airstrip situated close to your choice of lodge. On arrival at the Airstrip, the lodge will meet you and after a short drive from the Airstrip, you arrive at your lodge, relaxed and ready for Safari.

Federal Air also offer flight transfers from Nelspruit Airport to the lodges, between Nelspruit and Hoedspruit Airport, and also between the various lodges in the Kruger area.

Road Transfers

Travelers who have more time on their hands can enjoy a scenic road transfer from Johannesburg to their lodge in the Kruger National Park. This allows time to enjoy the beautiful and scenic Panoramic Route situated in Mpumulanga, before the Safari.

We do suggest that clients enjoy a night en route to the Kruger National Park to break the journey, perhaps in the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest or the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon.

Road transfers are also offered as an option from either Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Airport to your lodge of choice – as an alternative to the Federal Air flight hop.

Self Drive

Hire a rental vehicle and enjoy a leisurely drive to the Kruger National Park at your own pace, taking in the sights of the Panoramic Route en route to your Safari.

The Private Game Lodges in the Kruger National Park offer day and night safaris in open Safari vehicles, so although you would not essentially require a hire vehicle on Safari, this option allows you to perhaps take a day trip whilst on Safari to visit some of the sights in the area, or enjoy some of the many adventure activities offered outside the Kruger Park.

Enjoy a safari in the comfort of your own hire vehicle. Stay in the self catering rest camps situated in the Kruger National Park, and armed with your camera, drive into the Kruger National Park each day to spot the Big Five with your family. This is an exciting option for a safari, and suitable for those travellers with more time on their hands.