On Safari in Kruger National Park
Date Posted: 17/07/2023
There’s no better way to experience the wonders of wildlife than by Safari! Bring a whole new meaning to the word ‘adventure’ by taking this once in a lifetime trip and encountering some of the most majestic animals in the world in their natural habitats. Whether you’re ready for a few days of simply spectating or want to spend a week staying in the wilderness, here’s all you need to know to dive headfirst into this immersive experience…
Named as South Africa’s most famous safari destination, Kruger National Park is certainly not to be missed! With nearly 2 million hectares of African Wilderness providing the perfect place for spotting some of natures most beautiful creatures it’s easy to see why so many have added this to their bucket list. The park is home to over 160 species of mammal and 500 species of birds, including an impressive population of the Big Five!
Wildlife
Keep your eyes and ears alert as you take an exhilarating drive through the park in search of Africa’s most famous beasts. Lions are often found in prides, forming their habitats in anything from thick shrubs to open grassland. Watch as they survey their territory, bathe in the hot sun or maybe you’ll even catch them on the hunt for their next meal. You’ll certainly know when they’re about as the lion’s impressive roar can be heard from up to 8km away!
From one big cat to another, the powerful Leopard is one of the harder to spot animals on a safari so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a blur of spots passing you by. Known for their great speed (which can reach up to 58kmh), these animals are usually found alone rather than groups. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the African Buffalo who like to travel in herds. They tend to live in groups of up to 500 but this number can reach the thousands when banding together to intimidate predators!
Now onto the largest of the Big Five, the African Elephant. These majestic but mighty mammals tend to roam around in families meaning you may just get the chance to see a baby elephant too! With nearly 20,00 elephants inhabiting the park there is a high likelihood you’ll get to encounter them while on your trip! Rounding up the Big Five we have the Black and White Rhinos. Due to poachers hunting Rhinos for their horns they are now sadly critically endangered. However, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts the number of rhinos in Kruger Park are slowly growing! Keep your fingers crossed for the chance to see one of these rare and beautiful animals in the wild.
But that’s just the start, the list is never ending with everything Hippos to Zebras and Pangolins to Warthogs, you won’t be disappointed!
Accommodation
Kruger National Park offers many different safari options so there really is something for everyone. You can spend the week in a luxury lodge topped off with your own private pool or maybe opt for something a little different with a night in rustic treehouse! Most packages will include guided game walks or drives with expert rangers that take place all throughout the day so there are plenty of exciting opportunities to grab your binoculars and get searching.
If you’re looking for something a little more affordable then there are also plenty of budget friendly options available! You don’t have to worry about accommodation with the option to set up your own tent in one of the park’s campsites. You can also choose to tour the park in your own vehicle without the assistance of a guide meaning you have full control over where you head to and how long you spend at each location and with most of the main roads being paved it’s rather easy to get around.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Kruger Park is usually during dry season which is from May to October. This is due to the sparse vegetation and lack of rain making it easier to spot the animals as they won’t be sheltering as much. Not to mention the cooler temperatures and lower humidity making it a more pleasant experience. Generally, the animals will congregate around the water sources too at this time which gives you a bit more of an idea where to start your search which is always a handy head start. During May you might just be lucky enough to see the elephant herds migrating to the northern grounds of Kruger which certainly makes for a spectacular sight.
With so much to see and A LOT of ground to cover, you’ll want to spend at least 2 days in the park but the longer you have there the better! A lot of tours last for around 6 days in order give you the full experience and get a real taste for the safari life.