Kruger National Park is the jewel in the crown of South Africa’s national parks and no trip to South Africa is complete without a visit. Not only is it one of the oldest reserves on the continent but it is also one of the best organized and best managed to make it one of the top tours in South Africa. The range of species that exist in the park is astounding and any trip to Kruger offers a real chance to see lions, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and many more. Kruger’s population of elephants is flourishing and Kruger is also home to around a quarter of the world’s population of wild rhinos. For these reasons, it is no wonder that Kruger is also one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. Here is a guide to the best times to visit.
When is the best time to visit Kruger National Park: Quick facts
Best time to visit: All year round. Depending on what do you want to see; each season has something different to offer.
Peak season: It’s busy year-round. It is particularly busy during times corresponding with South African school holidays and accommodation at these times can be fully-booked months in advance.
All seasons: April – May (fall), June – August (winter), September – October (spring), November – March (summer).
The most notable seasons in Kruger are the dry season (May to September) and the rainy season (October to April).
For spotting wildlife, the dry season is considered best. At this time, vegetation is sparse and animals are drawn to waterholes to drink.
October marks the transition from dry season to wet season. Before the rains come, the park is at its driest and this is a good time to see animals. However, once the rains arrive, the park quickly turns green, meaning animals can stay hidden easily and become difficult to spot. Animals such as lions or leopards may be particularly difficult to spot. Rain can be unpredictable too.
During the rainy season, there is a heightened malaria risk and anti-malarial prophylactics and other precautions are recommended.
November and December are the best months for seeing newborns in the park.
Daytime temperatures are warm year-round although during the South African summer can be uncomfortably hot.
During the South African winter, nighttime temperatures can be cool and warm clothes may be required.
A tourist captures a shot of elephants in the park
When to visit Kruger National Park: Seasonal Overview
Since Kruger National Park can literally be explored all year round, we have refrained from categorizing the best time of the year to go to Kruger National Park into rigid seasons. Instead, we suggest recommended times to see the highlights of Kruger. You can decide when to go to Kruger, depending on what you want to see.
1. January to March
You can spot exotic wildlife in their natural habitat in Kruger National Park.
This is the end of the rainy season, making it one of the best months to visit Kruger National Park. There is still heavy rainfall, especially in January and February, but moving into March, the rains become less intense. Daytime temperatures are hot. At this time, the park is still very lush and it is not the best period for spotting animals. Conversely, this is when migratory birds arrive so it is a good time for bird-watching.
Avg. temperature: 21°C - 32°C / 68°F - 89°F
Rainfall: 68 - 93mm
Season: Summer/Rainy season
Highlights: Lush vegetation, migratory birds
2. April
In April, rainfall lessens, temperatures cool, and vegetation starts to brown, though it's not yet the best time for spotting wildlife.
In April, there is noticeably less rain although some still continues to fall. Temperatures begin to cool. Vegetation begins to change from green to brown, but conditions are not yet optimum for spotting animals.
Avg. temperature: 16°C - 29°C / 61°F - 84°F
Rainfall: 37mm
Season: Autumn/end of rainy season
Highlights: Lush vegetation begins to brown
3. May to June
It is safari season in Kruger National Park where you can spot animals in their natural habitat.
By May, there is much less rainfall and vegetation becomes sparser. This significantly improves the conditions for spotting animals.
Avg. temperature: 9°C - 27°C / 57°F - 83°F
Rainfall: 11 - 14mm
Season: Winter/start of dry season
Highlights: Vegetation begins to thin, better conditions for spotting wildlife
4. July to September
Shared by Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, the Kruger National Park is the most famous of all national parks in South Africa.
By this time, there has been little rain for some time and the vegetation is at its sparsest, making it one of the best time to travel to Kruger National Park. September, and the start of October in particular, see the park at its very driest. Water is scarce and animals are drawn to waterholes to drink. This is perhaps the best time of the year for seeing animals. During the dry season, malaria-carrying mosquitos are also much less common and the risk of contracting the disease is much reduced.
Avg. temperature: 10°C - 27°C / 49°F - 80°F
Rainfall: 9 - 26mm
Season: Winter/dry season
Highlights: Optimum conditions for spotting wildlife, low risk of malaria
5. October
October begins dry in Kruger National Park, but as the month progresses, the rains arrive, breathing new life into the lush vegetation and transforming the landscape into a vibrant paradise.
The start of October is dry but later in the month, the rain arrives, bringing new life to the park’s vegetation. It is difficult to know exactly when the rains will arrive and, if visiting the park towards the end of October, it is hard to predict what the weather and conditions will be like.
Avg. Temperature: 16°C - 30°C / 61°F - 86°F
Rainfall: 43mm
Season: Spring/end of dry season
Highlights: Early in the month, conditions still excellent for spotting wildlife; after the rains arrive, ‘rebirth’ of the park and transformation of the landscape
6. November and December
With November and December bringing the rainy season to Kruger National Park, spotting wildlife becomes more challenging, making it essential to plan your safari for the drier months for the best experience.
By November and December, the rainy season is in full swing. The park turns green and spotting animals becomes more difficult. However, this is the time of year for calving and it can be possible to see newborns. Malaria-carrying mosquitos return and the risk of contracting the disease increases. Daytime temperatures begin to reach their hottest at this time of year and nights are warm.
Avg. temperature: 19°C - 31°C / 66°F - 88°F
Rainfall: 66 - 94mm
Season: Summer/rainy season
Highlights: Lush green landscape, possibility of spotting newborn animals
Kruger National Park is a year-round destination, remaining busy throughout the year, and each season brings a different atmosphere to the park. However, most people probably want to maximise their chances of seeing wild animals, and, this being the case, the best time to visit is during the dry season from May to the start of October. At this time, the odds of spotting the iconic animals that are the park’s prime attraction are at their greatest. This destination also offers one of the best road trips in South Africa.
Weather in Kruger National Park: Rainfall and Temperatures
Months
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Avg Daily (°C)
32
32
31
29
28
26
26
27
29
30
30
32
Avg Nightly (°C)
21
20
19
16
11
6
7
9
13
16
18
20
Avg Daily (°F)
90
90
88
85
83
79
79
81
85
86
86
90
Avg Nightly (°F)
70
68
67
61
52
43
45
49
56
61
65
68
Avg Rainfall (mm)
93
93
68
37
14
11
12
9
26
43
66
94
Written by
Daniel Badcock,Travel Author
Daniel Badcock is a wanderer at heart, who dreams of exploring as much of the world as possible. His first big adventure started when he traveled overland from Europe to the Far East.
It was a six-month trip that ended up lasting 18, after which he found a job in Beijing and stayed there for five years. On leaving, Daniel planned a six-month farewell tour of Asia that was extended to another 15.
These days, Daniel spends his time traveling and writing articles and posts related to travel. For him, travel is about experiencing cultures, meeting people and trying new dishes. Daniel also loves to learn a bit of the language wherever he goes. He speaks pretty decent Chinese as well as reasonable Thai and a bit of Indonesian.
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