Renowned as one of the best parks in Africa for its game drives – a trip to the Kruger presents a great opportunity to for wildlife viewing.

Undoubtedly the best-known wildlife viewing in South Africa is in the world-famous Kruger National Park. Along with its adjoining private reserves, the Kruger covers a vast 19,633 km²of the north-eastern part of the country. Many of the fences that previously separated the privates reserves from the main park have been removed, meaning game now roams freely throughout the area. When it comes to private reserves we particularly love Sabi Sand, Thornybush, Kapama, Timbavati, Greater Makalali and Balule Reserves. They offer a more intimate and luxurious experience than in the park itself, and wildlife sightings are more exclusive, often shared with just one or two other vehicles. However there is also excellent accommodation in the main park, especially if you’re looking to keep down the cost of your trip.

The Kruger is home to an astonishing array of wildlife, with Africa’s fabled “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) joined by cheetah, wild dog, hyena, giraffe, a huge variety of antelope and wonderfully diverse birdlife. Keen leopard spotters will simply love Sabi Sand where the dense, riverine terrain makes it one of the best places to see leopard in the whole of Africa. However, the Kruger isn’t just a place for viewing wildlife. Keen botanists will love the Pafuri region in the far north where 90% of the park’s biodiversity is found in just 5% of its surface area – a truly remarkable statistic which must be seen to be believed.

Broadly speaking, the Kruger is a year-round travel destination as it doesn’t suffer from the massively heavy rains and associated access issues found in other parks and reserves during the summer months of November to March. Whilst sharp afternoon storms are relatively regular, they aren’t disruptive to the safari experience. Indeed, this is an ideal time to travel as the remainder of the country is at its best. Between April and October is a wonderful time to visit the park, with the cool, dry weather making for outstanding wildlife viewing conditions.

Whether you’re splashing out on a luxury Kruger holiday to enjoy one of the uber-luxurious lodges of Sabi Sand, staying in one of our old favourites in Makalali or Thornybush, or fancy the rustic charm of government-run camps within the park, you’ll be assured of a truly wonderful wildlife viewing experience in one of Africa’s most iconic z