Kruger Safari Vacations

Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres in the country’s northeast, Kruger National Park is vast and varied, with landscapes ranging from open savannah and riverine forest to rocky outcrops and fever tree groves. Wildlife is prolific here — think big cats, elephant herds, buffalo, rhino, wild dog, giraffe and hundreds of bird species. The park is home to the Big Five, but it’s often the moments in between that linger longest: a herd of elephants at a waterhole, a leopard slinking through the grass, or lions calling at night from beyond the campfire glow.

For an exclusive, high-end experience, Kruger’s private reserves are hard to beat. Adjoining areas like Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Thornybush, Makalali, and Balule offer luxurious lodges, expert guides and exceptional sightings — often with just one or two vehicles at a time. Sabi Sand, in particular, is legendary for leopard viewing thanks to its dense terrain and permanent water sources.

Kruger is a year-round destination. Dry winter months (May to October) bring superb game viewing as animals gather around scarce water sources, while summer (November to March) sees the bush come alive with birdlife, greenery and newborn animals. Rain tends to fall in short, dramatic bursts and rarely disrupts game drives.