Kruger National Park is the largest park in South Africa and has more wildlife species than any other African game park. However, it is not well suited for international travelers with limited time because of its size. Its 7,523 square-miles (19,485 sq km) and large community accommodations make Kruger National Park better suited to tourists driving themselves and those who are restricted to a tight budget. Kruger is a popular destination for South Africans on holiday and the park is usually busy, welcoming over 900,000 tourists a year.
Most international travelers opt to avoid the main park and instead visit the private game reserves along Kruger National Park’s western border. Some of the most popular private reserves include: Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mala Mala, Sabi Sabi, Londolozi, Lion Sands, Singita, Djuma and Manyeleti.
These reserves tend to have superior accommodations, use open safari vehicles, allow vehicles to leave the designated roads and allow activities such as walking safaris and private night game drives (both of which are prohibited in Kruger proper). Sabi Sand and the other private game reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park give you the best of both worlds. You can avoid the crowds while viewing the abundant wildlife in a more intimate safari experience.
Activities
Day game drives (private reserves & Kruger)
Open safari vehicles (private reserves)
Night game drives (private game reserves & Kruger)
Walking safaris (private game reserves)
Interesting & Essential Facts
About the Kruger National Park
International travelers should avoid Kruger National Park itself and instead visit one or more of the private game reserves on its western border. The accommodations and game viewing opportunities are superior in the reserves.
A fence between Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand and the other private reserves was removed years ago. Thus, the private reserves are actually extensions of Kruger National Park.
Kruger National Park is very large (up to 55 miles or 88 km across). Visitors intent on seeing Kruger are advised to rent a vehicle and drive through the park themselves.
Vehicles are required to stay on designated roads in Kruger National Park, whereas the nearby private game reserves (such as Sabi Sands) allow visitors to drive off-road, right up to the animals.
Due to the park’s large size and vehicle restrictions, game is less concentrated in Kruger and it will likely be much further away than in the private game reserves.
Accommodations in Kruger are mostly large rest camps and campsites with communal bathrooms; some smaller bush camps are available as well.
The private game reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park are first-class accommodations offering more luxury and better food.
Animals at the smaller private reserves are accustomed to safari vehicles and drivers are in communication with each other. This allows for a more intimate and fulfilling safari experience.
There is no animal migration in Kruger National Park as artificial water holes have been provided.
A trip to Kruger National Park will be significantly less expensive than a trip of the same length to a neighboring private game reserve. Consider whether cost or your overall experience is most important.
The northern part of Kruger is the best area for finding elephant, tsessebe, and both sable and roan antelope.
Lion, cheetah, black-backed jackal and wild dogs prefer the plains and flatter areas in the central and southern regions of Kruger.
It’s hardest to spot wildlife in the southwestern section of the park.
Since leopards are nocturnal animals, they will be hard to spot during the day even though they are quite prevalent in Kruger and its surrounding reserves.
Kruger National Park is exceptionally busy during South African holidays, so check the calendar before booking your trip.
Animals
Most Likely to See:
Lion (private res)
Elephant
White Rhino (private res)
Buffalo
Greater Kudu
Giraffe
Bushbuck
Duiker
Spotted Hyena
Mongoose
Imapala
Common Waterbuck
Steenbok
Burchell’s Zebra
Black Wildebeest
Likely to See:
Leopard (private res)
Cheetah (private res)
Lion (Kruger)
Hippo
Lucky to See:
Black Rhino
Eland
Sable Antelope
Wild Dog (private res)
Leopard (Kruger)
Cheetah (Kruger)
White Rhino (Kruger)
Rare to See/Not Present:
Wild Dog (Kruger)
Birds
Kruger and its surrounding area are home to over 450 bird species. Although the best time for bird watching in this region is October through March (the opposite of the best time for game viewing), bird watching tends to be good year-round as over half of the bird species permanently reside in the park. You’ll be able to see a variety of birds and raptors such as: the tawny eagle, bateleur, brown snake eagle, martial eagle, Whalberg’s eagle, white-backed vultures, lappet-faced vultures, white-headed vultures, hooded vultures, lilac-breasted rollers, yellow-billed hornbills, greater blue-eared starlings, long-tailed shrikes, fork-tailed drongos, francolin, red-billed oxpecker, carmine bee-eaters, woodland kingfishers, and European rollers.
Best Time to Visit
May – Oct. = Best game viewing in Kruger
Year Round = Best game viewing in private reserves
Nov. – Dec. = Calving season
Dec. – Jan. = Heaviest rains
Oct. – March = Best bird watching
Sept. – March = Whalberg’s eagle is present