The Kruger National Park in South Africa is easily one of the most popular game reserves in Africa where the big five (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhino and leopard) can be spotted.
Covering a whooping 18,989 square kilometers (about the size of Israel) Kruger National Park is home to many animal and plant species, including 147 mammals, 500 birds, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 336 trees. The national park has about 1,750 lions, 2,300 black and white rhino, 9,100 elephants, 25,000 buffalo and a significant number of leopards.
Kruger became a South African safari park in 1898 and it was, until recently, surrounded by huge electric fences preventing the animals from leaving the park. Northern Kruger is the most scenic section of the park, although the animal concentration here is a lower compared to the far south.
The best time to go on Kruger National Park holidays is during the dry winter season (April to September) when the foliage is sparse and water is restricted to rivers and man-made waterholes. During this period, animals can be easily spotted as they come to the waterholes in the early mornings and late evenings.
However, some Kruger park safari goers prefer the lush vegetation of the hot rainy summer months (October to March). During this period, the park is full of vegetation that makes it harder to see the animals.
Kruger National Park is filled with newborns towards the end of November and early December. Viewing wildlife with their young is an unforgettable Kruger National Park holidays experience. Autumn (April and mid-May) is likely the hardest time of the year to view game in Kruger as the grass is dense and high. However, autumn is the best time for birding in Kruger Park.
There are many accommodation options available for individuals going on Kruger park holidays, ranging from small camps to luxurious lodges located inside the game reserve. If you chose accommodation outside Kruger Park, you will need to calculate in time for the drive towards the gates which can sometimes between 30 minutes and an hour.
When going on a Kruger park safari, you will likely arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport. Several domestic airlines link Johannesburg (1hr), Cape Town (2.5 hrs) and Durban (2.5 hrs) with Mpumalanga Kruger International Airport (MKIA) situated near Nelspruit town. Nelspruit is is well served by buses and minibus taxis to and from Johannesburg.