The Luxury Kruger Safaris Packages (Activities & Why Visit?)

The accessibility of Kruger National Park is one of its many stunning features, alongside the park’s incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes. Kruger offers great Big 5 game watching and opulent lodging without being too remote, and it’s only a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg. The town also has its own international airport, so visitors can easily connect to Cape Town and the Indian Ocean coast of Mozambique.

On top of that, a Kruger safari might take several forms. Indulge in a lavish honeymoon safari in Kruger Park’s renowned private reserves, or get your heart racing on a guided walking safari as you follow the tracks of large animals on foot.

If you’re short on time but still want to see Kruger National Park, we offer fly-in safaris, affordable self-drive vacations, and family safaris with activities designed just for youngsters.

In addition to a Kruger safari, why not spend some time in Cape Town, Mozambique, or Victoria Falls? Get in touch with one of our African Safari Experts if you can’t find the Kruger holiday combination that suits your interests, budget, and requirements in our catalogue.

Luxury Kruger Safaris & Tours

Experience a Kruger Safari of a Lifetime

For the best safari experience, nothing beats a safari to Kruger Park. Kruger National Park is located in South Africa and is home to more species than any other park in the country. Guests can enjoy world-class game viewing, stay in luxurious accommodations, and be guided by some of the best trackers and guides in Africa on exciting walking safaris and Big 5 game drives.

1. Among the World’s Very Best Big 5 Sightings

If observing the Big Five – leopard, lion, elephant, rhino, and buffalo – is on your bucket list, consider a Kruger safari. It is not uncommon to encounter all five species in a single day. As one of Africa’s oldest conservation areas, Kruger consistently offers remarkable wildlife sightings, featuring robust populations of coveted species such as cheetah and wild dog, along with exceptional birdwatching opportunities.

2. A Safari for Every Traveller

Kruger is optimal due to its exceptional infrastructure, efficient travel network, skilled guides, and outstanding service. For those requiring amenities such as Wi-Fi, air conditioning, exclusive-use vehicles, or private plunge pools, Kruger’s accommodations provide a wide array of options. For those who want an active vacation, Kruger’s lodges provide an extensive array of activities, including archery, wine tasting, stargazing, tennis, culinary instruction, yoga, and specialised photography courses.

3. Great Destination for Celebrations

Kruger is not only suitable for all types of travellers but also conducive to celebrations. Couples on their honeymoon will appreciate the star beds and romantic sunset drinks, while multi-generational families with children will find comfort and security in enclosed lodges including children’s clubs. Kruger offers ample accommodation and budget options suitable for any occasion, including marriages, anniversaries, graduations, and family reunions. Additionally, several activities are available outside of Kruger, including golfing, hot-air ballooning, visiting wildlife sanctuaries, and trekking in scenic locations.

  • Plan your dream honeymoon with private plunge pools, romantic dining and couple’s spa treatments.
  • Celebrate your children’s graduation at a family-friendly lodge.
  • Mark your loved-one’s birthday with special sundowners in the bush.
  • Experience a romantic Kruger safari for your anniversary.

4. Kruger Is Perfect for Walking and Guided Safaris

Rhino Post in the national park, Africa on Foot in Klaserie, and Ngala Safari Lodge in Timbavati are some of the lodges that offer walking safaris, where guests can swap out their game drives for exploring Kruger’s fascinating ecosystem on their own with a guide, as part of their top-notch classic safaris. In these vehicles, expert guides and trackers search for the Big 5.

5. Private Reserves = Fewer Crowds

Our first pick for a Kruger safari would be one of the private reserves—the Sabi Sands, Thornybush, or Singita’s concessions—because of the extreme seclusion, little crowds, and breathtaking wildlife viewing opportunities. These exclusive-use conservation areas are renowned globally for the almost guaranteed views of the Big Five, making them the leading edge of luxury safaris.

Other benefits and highlights of private reserve:

  • Private off-road guided game drives
  • Vehicle limit at wildlife sightings
  • Luxurious lodges: star beds, spas, Wi-Fi and private pools
  • Best safari food in Africa (award-winning chefs)
  • High concentration of leopards
  • Area known for seeing all the Big 5 in a single day

6. Convenient Travel Logistics & Easily Combined with Other Destinations

If you’re looking for an accessible African wildlife habitat, go no farther than the Greater Kruger. To get to Kruger National Park from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, you can take a short-haul aircraft to one of three airports outside of the city, or you can hire a comfortable vehicle. The only way to get from one lodge to another once you’re there is by car, which also serves as a game drive. There is less time spent travelling and more time on safari thanks to the small size of the private reserves and the quick transfer periods. Because there are so many flights, you may easily combine a Kruger safari with a trip to another location.

Where to Go in Kruger National Park

At just about 20,000 km², Kruger National Park is the largest park in Africa. It covers two provinces in South Africa and is about the size of Israel or Wales. Tourists arranging a Kruger safari would do well to familiarise themselves with the physical composition of this remarkable destinations, since the park is only one of four components that comprise Greater Kruger National Park.

1. Panorama Route: stunning scenery & self-drive safaris

The Panorama Route, located west of Kruger National Park, is an incredibly beautiful area with hilly terrain, deep gorges, and stunning vistas; nonetheless, it is well-served by smooth highways and charming, little communities. Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, Pilgrim’s Rest, a traditional town, and many more attractions can be found along the Panorama Route.

There is a wide variety of places to stay along the Panorama Route, from family-friendly lodges and safari lodges to world-class spas and lavish retreats, so you can unwind after a day or two of early starts in the Kruger. In addition to the safari, the Panorama Route is well-known for its abundance of adventure and sports activities, such as golf, cultural tours, horseback riding, and quad biking, to name a few.

2. Kruger National Park: South Africa’s flagship reserve

Kruger National Park is the biggest, most diverse, and oldest conservation area in South Africa. It is open to the public and is managed by the government parastatal SANParks.

Kruger National Park, which spans the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, is completely fenced in, has a vast system of paved and gravel roads, and is host to a variety of lodging options and tourist amenities, with the majority of these being situated in the southern and central areas, where game viewing has historically been more favourable.

3. Kruger’s Private Reserves: Africa’s best Big 5 game viewing

Privately owned and managed game reserves, often in big blocks before being split into smaller ones, stretch along most of the western border of the Kruger.

These environmentally conscious reserves, which were once separated from the park, now encompass some of the most prestigious safari brands in the world, including Sabi Sabi, Thornybush, Londolozi, and Mala Mala, and they provide what is often seen to be the pinnacle of African safaris.

Not only is the lodging, administration, and guiding out of this world, but sightings of the Big Five are practically assured. The animals here are more accustomed to humans, so you can see them more often and up close than in the park. Off-road driving, guided nature walks, and night drives are all legal, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see them.

4. Kruger’s Private Concessions: luxury & exclusivity within the park

Kruger Park’s private concessions are exclusive-use zones within the park, running parallel to the private reserves. Activities like off-road driving for close-up sightings, night drives, and bush hikes are permitted, and the housing and guiding in the concessions are of unusually high grade. Game watching is usually outstanding.

While staying in a private concession is comparable to a private reserve in terms of luxury safari amenities, guests who like to explore the park’s interior on game drives will appreciate this perk.

When is the Best Time to go to the Kruger National Park

During the dry season, which lasts from May to October, visitors to Kruger National Park are treated to the finest conditions for game viewing and walking safaris. In addition to the perennial water sources that provide an enjoyable safari experience in the Kruger, the sparse and low vegetation during this time of year makes animals easy to identify and track.

The Worst/best time to visit the Kruger National Park is really up to you; it is often thought of as a year-round attraction. May through October is the dry winter season in the Kruger, and November through April is the rainy summer season. Having said that, a safari in Kruger National Park is never boring.

Month by Month Guide for Travelling to the Kruger National Park

Visiting the Kruger National Park from January to March

The Kruger Park experiences its most rains in January. Days are hot and muggy, and late afternoons bring spectacular thunderstorms. As the marula trees start to produce fruit, the environment becomes more vibrant due to the rainy weather. The park is a great place to go birdwatching at this time of year because lesser spotted eagles are common.

February still has the warm and humid weather of summer, with the rains continuing into the month. Kruger National Park trips are at their most enjoyable during this time of year, since waterbuck are laying their eggs. By February, the park is bustling with birdwatchers, thanks to the arrival of migrating species and the full plumage of breeding birds.

In Kruger Park, the summer season typically ends in March, which also happens to be the last month of substantial rainfall. Even though it could be a bit of a challenge to see the animals at times due to the park’s thick foliage, following wildlife is an integral aspect of a safari in the Kruger National Park, especially with the knowledgeable guides available. The kudu and buffalo mating seasons are in March, which is a very exciting time.

Travelling to the Kruger National Park in April & May

Arriving or departing during the start or finish of the dry season—which starts in April—is the ideal time to explore Kruger National Park. The park experiences a marked decrease in temperature as a result of this seasonal change. Impala, wildebeest, and warthog sightings are prevalent in April because these animals are mating. However, it can be difficult to observe other wildlife during this time.

In the Kruger Park, autumn gives way to winter in May. Even though the rain has stopped, the once verdant autumn landscape is beginning to lack leaves and turn a brownish hue. As the park’s animal inhabitants start to relocate to warmer climates, one of the first things that elephants do is travel north of the Kruger to their winter grazing grounds, passing through Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the route. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these magnificent creatures migrate in large groups.

Visiting the Kruger National Park from June to August

June is both the coldest and driest month in the Kruger. Temperatures in the daytime are pleasant with minimal humidity, however the evenings do turn very cold. This is a period when the wildlife routinely congregates around permanent water sources, making animal sightings while on safari in the Kruger National Park a spectacular experience. Because of the temperature dip, this is when the large cats, notably the elusive leopard, become easier to spot.

July is one of the greatest seasons for game viewing in the Kruger National Park. The weather is nice because it is cooler and less humid. The north of the park receives fewer safari enthusiasts at this time of year as there is more wildlife activity in the south. The Sabie River is where you go in Kruger to witness predators in action.

August is the midst of the dry season. Water sources for the animals are sparse but the best Kruger safari possibilities are in the southern areas of the park, where water is more freely available. August is a particularly favourable time of year to visit the Kruger since there are less mosquitoes, little to no rain, temps are pleasantly warm throughout the day, and delightfully cold in the evenings.

Travelling to the Kruger National Park in September & October

The months of September and October are known for their hot and humid weather, but they also have the biggest densities of animals near water sources. Many consider this to be the ideal time to go on a safari in Kruger National Park, especially in the middle and southern parts of the park. Typically, the rainiest month in Kruger Park begins in October, while the start of spring is in September. The weather might be hot throughout the day and rainy in the evening. In the aftermath of the dry and dusty months, the grass begins to become greener, and game viewing remains excellent due to the sparse undergrowth.

Visiting the Kruger National Park during November & December

Beginning in November, the summer rains hit hard, reaching their height in the winter months of January and February until finally ending in April. As a result, the Kruger becomes an exquisitely picturesque, verdant scene that is ideal for photography. The formally recognised beginning of the Green Season is November. There are still plenty of juvenile animals to see, making it an excellent time to go game viewing. Additionally, if you are interested in birdwatching or planning a safari-beach vacation, this is the ideal time to visit the Kruger.

In December, the summer season reaches its peak. Spectacular thunderstorms often strike in the early evening, capping off hot and muggy days. If you are planning a summertime Kruger National Park visit, you should talk to your doctor about malaria prevention. Although the area is located within the malarial belt, the likelihood of malaria is minimal. Stay at one of the many luxurious lodges in the Kruger National Park area if you want to escape the throngs that descend upon the park during the lengthy December and January school holidays. Alternatively, you may venture north of the park or explore the private reserves and concessions in the Kruger for a more peaceful experience.