19/10/2026
The Kruger area has a fairly predictable climate – a short, hot and wet summer followed by a long, mild and dry winter. Timing your Kruger safari depends on your expectations.
The best time for game viewing is usually during the May – September dry season. Animals are easier to see, the risk of malaria is at its lowest, nights are cold and clear, and afternoon temperatures are often warm enough to lie by the pool.
Although hot and humid, the late dry season – August to end September – usually offers the most rewarding game viewing in terms of close-up sightings, concentrations of animals and the chances of seeing a kill.
The arrival of the rains in November transforms Kruger and Sabi Sands. Although the rainy season might not be first choice for some travellers, it is a time of beautiful lush landscapes, epic bird watching, and is the best time to see baby animals which means good hunting opportunities for predators.
