Chupacabra

The chupacabra or chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾas], literally 'goat-sucker', from Spanish: chupa, 'sucks', and cabras, 'goats') is a legendary creature, or cryptid, in the folklore of parts of the Americas. The name comes from the animal's purported vampirism—the chupacabra is said to attack and drink the blood of livestock, including goats.

Lioness and cubs in Kruger National Park

Unlike Cape Town (with its Mediterranean climate), the climate of Kruger National Park is subtropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons. By day, it is warm to hot year-round. Although it is a year-round destination for safaris, the seasons greatly impact wildlife viewing. The rainy season—October through April—equates to the hot and humid summer months (winter in the northern hemisphere). The dry season (May through September) is winter, with warm and mild days, and chilly nights and early mornings.

Visiting Kruger in Winter/Dry Season (June-August) / Rhino during the dry season

Although the dry season extends from May through October, the driest period is in the cool mid-winter months. Temperatures are at their most pleasant, with warm days, low humidity, and virtually no rainfall. Mid-day temperatures average a very pleasant 79°F (26°C) in mid-winter, with deep-blue cloudless skies. However, nighttime temperatures fall dramatically. Early morning temperatures just before sunrise average about 50°F (10°C), and are often much colder.

Cape buffalo during the wet season

By November the mercury soars, the humidity rises exponentially as the rainy season sets in, and mosquitoes are more prevalent. The summer months can be uncomfortably hot: daytime high temperatures average 90°F (32°C) and can peak well above 100 °F (38 °C), while your clothes will stick to your body in the muggy air. Late afternoons and evenings often bring dramatic thunderstorms—especially in December-February, the hottest and wettest months. However, it rarely rains all day and mornings are usually clear. This is a season to laze away the mid-day hours in the relative comfort of your lodge or camp (in summer, we recommend staying at an air-conditioned lodge, as camping requires a high degree of tolerance for heat and rain).

Elephants in Kruger National Park

As you may have deduced from the above information, choosing the right time to visit Kruger National Park depends on your tolerance for heat and humidity, whether you prioritize seeing birds or other game, how "crowd-tolerant" you are, and your budgetary concerns.

Learn about House Wrens!

House wrens are small, warm brown birds that are often spotted in yards, thickets near woods, gardens, yards, and parks. These merry songbirds like brush piles for cover, protection, and as a source for insects.

House Wren (Bird)

In late April through early May, house wrens return to their breeding range and start their first brood. The male house wren arrives first and marks its territory by building crude dummy nests. Wrens nest in natural cavities and human-made nest boxes, as well as any crevice they can find, such as old boots, abandoned hornet nests, or farm machinery. The female completes the nest construction at one of the dummy nest sites. She will lay one egg per day until she has a clutch size of 5-8 eggs. Incubation is by the female only and lasts for 12–13 days, depending on the temperature. The hatchlings fledge at about 17 days, and parental care continues for another 13 days.

Eurasian Wren Bird Facts (Troglodytes troglodytes) | Birdfact

Small, energetic birds with big voices, they are officially the UK’s most numerous bird species, occurring almost everywhere, from gardens to farms and the countryside.

Culture & Education/Customs/Yukitsuri -Rope Supports for Protection from Snow

Since winter comes early to Kanazawa, the yukitsuri is put up
in November. It starts with the famous Karasaki Pine in       
Kenrokuen Garden.                                             
 The trees that are suppported are pines, azaleas, and fruit  
trees. First a pole is propped up near the trunk of a tree and
rope is hung from it and attached to the ground, forming a    
teepee-like shape. This process is especially important for   
evergreen trees because they are so delicate.                 

 There are three types of yukitsuri.                          
      Ringo-tsuri: five ropes attached to one pole are
                   placed close to the trunk of a tree, and
                   a special decorative rope is attached to
                   the top of the pole.
     Miki-tsuri: used to support young trees such
                  as pine and cherry. The rope is attached     
                  directly to the top of a tree and hangs     
                  directly into the lower branches of the     
                  tree giving it proper support.               
    Shibori:    used on shrubs such as bush clovers
                  and azaleas. Rope is used to gather all
                  the branches into a bottle-like shape.
                  This method is used to protect the plants
                  from snow piling up on the ground around
                  them.                             
 The most popular method is Ringo-tsuri, and all the famous and
older trees in Kenrokuen Garden are supported in this manner.

Kenrokuen (Ishikawa) Yukitsuri

Kenrokuen located in Kanazawa is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and is one of the most popular gardens to visit year-round. During the winter, the snow transforms the garden into an even more wondrous place.

Chupacabra

The chupacabra or chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾas], literally 'goat-sucker', from Spanish: chupa, 'sucks', and cabras, 'goats') is a legendary creature, or cryptid, in the folklore of parts of the Americas. The name comes from the animal's purported vampirism—the chupacabra is said to attack and drink the blood of livestock, including goats.

Lioness and cubs in Kruger National Park

Unlike Cape Town (with its Mediterranean climate), the climate of Kruger National Park is subtropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons. By day, it is warm to hot year-round. Although it is a year-round destination for safaris, the seasons greatly impact wildlife viewing. The rainy season—October through April—equates to the hot and humid summer months (winter in the northern hemisphere). The dry season (May through September) is winter, with warm and mild days, and chilly nights and early mornings.

Visiting Kruger in Winter/Dry Season (June-August) / Rhino during the dry season

Although the dry season extends from May through October, the driest period is in the cool mid-winter months. Temperatures are at their most pleasant, with warm days, low humidity, and virtually no rainfall. Mid-day temperatures average a very pleasant 79°F (26°C) in mid-winter, with deep-blue cloudless skies. However, nighttime temperatures fall dramatically. Early morning temperatures just before sunrise average about 50°F (10°C), and are often much colder.

Cape buffalo during the wet season

By November the mercury soars, the humidity rises exponentially as the rainy season sets in, and mosquitoes are more prevalent. The summer months can be uncomfortably hot: daytime high temperatures average 90°F (32°C) and can peak well above 100 °F (38 °C), while your clothes will stick to your body in the muggy air. Late afternoons and evenings often bring dramatic thunderstorms—especially in December-February, the hottest and wettest months. However, it rarely rains all day and mornings are usually clear. This is a season to laze away the mid-day hours in the relative comfort of your lodge or camp (in summer, we recommend staying at an air-conditioned lodge, as camping requires a high degree of tolerance for heat and rain).

Elephants in Kruger National Park

As you may have deduced from the above information, choosing the right time to visit Kruger National Park depends on your tolerance for heat and humidity, whether you prioritize seeing birds or other game, how "crowd-tolerant" you are, and your budgetary concerns.

Learn about House Wrens!

House wrens are small, warm brown birds that are often spotted in yards, thickets near woods, gardens, yards, and parks. These merry songbirds like brush piles for cover, protection, and as a source for insects.

House Wren (Bird)

In late April through early May, house wrens return to their breeding range and start their first brood. The male house wren arrives first and marks its territory by building crude dummy nests. Wrens nest in natural cavities and human-made nest boxes, as well as any crevice they can find, such as old boots, abandoned hornet nests, or farm machinery. The female completes the nest construction at one of the dummy nest sites. She will lay one egg per day until she has a clutch size of 5-8 eggs. Incubation is by the female only and lasts for 12–13 days, depending on the temperature. The hatchlings fledge at about 17 days, and parental care continues for another 13 days.

Eurasian Wren Bird Facts (Troglodytes troglodytes) | Birdfact

Small, energetic birds with big voices, they are officially the UK’s most numerous bird species, occurring almost everywhere, from gardens to farms and the countryside.

Culture & Education/Customs/Yukitsuri -Rope Supports for Protection from Snow

Since winter comes early to Kanazawa, the yukitsuri is put up
in November. It starts with the famous Karasaki Pine in       
Kenrokuen Garden.                                             
 The trees that are suppported are pines, azaleas, and fruit  
trees. First a pole is propped up near the trunk of a tree and
rope is hung from it and attached to the ground, forming a    
teepee-like shape. This process is especially important for   
evergreen trees because they are so delicate.                 

 There are three types of yukitsuri.                          
      Ringo-tsuri: five ropes attached to one pole are
                   placed close to the trunk of a tree, and
                   a special decorative rope is attached to
                   the top of the pole.
     Miki-tsuri: used to support young trees such
                  as pine and cherry. The rope is attached     
                  directly to the top of a tree and hangs     
                  directly into the lower branches of the     
                  tree giving it proper support.               
    Shibori:    used on shrubs such as bush clovers
                  and azaleas. Rope is used to gather all
                  the branches into a bottle-like shape.
                  This method is used to protect the plants
                  from snow piling up on the ground around
                  them.                             
 The most popular method is Ringo-tsuri, and all the famous and
older trees in Kenrokuen Garden are supported in this manner.

Kenrokuen (Ishikawa) Yukitsuri

Kenrokuen located in Kanazawa is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and is one of the most popular gardens to visit year-round. During the winter, the snow transforms the garden into an even more wondrous place.