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.
