Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park Climate

 

The Kruger Park has a hot, sub-tropical climate and most of the year it is hot during the day (above 25 ° C). The average daily temperature is 88°F (31°C) and the average minimum is 57°F (13.7°C).

Kruger Climate – Summer: The Rainy Season:

 

The rains are always welcome after the dry season filling the rivers and waterholes, resulting in the bushveld looking lush. Game viewing is sometimes a bit more difficult in the summer season because the vegetation is dense, making it bit harder to locate and observe wildlife, but then towards the end of November, early December the newborns arrive which create great photographic opportunities, with the young playing or as nature has it become prey to others. Bird photography is excellent during this time as the summer migrant birds arrive.

The summer months in Kruger Park are very hot and humid with either continual rains or occasional afternoon thundershowers.

 

November Temperature:(+/-) 16 – 32 °C

December Temperature:(+/-) 18 – 34 °C

 

January to April are normally drier months with very hot days and April is autumn period and the vegetation starts changing from thick lush green bush to a slightly sparser browning bush. The temperatures start cooling down at night but daytime is still warm. Scattered thundershowers can be experienced in the afternoons.

 

January Temperature:(+/-) 18 – 34 °C

February Temperature:(+/-) 18 – 33 °C

March Temperature:(+/-) 18 – 33 °C

April Temperature:(+/-) 13 – 28 °C

 

 

Kruger Climate – Dry Season: Winter 

 

Now we are going into winter with colder temperatures at night and at dawn. The bushveld is more open allowing for better visibility. The vegetation becomes totally brown, the grass is low and trees start losing leaves and visibility during game drives is enhanced due to sparser vegetation due to no rain and we are starting to focus more on wildlife photography. The wildlife will migrate towards the water. Water holes, dams and rivers become a hive of activity and you are more likely to spot wildlife in the morning and evening as they come for a drink of water. The day temperatures in winter are pleasant but it can get quite chilly during the night-time so make sure you pack something warm when going on your afternoon/night photo drives.

 

May Temperature:(+/-) 13 – 28 °C

June Temperature:(+/-) 9 – 26 °C

 

July to October is the end of the dry season and the malaria-carrying mosquitoes are dormant, but the best time for wildlife photography.

 

July Temperature:(+/-) 9 – 26 °C

August Temperature:(+/-) 12 -28 °C

Spring is the height of the dry season with hot dry winds and colourless, sparse vegetation. Because the rivers and dams are low, high concentrations of the game can be viewed at these areas and game viewing, in general, is good. The first rains may start towards the end of October and the signs of spring and a new wet season are evident.

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September Temperature:(+/-) 12 – 28 °C

October Temperature:(+/-) 16 – 32 °C