When it comes to ticking off the Big Five, the Kruger National Park is a top favorite in South Africa. With approximately two million hectares of untouched bushveld, the park is inhabited by thousands of animals – a total of 147 mammal species and more than 500 bird species.
It’s quite possible to see the Big Five in just one day but from our experience it takes approximately three days to see them all. This generally gives you a total of four game drives to explore the park and cover as much ground as possible. With morning, afternoon, and night game drives on offer in the Kruger; it is recommended to stay inside the park to take advantage of the early morning game drives that generally see animals congregated at rivers and dams for a drink of water, whilst the evening safaris expose the more rarer nocturnal species, particularly those predators who hunt when the sun has set.
There are several self-catering rest camps and luxury lodge accommodation options to choose from in the Kruger. If you decide to stay at one of the self-catering rest camps, we do recommend booking the guided safari activities on offer at the camps. These activities are led by highly trained guides who know the park well and have the knowledge to track down animals. This is incredibly beneficial when your time in the park is limited.
For keen photographers, these self-catering camps are generally within close range of hides and dams which are perfect for some incredible wildlife photography. Walking safaris are a great way to immerse yourself in nature and truly gain an understanding of the fauna and flora found in the Kruger.
Although the Big Five can be seen in both the northern and southern parts of the Kruger, the camps in the south are renowned for their big cat sightings, whilst in the north you are likely to see big groups of giraffe and elephants, along with the rare white lions who tend to roam the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. The birdlife is incredible throughout the Kruger National Park, with migrant birds making their appearance in the later part of the year, along with a number of newborn babies seen suckling from their mothers.
