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The Park: Advisory
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In this section advise is offered on visiting the Kruger
National Park. A good preparation often prevents nasty things
from happening. Please take some time to read this information.
When to go?
 Many
people visiting the Kruger National Park are unsure of the best time to visit.
The two distinctive seasons in the Kruger National Park, both summer and winter,
offer markedly different wilderness experiences. The dry winter (April to
September) is best if you like seeing large numbers of game. As the many rivers
and waterholes slowly dry up, animals frequent remaining water supplies and
perennial rivers which are usually quite close to game viewing roads. Trees lose
their leaves and vegetation is less dense on general. The temperatures are
milder, averaging about 23°C with nights quite cool down to 6°C. In summer
(October to March) has a unique charm of its own. The thunderstorms in summer
start in early November in the Mpumalanga province, and the dry, leafless trees
adopt their summer foliage, flowers blossom in the wide veld, and antelope begin
to drop their young. The thunderstorms in the late afternoon provide most
welcome relief from the heat of the day, sometimes up to 40°C. The southern
region of the Kruger National Park are generally the coolest because of their
higher altitude and rainfall. Pretoriuskop receives the most precipitation (up
to 800 millimetres per year), while the northern section receives less rain (up
to 500 millimetres) and is drier. Summer is excellent for bird watching as many
birds from migratory species from as far away as Siberia flock to the Kruger
National Park to breed.
What to take?
Most important are sunscreen, mosquito repellent and net, hat,
swimming costume (do not swim in the Kruger National Park itself
because of the wild animals and germs), photographic equipment
(including a bean bag), video camera equipment, a good pair of
binoculars and strong sunglasses. Driving around the bush all
day long is extremely tiring for your eyes. Especially in summer
when the sun is very strong. Before leaving for the Kruger
National Park, especially when you are not from Southern Africa,
go and consult your pharmacist or doctor for the appropriate
anti-malaria tablets as malaria is still a serious problem.
Especially in the Mpumalanga province malaria still is a major
threat to public health. You need to start your anti-malaria
course three week prior to visiting the Kruger National Park.
And please be aware of the risk of taking particular medicine,
like lariam, for the side-effects can be strong and unwanted.
For more information on malaria please click on {Malaria
Situation Information} for more information. In summer and
winter light clothes will be sufficient. But as always in South
Africa you need warm clothing for the evenings.
Regulations
There are speed limits in the Kruger National Park. Fifty
kilometres an hour on the tarred roads and forty kilometres and
hour per hour on all the other roads. There are speed traps with
camera's at random so it is important to adhere to the speed
limit. Speeding will result in a fine and expulsion from the
park. Within the camps the speed limit is ten kilometres and
hour. You are not allowed to drive on unmarked roads and are not
allowed to leave the car. Unless it is stated otherwise. Quite a
number of people have been killed by lions and leopards in
recent years because they left their cars under the wrong
impression that it would be safe. There are no pets allowed
within the Kruger National Park. To prevent diseases to come
into the nature reserve. Such as rabies, that killed the entire
wild dog population of Kenya. There is no feeding of birds or
animals allowed. Weapons are allowed within the Kruger National
Park but have to be declared when entering to be sealed. When
leaving the park again the weapons are unsealed.
Reservations and information
Book accommodation in Kruger.
Book
tours and safaris in Kruger.
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