- hot and spectacular thunderstorms
Summer Weather
NOVEMBER: Summer rainfall starts in earnest in the Kruger National Park with magnificent evening thunderstorms after a long, hot afternoon. There are new-born animals everywhere and the predators will take advantage of this sudden abundance of food. The summer weather means the bush is lush, the flowers are out and the landscape stunning.
DECEMBER: The days are at their longest in December and the bush teems with life. Rivers are flowing and this is a perfect time for bird watching. Most of the animals will have had their offspring and there is a super abundance of species to be seen.
JANUARY: The height of summer in the Kruger National Park – the bush is bursting with every vibrant shade of green. All the migratory birds have arrived. If the rains have come earlier then the animals will be well-fed and healthy. Long, hot, humid days with chances of spectacular African thunderstorms are the norm.
FEBUARY: Very similar weather to January with long, hot days and balmy evenings. The spring crop of offspring is a little more adventurous. Bird watching is still fantastic.
- fiery mopane leaves
Autumn Weather
MARCH: Small changes begin to herald in the start of autumn in the Kruger National Park. The heat from summer is more relaxed and there is noticeably less rain. Some migratory birds head off around the end of March. The vegetation is still green from the summer rains and the plains animals make the most of it.
APRIL: Autumn is definitely starting to make its presence known. The mopane start turning yellow and orange. This is normally the last good month of good grazing for the animals. The bush will be alive with the guttural calls of rutting impala.
MAY: Autumn is slowly turning to winter in May. The days are much cooler but still very comfortable. There will be very little water around except for in the pans, larger rivers and dams. The animals start to congregate closer to these water sources making game viewing easier.
- no rain, warm days and chilly nights
Winter Weather
JUNE: Winter is now in full swing in the Kruger National Park with warm days but chilly mornings and evenings. Game viewing is superb as the animals congregate near sources of water and the lack of grass and leaves makes spotting them so much easier.
JULY: Dry, cool weather prevails. The buffalo will form huge herds in their search for water and good grazing. Predators have a field day lying in ambush for animals coming to drink. By now most of the trees are bare and there is very little grass cover. With endless blue skies and golden winter light this is prime time for photographers in the Kruger National Park.
AUGUST: There is a hint of spring as the days begin to slowly lengthen. The days are a bit warmer but the bush is still sparse and there is very little water around. These winter months are great for viewing predators though. Several trees make an early start and the very first bit of greenery is seen.
- babies being born
Spring Weather
SEPTEMBER: Spring has arrived. The bush is by now begging for rain. The first arrivals of migratory birds. Many animals will start to show signs of pregnancy as they time the births of their offspring with the rains later in the year.
OCTOBER: Summer is on its way and the first rains normally have arrived by October and the bush takes on a fresh greenish hue. The first babies are born to take advantage of this. The days are getting hot and the nights pleasant. The majority of migratory birds have arrived back in Kruger.
