Safari to Kruger Park Central
South Africa

Safari to Kruger Park Central

Kruger Park Central

is a sector of the main park

with some private areas

is a sector of the main park with some private areas

a good range of landscapes and wildlife

Kruger Park Central is a sector of the Kruger National Park area of South Africa.

The general rule here in Kruger is that the further north you go, the lower the density of both wildlife and visitors.

This central section therefore represents something of a compromise, with reasonably reliable wildlife viewing and the possibility to escape the crowds in certain areas.

Public access areas

The vast majority of people visiting Kruger Park Central do so by self-driving the main roads and staying in the simple low cost restcamps.

We occasionally include a one night stop in the area when building longer self-drive trips, notably when heading to the more remote northern part of the reserve. In this case we usually aim for Olifants Restcamp, with Letaba Restcamp as a backup.

Singita Lebombo Concession

This substantial private concession within the national park lies far off to the east, at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains that delineate the border with Mozambique

The area contains two two ultra-exclusive lodges, Singita Sweni Lodge and Singita Lebombo Lodge, which are amongst the most upmarket in South Africa.

They are far removed from the main traffic within the reserve and are almost always accessed by air, usually in combination with sister lodges in the similarly exclusive Sabi Sand Reserve area further to the west.

The Imbali Concession

Over on the west side of Kruger Park Central, this extensive private concession contains three mid-range properties, Hamiltons Tented Camp, Hoyo Hoyo Lodge and Imbali Safari Lodge.

This area is not so far removed from the main areas of the park, with all three lodges operating vehicle safari both on their concession and out on the surrounding public roads. So the experience is not as clean as it might be.

However the prices are much lower than the Singita lodges and the camps are much easier to build into self-drive trips.

The Kruger Park Central area tends to feature in two very different types of trip.
In high end flying safaris, the upmarket private concession camps of this area can be reached by air and are often combined with lodges in the premium reserves to the west, including Sabi Sand and Timbavati.
In lower cost self-drive safaris, we sometimes use the restcamps of the public access areas of the national park to break a journey between two higher quality spots.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Kruger is generally considered to be the May-Oct dry season, but (surprisingly) the reserve remains popular year round.

Safari in the Kruger area is much more seasonal than most people would lead you to believe. Trip planning is complicated by the fact that the seasons here are almost diametrically opposite to those down in Cape Town (with which the area is most commonly combined in trips).

Dry winter : Jun/Sep

This period is characterised by a cool dry winter which is generally considered to be the best time for wildlife viewing, although day length is relatively short and nights can get very cold. Unfortunately it does coincide with a more conventional cool wet winter in Cape Town.

Hot transition : Oct/Nov

This is the start of the hot wet summer. Wildlife viewing is usually very strong, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high in advance of the first rains, which usually arrive mid November to cool things down. This coincides with a usually pleasant spring season in Cape Town. October therefore represents an interesting compromise month.

Wet summer : Dec/Mar

This period is characterised by a hot wet summer, which is generally considered to be the most challenging time for wildlife viewing, although sightings should remain reliable in the premium areas. Day length is nice and long, but temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high and rain can be a major issue. However these potentially adverse conditions happen to coincide with a hot dry summer in Cape Town.

Cool transition : Apr/May

This is a period of transition between the hot wet summer and the cool dry winter, with wildlife viewing continuing to improve as the foliage dies back. Day length, temperatures and humidities are all in the middle of their ranges. The period coincides with autumn/fall in Cape Town, making this perhaps the strongest time of year for the combination.

busy public access areas and superb private concessions

let us know your thoughts about South Africa

and we will help you create the perfect safari

let us know your thoughts about South Africa and we will help you create the perfect safari

Extraordinary tailor-made adventures,
from earthy and edgy to easy and extravagant

From around USD 2500 per person, you set the ceiling

Sample Trips

Get started on your trip

It’s never too soon to get in touch, we are here to help with every stage of your planning.

Key Locations

Africa

Africa

There are well over a hundred quality safari areas in Africa, contained within around a dozen countries. Each location has its own unique climate, landscapes …
Timbavati Reserve
Kruger

Timbavati Reserve

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Timbavati is a very strong private safari reserve to the west of Kruger National Park, containing a full …
Sabi Sand Reserve
Kruger

Sabi Sand Reserve

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Sabi Sand is the premium private safari reserve to the west of Kruger National Park, with extremely rich …
Kruger
South Africa

Kruger

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Kruger is a vast conservation area, the most popular safari destination on the continent, renowned for easy wildlife …
Johannesburg
South Africa

Johannesburg

Set to the northeast of South Africa, Johannesburg is the great commercial heart of the country and the main transport hub, a sprawling mess of …
South Africa
Africa

South Africa

South Africa is a vast and incredibly diverse country, with far more highlights than could ever be included in a single trip. Most people start …
Klaserie Reserve
Kruger

Klaserie Reserve

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Klaserie is a substantial private reserve to the west of Kruger National Park, an up-and-coming area with an …
Kruger Park North
Kruger

Kruger Park North

Set in South Africa, Kruger Park North is the more remote sector of this vast reserve, with bigger scenery, lower wildlife densities, much lower vehicle …
Makalali Reserve
Kruger

Makalali Reserve

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Makalali is an extensive fenced private reserve to the west of Kruger National Park, with a selection of …

Please rotate your screen.