Safari to Klaserie

a good range of landscapes and wildlife

Klaserie Reserve is located in the Kruger area of South Africa.

Situated to the east of the town of Hoedspruit, this reserve extends for an impressive 425 square kilometres of gently undulating Lowveld acacia scrub, dissected by seasonal rivers.

There are no fences between here and the main reserve, ensuring that Klaserie is part of the greater Kruger ecosystem.

Klaserie is very much an up-and-coming reserve which has really got itself organised well and now feels like a relatively pristine stretch of wilderness.

It contains a full range of wildlife, with animals approaching the levels associated with other more premium reserves.

The Klaserie area is an increasingly viable and good value alternative to the better known Sabi Sand and Timbavati reserves in this greater Kruger area.

The usual stay duration is 3-5 nights.

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.

Where to stay

Up to around 2018 this area contained only lower cost lodges, but since then some really much higher quality options have been constructed. Although these are also higher cost, they still represent good value when compared with equivalent properties in better known areas like Sabi Sand Reserve and Timbavati Reserve.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of this area is the fact that some of the lodges and their owners have historic family connections all the way back to the 1930s, which brings a refreshing sense of integrity and non-commerciality to the place.

a good value option