Which month is best for safari in South Africa?

The best time to visit South Africa on safari is widely considered to be May to September. This is when the east of the country - where the main safari parks such as Kruger National Park are located - experiences its dry season. With less vegetation, wildlife watching opportunities are greatly improved.



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Shoulder season — the times between the high season and green season, March to May and October to December — usually offers moderate temperatures and just an occasional storm. This time can be a great option for travelers since this is when you can get better pricing while still enjoying prime wildlife viewing.

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The best time to visit the Kruger National Park is the dry season from May to October for the best game viewing and walking safari conditions. Vegetation is low and sparse at this time of year, making animals easier to spot and track, while the permanent water sources offer a rewarding safari experience in the Kruger.

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Of course, a week or more is recommended for a more diverse experience across different parks and regions, including game drives, bush walks, and even a hot-air balloon “safari.” Two weeks would let you combine several distinct parks and reserves in South Africa as well as its neighbors, including Greater Kruger, ...

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The overall best time to go on safari in South Africa is between May to September. This is South Africa's dry season, but also low season as temperatures drop for winter. Wildlife is easier to spot in these months, as vegetation is lower and animals gather around waterholes.

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For a safari experience, we recommend a safari budget that typically falls between $1,000-$2,000+ per person sharing, per night. This safari budget would include accommodations, meals, internal air and most activities.

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The Kruger National Park is suitable for budget travellers staying in a select camps, but so is the Serengeti, but yet the Serengeti National Park offers more luxurious safaris, camps and activities that are beyond the norm.

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Regardless of the time of year, visitors on a Kruger safari holiday should take anti-malaria tablets and take the same precautions to prevent being bitten.

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Both parks offer the Big Five; however, it will be much harder to spot the animals in Kruger due to the layout of the park with the paved roads. Animals often stay far from the roads. If you want a more adventurous safari with multiple animal sightings, Serengeti National Park is the way to go.

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Since transportation is limited, travellers must often pay for specialised vehicles, such as 4x4s, to traverse the terrain. The cost of these vehicles, combined with the high cost of fuel and the extra time it takes to reach the wildlife reserves, leads to an increase in the overall cost of a safari.

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Wildlife densities If you are after wine or shark dives, South Africa is the best choice of safari destination but if wildlife viewing is what you are after, then Tanzania is your go to safari destination for authentic and memorable Africa wildlife safari experiences.

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Safari Landscapes and Scenery Whilst both countries have incredible topography and scenery, Kenya comes out on top here as the respective Kenyan areas are far more accessible due to the more compact area and the relatively inexpensive access to the light air networks, both private and scheduled.

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African safaris are expensive. Travel Africa magazine stated that the standard price of a 10-day safari in Botswana is £6000-8000 (US$8,500-11,000), or $850-1100 per person per day. Major international safari companies routinely quote $750-1000 per person per day for Tanzanian or Kenyan safaris.

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