How much time to spend in Kruger National Park? (2 Viewers)

[BruceBerman]

Howdy Friends, My wife and I are planning a do-it-yourself trip to Kruger for both birds and the large mammals. We'll also be touring other parts of South Africa. If you had unlimited time (within reason), how much time would you spend in Kruger? Thanks!

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

In November it is hot but birding is best. I think 2-3 weeks in Kruger would be fun, but if you want to zoom through - 5 days I guess. The north has the largest species diversity of birds, but you really need to go all the way from north to south. 10 days will give you good birding and good mammal watching without too much of a rush.

 

[BruceBerman]

In November it is hot but birding is best. I think 2-3 weeks in Kruger would be fun, but if you want to zoom through - 5 days I guess. The north has the largest species diversity of birds, but you really need to go all the way from north to south. 10 days will give you good birding and good mammal watching without too much of a rush.

Thanks for that info. I was actually thinking more time, so if we only go for 3 weeks that will leave additional time for other locations.

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

You will have an amazing time spending 3 weeks there.

 

[BruceBerman]

You will have an amazing time spending 3 weeks there.

Thank you! So, you feel that 3 weeks is enough time?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Thank you! So, you feel that 3 weeks is enough time?

Three weeks will allow for a pretty full exploration at fairly leisurely pace, either start at the extreme north and work south or vice versa. it will be amazing .

Personally I'd travel north outside the park taking the highway north from Joburg, then enter at the far north, a few days up there, then slowly wind south. The south generally has bigger mammal concentrations, but also far more other tourists. Birding is excellent, but very different, in north and south.

 

[BruceBerman]

Three weeks will allow for a pretty full exploration at fairly leisurely pace, either start at the extreme north and work south or vice versa. it will be amazing .

Personally I'd travel north outside the park taking the highway north from Joburg, then enter at the far north, a few days up there, then slowly wind south. The south generally has bigger mammal concentrations, but also far more other tourists. Birding is excellent, but very different, in north and south.

Thanks for the great info!

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

Thank you! So, you feel that 3 weeks is enough time?

Yes, 3 weeks is enough time for Kruger. You will see a great number of birds (November is best). Good places to stop on the way of other birds would be Nylsvei area (3 nights), Polokwane Game Reserve (1 day) and Woodbush (3 nights) near Haenertsburg. All those have camping near by.

 

[twitcherf]

A slightly different viewpoint to your question!

If your sole focus is birds, then, if it were me, I would spend less time in Kruger as most of the birds there can be seen across a boad swathe of eastern and southern Africa. South Africa's real specials are the Endemcs and Near endemics, of which very few are in Kruger

Dont get me wrong, Kruger is really enjoyable and the birding there is really good and I've been there a few times myself but the Southern African bird specials are best got elsewhere.

 

[BruceBerman]

Good suggestion but the sole purpose is not only birding this trip but birding, seeing the large mammals and flower blooms (my gf). We will have at least 3 weeks outside of Kruger to concentrate on birding.

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

For flowers (not fynbos) it’s lovely to go up Mariepskop, if it’s the right season. Outside Kruger Park, near Orpen Gate. Lots of special flowers there and a lovely patch of forest. You could do the South of Kruger, come out or night and then go back in. If you have 4x4 it’s possible and not difficult.

 

[BruceBerman]

My gf thanks you.

 

[Steve Babbs]

I've spent three weeks in total although it was over two trips. A fantastic place and you will have a great time.

 

[coastalbirder]

Howdy Friends, My wife and I are planning a do-it-yourself trip to Kruger for both birds and the large mammals. We'll also be touring other parts of South Africa. If you had unlimited time (within reason), how much time would you spend in Kruger? Thanks!

We spent 2 weeks in Kruger traveling from south to north in November a few years back (pre-pandemic). Three weeks would have been even better! It was quite hot - it reached 117 F/ 47 C one day in the Lower Sabie area. Mammal viewing was fantastic along the rivers and at water holes (especially in the southern part of the park) and birding was excellent everywhere.

After leaving the park, we spent about 4 weeks on the road mostly birding, ending up in Cape Town. We dropped our rental car there and flew back to Johannesburg.

 

[BruceBerman]

A slightly different viewpoint to your question!

If your sole focus is birds, then, if it were me, I would spend less time in Kruger as most of the birds there can be seen across a boad swathe of eastern and southern Africa. South Africa's real specials are the Endemcs and Near endemics, of which very few are in Kruger

Dont get me wrong, Kruger is really enjoyable and the birding there is really good and I've been there a few times myself but the Southern African bird specials are best got elsewhere.

Can I ask you for some of your favorite spots that we should look into? Planning is going slowly. There's so much information out there!

 

[BruceBerman]

We spent 2 weeks in Kruger traveling from south to north in November a few years back (pre-pandemic). Three weeks would have been even better! It was quite hot - it reached 117 F/ 47 C one day in the Lower Sabie area. Mammal viewing was fantastic along the rivers and at water holes (especially in the southern part of the park) and birding was excellent everywhere.

After leaving the park, we spent about 4 weeks on the road mostly birding, ending up in Cape Town. We dropped our rental car there and flew back to Johannesburg.

I used to live in Arizona. 117 F is hot! Our current plan is September and October so hopefully it will be 75 F every day.

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

I used to live in Arizona. 117 F is hot! Our current plan is September and October so hopefully it will be 75 F every day.

Have a look at Papkuilsfontein for flowers. Amazing. We were there in October a few years ago. The tourists had left but the flowers were still wonderful. Not the big monocultures but so many different species flowering.

You could look at where the longer birding tours go and you could follow their route.

But for an overall great experience my suggestion at that time of year is start around Cape Town and going up the West coast to Port Nolloth and Richtersveld, Carnarvon (Stuurmansfontein is my favourite), Kgalagadi National Park, visiting flowers along the way and targeting the Endemic birds there - possibly return vehicle to Cape Town. Fly to Johannesburg and head to Sani pass (4x4) and the Drakensberg. Then up to St Lucia area and Mkuze game reserve area. Then head to Wakkerstroom and take a bird guide for a day - 3 nights should be enough here and then head to the Kruger Park, come out of Kruger for a few days around Hoedspruit if you have a 4x4 to go up mariepskop mountain after Kruger go back to Johannesburg via Polokwane - not the most beautiful area but their small Game Reserve has an incredible number of species. Spend 2 nights here which gives you time to bird early in the morning and in the afternoon - you are allowed outside your vehicle here and can walk unaccompanied.

 

[twitcherf]

Can I ask you for some of your favorite spots that we should look into? Planning is going slowly. There's so much information out there!

Hi Bruce,

The 'problem' with South Africa is that there are so many places to go!

Some of the South African people on here may be able to give you better pointers as to specifics, but a few of the places that I would certainly try to get to are Wakkerstroom, Sani Pass, Mkhuze (all not a million miles from Kruger). Around Capetown you have Kirstenbosch, Rooi Els, Betty's Bay and Paarl and then slightly farther out, Karoopoort, Eierkop, Skitterykloof. One I haven't got to is Calvinia but it certainly on my list of places to go to!!

I use/used Southern African Birdfinder (Cohen, Spottiswoode & Rossouw) to plan my trips but not sure how out of dat this has become since it was published in 2008. I suspect that the vast majority of it is still relatively current/accurate

T

 

[Tomeitsparadise]

SA Birders Gen is a great FB page if you are looking to find some of the very localised endemics.

 

[GDK]

I use/used Southern African Birdfinder (Cohen, Spottiswoode & Rossouw) to plan my trips but not sure how out of dat this has become since it was published in 2008. I suspect that the vast majority of it is still relatively current/accurate

T

Still extremely useful when we did about 3 months in SA, Namibia, Botswana and Zim in 2017 & 2018. The SA trip in 2017 is detailed here with the book as the main point of reference for many of the sites visited.

nb remember in Kruger you will be restricted to the car in most places, something to bare in mind when considering botanising potential!