Kruger National Park Travel Forum

Due to time restrains, I will only be able to travel to South Africa including Kruger and Garden Route and Cape town in early March 2009.

From what I read, March is a raining season, hard to see animals especially the Big 5, and all moutains are covered with ugly brown grass/trees. Is that true?

Anyone knows exactly how bad it'll be in early-mid March in Kruger and Garden Route? What's the chance to see all Big 5 and other animals?

Thank you!

Remeber a few basic facts. SA is very dry and does not have a 'rainy season'. Usually the Cape has more rain in winter and the nort more in summer. It is always hard to see the Big 5, if you want to have guarantees go to a zoo. If you are patient and look carefully you should always see at least 4 of them, leopard probably not. Rememebr also that Kruger is ca 500 km from top to bottom and you'll find a range of different areas within Kruger, each with a unique climate and fauna/flora. You simply can not rush through in day or so. Short answer, March is a perfectly good time to visit, (avoid major holiday periods such as Easter)

March might not be the optimum time to visit, but it definitely is not a bad / stupid / silly / crazy / ridiculous time either. Nobody will tell you that you were nuts to visit Kruger and Garden Route in March, and this is the first I hear of UGLY brown grass or trees! (The supposed optimum time for Kruger is when they have that NICE brown grass in the dry season).

Elephants you should see easily, buffalo is the next easiest. But rhino, lion and leopard are not so easy . . . at ANY time of the year. I have been to Kruger often from childhood to now my 53rd year. Only seen one leopard and never seen a cheetah. Forget the idea of going to Kruger to tick off the list of the "big 5"