Your first African safari adventure & what to expect in Kruger National Park

Going on an African safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! It is also a great unknown, especially if you're traveling to Africa for the first time. For those feeling a little nervous, here are some tips on what to expect on your first safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa. 

What to expect on African safaris in Kruger National Park

These pointers are from my first South African safari in Kruger National Park, but the advice is applicable to African safari trips elsewhere too. (check out What is a safari? for more about wildlife safaris in Africa).

Warm weather and warm people

While winter temperatures can drop considerably, the average minimum – even in the dead of winter – seldom drops below 10°C. Mid-winter daytime temperatures average in the mid-20 °C, so pack t-shirts, shorts, and sun cream, regardless of the season you’re traveling in!

The people in Kruger National Park match the weather – they’re warm and hospitable and will go out of their way to ensure that your African safari is comfortable and pleasant. Don't forget to tip for good service.

Top Safari Tips:

• Pack a hat for sunny days and wear layers of clothing so that you can shed and add layers as needed.
• Don’t forget to pack a warm jacket, for early morning and evening safari drives, especially in winter. (more in our Complete Safari Packing List)
• Unsure how to tip on safari? See our African safari tipping guide.

Wild animals galore

Expect to see all the incredible wild animals that Africa is known for, in abundance. Kruger National Park is Big 5 country and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see them all, and more! Remember, though, that one of the biggest ‘wow!’ factors of the Greater Kruger Park is that it’s an enormous unfenced area (2 000 000 hectares), allowing the animals to move around freely in their natural habitat.

What this means for the safari-goer, is that nothing is guaranteed, but what you do see, is spectacularly exciting. An added bonus is that guides and trackers in the park are so skilled that they’ll ensure you’ll see as much as possible.

Top Safari Tips:

• For your first safari, book a guided Kruger National Park Safari or hire a guide to get the most out of your game drives and your African safari experience.
• Don't get hung up on seeing the Big 5 animals. There are so many other incredible animals in Kruger National Park (and Africa) that are as amazing to see as Africa's Big 5.

New experiences & early mornings

It is near impossible to describe the feeling of being on an early morning game drive. Watching the sunrise, the thorn trees making beautiful silhouettes, birds chirping, the fresh, cool air warming ... It’s breathtaking. Add to that, listening to an elephant chewing on a branch for its breakfast (we were that close!) and you’ve pretty much got perfection.

Camping out. While we didn’t do this, two young German girls that we met on the first night of our safari, did. After our braai in the bush, we left them behind to sleep under the stars, with two trained guides. We met up with them at breakfast on day three – they were tired and dirty, and positively beaming, having loved the experience of wild camping. Definitely one for the more adventurous type!

Dawn game drives and wild camping are just two of the many experiences offered in Kruger National Park. On Kruger Safaris, you can take night game drives or do walking safaris and more. Depending on where you go on safari other options include boat safaris, hot-air balloon rides, canoeing safaris, off-road game drives, and plenty of other adventures.

Top Safari Tips:

• Grab the opportunity to try new experiences on your safari!
• Early morning starts are synonymous with African safaris because this is an ideal time to watch the wildlife out in the bush. Expect pre-dawn wake-up calls and sunrise game drives on safari - they're a magical part of the adventure! 
• Check what safari activities are available at the places you visit and specify your interests when booking your safari (or ask our friendly travel experts)

Serene sunsets whilst sipping sundowners

Look forward to spectacular sunsets on safari in Africa. At the end of your action-packed days, you'll get to sit back and watch the sun go down over the untamed bush. You'll usually raise a toast to your wildlife adventures, back at your safari lodge or out on your sunset game drive. Either way, the serene setting and beautiful views are unforgettable. 

Fabulous flying creatures (and annoying ones)

While people tend to focus on seeing the big animals, the birds one sees on an African safari are fantastic. From the gangly ostrich to the bright-blue Cape Glossy Starling to the unfortunate-looking Southern Ground Hornbill, Kruger National Park hosts around 500 species of bird.

It also, unfortunately, has smaller, more annoying flying creatures, like mosquitos, so don’t forget your insect repellent!

Top Safari Tips:

• Pack a pair of binoculars for bird watching and optimal game viewing.
• Take the necessary anti-malaria precautions. See our post on malaria for everything you need to know. (not required on all safaris as some parks are in malaria-free areas)

Plants and flowers

Another often forgotten, but wonderful, aspect of African safaris and Kruger National Park, in particular, is the flora. In Greater Kruger, this includes the huge Acacia trees iconic to African safaris, Dr. Seuss-like Baobabs, and green-barked Fever trees that lead to vast savannas of grazing wild grass. A walking safari to see, smell, and feel the textures of the African bush, is highly recommended.

Top Safari Tips:

• Consider doing a walking safari to get a closer look at the flora and ecosystems.
• Slow down and appreciate the finer details and small miracles of the African bush.
• Don't be shy to ask your guide questions on safari - you'll be amazed at the intricacies of the African bush.

The cost: a price tag to suit your budget

African safaris can be affordable, excellent-value-for-money holidays. Not all safaris are luxury holidays for the rich and famous. Expect to spend from about $150 per person per day for an all-inclusive African safari package. Kruger National Park safaris, for example, can be surprisingly cheap for high-quality safari packages. 

Top Safari Tips:

• Opt for a reputable budget safari and you can expect an affordable safari experience that doesn't compromise on quality.
• Be prepared for the extra costs (flights, visas, insurance, etc.), and don't overpay for your African safari (contact us for advice on affordable safaris)
• For more about how much a safari costs see How Much Does it Cost to Go on Safari in Africa?

Flexible 'set' safari programs

While there is generally a set program on African safaris, with specific times for meals and activities, remember that these are not set in stone. This is the wild, and the wild is beautifully unpredictable. From trees pushed over by elephants (blocking the road) to sticking around to watch lion cubs frolic and play, time is ever-so-slightly mercurial in the African bush: I’d recommend leaving your watch at home!

Top Safari Tip:

• Let African time take over. You'll get the most out of your African safari if you go with the flow and adopt a flexible attitude.
• Even set safari programs will vary depending on local conditions and wildlife sightings, so expect some changes.
• Some safari programs are more flexible than others. The schedules of small group tours and private safaris, for instance, are more relaxed.

New friends

In just three days, I made friends with an older couple from Melbourne, a newly married couple from Poland, two young girls from Germany, a couple who spend their time between Spain and Thailand, and a lovely Spanish guy who lives in New York.

It’s one of the joys of traveling and sharing experiences. In general, meals on African safaris are communal, with everybody sharing tables and stories from their days – who saw what, where. From there, it’s a hop, skip, and a jump to friendships formed around campfires beneath the magnificent African, star-scattered night sky.

What to expect on safari, in short

The bottom line of what to expect on an African safari: incredible experiences, sights, and sounds that’ll amaze you, vast open skies and land that stretches out forever, fresh air, new experiences, fantastic wildlife and birdlife, new friends, and natural exhilaration.

For more about what to expect on safari see What’s a safari and what is a wildlife safari in Africa like nowadays? or get in touch and chat with a safari expert.

[Updated in June 2022 | Originally published in 2016]