Kruger National Park
🇿🇦 South Africa
🐆 Leopard Prowls Kruger’s Wild SavannahKruger National Park is a massive tropical savanna reserve situated in northeastern South Africa, featuring wide grasslands and scattered acacia trees. This protected region stands out for its high density of wildlife, thriving across warm plains and winding riverbanks.
-23.061° S 31.212° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
Lion
Panthera leo
★ 
Leopard
Panthera pardus
★ 
White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
📊 Most Spotted
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Grey Go-Away-Bird
Corythaixoides concolor
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas
Southern Giraffe
Giraffa giraffa
Red-billed Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Natal Francolin
Pternistis natalensis
LADO
Spilopelia senegalensis
⭐ Iconic Species
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ Lion
Panthera leo
★ Leopard
Panthera pardus
★ White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
📊 Most Spotted
Southern Giraffe
Giraffa giraffa
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
📊 Most Spotted
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Grey Go-Away-Bird
Corythaixoides concolor
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas
Red-billed Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Natal Francolin
Pternistis natalensis
LADO
Spilopelia senegalensis
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Rainbow Skink
Trachylepis margaritifera
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Serrated Hinged Terrapin
Pelusios sinuatus
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
African Striped Skink
Trachylepis striata
Southern Tree Agama
Acanthocercus atricollis
Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo dilepis
Tropical House Gecko
Hemidactylus mabouia
Cape Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus capensis
Rock Monitor
Varanus albigularis
Common Giant Plated Lizard
Matobosaurus validus
📊 Most Spotted
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
Chiromantis xerampelina
Painted Reed Frog
Hyperolius marmoratus
Garman's Toad
Sclerophrys garmani
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
Ptychadena anchietae
African Split-skin Toad
Schismaderma carens
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
Phrynomantis bifasciatus
Edible bullfrog
Pyxicephalus edulis
Common Rain Frog
Breviceps adspersus
Senegal Kassina
Kassina senegalensis
Shovel-nosed Frog
Hemisus marmoratus
Mozambique ridged frog
Ptychadena mossambica
Fenoulhet's Toad
Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti
Recent sightings in Kruger National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Great Migration of Elephants
Large herds of African Bush Elephants gather around waterholes and rivers during the dry season, offering unparalleled viewing opportunities.
2Lion Breeding Season
Lion cubs are most visible during this period as prides are active and territorial behavior peaks, coinciding with optimal game viewing.
3Leopard and Hyena Courtship Displays
Increased interactions between leopards and spotted hyenas, including territorial disputes and mating behaviors, are frequently observed near prey-rich areas.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Great Migration of Elephants
- 2Lion Breeding Season
- 3Leopard and Hyena Courtship Displays
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We saw four out of the “big five” - elephant, water buffalo, lion, leopard, but not rhino.
Among the new animals and birds we saw were a pack of hyenas, a spotted eagle-owl, a civet, several mongoose, and a hippopotamus on land.
Now, if you’ve ever been on an Safari, you’ll know that impalas are lovingly nicknamed “Vitamin I” — because you see them everywhere.
Within five minutes, we saw giraffes and elephants.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Kruger National Park?
The most likely sightings are Egyptian Goose (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Blacksmith Lapwing (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), African Bush Elephant (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Lilac-breasted Roller (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1378 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Kruger National Park for wildlife?
October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in Kruger National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 3,142 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion in Kruger National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 1,794 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Leopard in Kruger National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Leopard sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 1,089 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see White Rhinoceros in Kruger National Park?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a White Rhinoceros sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 634 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
Very goodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
Explore Other Parks
📍 206 km 🐘 Untamed Wilderness for the African Bush Elephant Gonarezhou National Park
📍 486 km 🐘 Elephants Thrive in Pilanesberg Pilanesberg National Park
📍 568 km 🐊 Crocodile Encounters at ISimangaliso iSimangaliso Wetland Park
.jpg/330px-Mount_Gorongosa%2C_Gorongosa_National_Park%2C_Mozambique_(46316615492).jpg)
📍 584 km 🐕 Painted Hunting Dogs Return to Gorongosa