Kruger Sunset safari or drive from Phabeni Gate.

I live in South Africa and I can tell you that the best way to see the Kruger Park is on a sunset safari where the sun sets and the majestic animals are just about waking up and wanting to hunt for their prey and what better way to see the Kruger Park than on a safari tour with https://www.moafrikatours.com/tour-category/kruger-national-park-safaris/ I went on a lot of safari tours with this company and their services are excellent the safari tour guide was very professional,but also its a short drive from Phabeni you can see most of the animals if you lucky maybe one of the big five or maybe even two.It is imperative that you book your safari through a tour agent before taking your sunset safari, and if you are interested night drives are available as well.If you click on the link they have a variety of rates for different packages you would like to choose from.

Thanks Melvintino....I will look up the link to check for possibility.

The gates close between 5:30 (in winter) and 6:30 (in summer), and by that time, unless you are on a game drive done by SANP (only possible if you stay in a restcamp within Krüger NP) or are staying in a lodge (like Imbali) with a private concession within Krüger, you will have to leave before the gate closes.

So to answer your question, you have two options:
1) stay in Hazyview and go on a guided safari (full or half day) that includes the late afternoon and that will leave Krüger just before the gate closes (so you dont really get a leisurely sunset within Krüger, and no night driving either). Its best to prebook, and those tours dont start at the gate but in places like Hazyview (and also finish there of course), so you wont have to selfdrive to the gate and back.

2) stay in a Restcamp within Krüger, and besides self-driving, go on at least one guided game drive. Besides sunset drives, there are also night drives and several other activities. Have a look at https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/activities/game_drives.php for details.

Personally, I would totally go for option 2, not only because of the sunset and night drives, but because I much prefer staying within Krüger than in Hazyview.

Hi Nathalie,
Thanks for your invaluable advice. I was bit sceptical if I could get to enjoy sunset safari and you confirmed it. I will check possible accommodation in one of the rest camp available in Kruger.
But I will like to know weather and chance to enjoy wildlife and birds during mid May or bit later.
Thanks once again for your recommendations.

#4 your most welcome

Krüger is an all year destination, with advantages and disadvantages in each season. May/June is fine weather wise, with sunny days and with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees during the day. It does cool down quite a bit at night, so you want to bring a fleece. And if you go on a evening or night game drive, you also want to bring a scarf, gloves and a wollen hat (it does feel very cold in a open vehicle driving after sunset).

For wildlife, May/June is also very good (but honestly there is no bad season, each has its pluses and cons). Its the dry season, so water is not available all over the park, but only in the bigger waterholes (so if you spend time there, you are very likely to see plenty of wildlife there). Also, grass is low and bushed not dense, and generally the vegetation is dry and sparse, which makes spotting animals less difficult.

Thanks Nathalie for you invaluable information and advice. I am about to finsalise my itinerary for Kruger and Panorama for late May.
But, with Kruger and Panorama, I also will self drive right up to Cape Town via Durban, Port Elizabeth and Knysna hope weather will behave good to enjoy this coastal towns with whales at Knysna.
Thanks once again for your help.

#6 How much time do you have in total in South Africa ? What are your interests ? What is your budget etc. ?

I love Cape Town, its in my opinion one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the world. I would spend at least 4 days there (but you can easily spend much more time there). I've been to Cape Town for more than 6 weeks (on different trips) and very much look forward going back.

Whale watching is amazing (and Hermanus and the whole Walker Bay area is the best place for it (and not Knysna) but May / early June is most probably to early.

Hi,
We are five and will tour South Africa for three weeks. Having contacted Odyssy - Knysna who conduct eco tours confirmed tourists having seen whales as early as April even though it was not a proper schedule for them to arrive South Africa.
We will tour Cape Town for five days. We do not wish to miss anything in there including winery, nature, birds, wildlife and cultural events. This is a budget tour.

3 weeks is a very good amount of time for South Africa, and 5 days in Cape Town are fine. For me, the 2 main must visit places in South Africa are Krüger NP (for amazing wildlife, birds, safaris, sunsets, sunrises, nature, beeing in the bush, having a braai etc.) and Cape Town - one of the most amazing cities in the world.

With 5 days in Cape Town you have a good amount of time there. A couple of ideas on things to enjoy (also considering your interests):
- visit the Cape Peninsula, if possible self-driving. Maybe take a boat trip from Hout Bay to the seal colony at Duiker Island, Chapmans Peak drive is a beautiful panoramic road with amazing views and one of must see places in Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, the pinguin colony at Boulders Beach
- beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, great for nature and birds
- for wines and vineyards, plenty of options. I like Stellenbosch (as its also an old and lovely town), I also like the Constantia Valley, and Paarl, and.... too many places, not enough time ;-). Babylonstoren is a beautiful place you might want to check out.