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5 Rare Animals You Can See in the Kruger National Park

If you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing the Big Five in the Kruger National Park, you’ll probably agree that it’s a spectacular sight, to say the least.

It’s not hard to see the appeal of these massive, majestic mammals. Nor is it surprising that the Big Five are at the top of most visitors’ agendas.

Did you know that the Kruger is home to more than 147 mammal species, some 507 bird species, as well as many different amphibian and fish species? The park also boasts an impressive variety of indigenous plants for nature lovers to enjoy. Spanning across two million hectares, there are a lot of rare animals in Kruger National Park.

5 Rare Animals in Kruger National Park You Want to See

Rare animals in Kruger National Park are abundant. It was no easy task to choose just five rare animals to include in this article.

These are just a few of the rare animals you’ll want to be on the lookout for in the Kruger National Park:

1. The Aardwolf

The aardwolf, with its golden yellow coat, black stripes, and black dipped tail, looks like a small hyena. And it is, in fact, a species of hyena. Unlike its relatives, the aardwolf’s teeth are not designed for ripping and chewing meat. Instead, its teeth are uniquely evolved for its equally unique diet, consisting mostly of termites.

The aardwolf is a rare nocturnal find in the Kruger, only found in areas where termites are available for them to feed on.

2. The Black Rhino

With a population number of approximately 6487, spotting the critically endangered black rhino in the wild is incredibly rare. Their poor vision would be a great disadvantage if not for their ultra sensitive sense of smell and hearing. They also happen to be the quickest of all the rhino species. Running as fast as 55 km per hour! Count yourself lucky if you do happen upon these magnificent animals.

If you hope to see a black rhino in its natural habitat, why not consider a trip to the Kruger National Park or surrounding nature reserves? For a truly authentic safari experience, we recommend booking accommodation either inside or close to the park.

3. The Roan Antelope

The roan antelope is the second largest antelope in Africa, with bulls growing as tall as 1.5 m and tipping the scales at between 270 and 300 kg. They have a fawn coat and dark brown to black legs. Other identifying features are their long pointed ears, ringed horns, and striking white patches along their muzzle and eyes.

With a tiny population of about 70 inhabiting the Kruger National Park, roan antelope are not easy to find. But not impossible. They are typically seen in the Babalala region and Mopani Rest Camp.

4. The Pangolin

Pangolins are at the top of the world’s critically endangered species. In fact, they are so elusive that many rangers and tour guides have retired without a single sighting. The pangolin is targeted by poachers for its meat, which is used in traditional medicines in Vietnam and China. The illegal trade market has led to pangolins being the most hunted animal worldwide.

Seeing one of these strange scaly animals is no doubt a once in a lifetime experience. While the odds of spotting a pangolin are almost nonexistent, your best bets would be Namibia’s Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park.

5. The Honey Badger

Like their name suggests, honey badgers love honey, and are happy climbing up trees or fighting swarms of angry bees to enjoy the sweet treat. They are known for fighting cobras, lions, and other bigger creatures. Arrows and spears bounce off their thick skin, and their loose skin helps them slip out of predators’ grip with ease. They have earned their reputation for being fierce and fearless.

Seeing one in action would be something you’ll never forget. The Orpen, Satara, and Tamboti rest camps in the Kruger National Park are great places for spotting honey badgers.

We’re sure you’re excited to see these amazing rare animals in the Kruger National Park, but to ensure that you enjoy your trip as much as possible, you need to be prepared. You can prepare for a holiday to the Kruger by packing a few essentials. Read our blog post “What You Need to Pack for Kruger National Park Game Drives” to find out which items you absolutely need to bring.

Guest Reviews

(Translated by Google) You have to go there. It's great.

(Original)
Il faut y aller. C’est top

Posted on 21/09/2025 by Google

Amazing hotel with wildlife in & around the property. Safari game drive with Joel was excellent and we accomplished the Big 5 views of the animals. Food & accommodations were great. Spa treatment with massage, very relaxed 😎🤘🏼

Posted on 19/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

The staff were amazing. Food was incredible. Rooms were great. The whole environment was a paradise.

Likely the best hotel you’ll ever stay at.

Posted on 20/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

This is a great place to stay. Near the park (less than a mile) but less than the park prices. The Safari\'s were great, the food excellent and the service superb.We enjoyed th offered Safari\'s plus a night Safari done by SanParks.

Posted on 18/09/2025 by TripAdvisor

Très bel établissement, bien situé juste à côté d une entrée du parc. .Grand confort, gentillesse du personnel, au top pour les safaris et les massages

Posted on 19/09/2025 by Booking.com

De tudo! Este hotel é espetacular, simplesmente sensacional em tudo, da arquitetura, a hotelaria, dos atendentes e equipe até os safaris!

Posted on 23/09/2025 by Booking.com

Excellent location, very clean room, well equipped, very hot water in the bathroom, nice stuff. Everything is very well organized. First thing we saw - pumbas on the parking. Lots of them. Then we entered our room and saw an impala on the terrace, just lying there. I was shocked. There is a shop with snacks and souvenirs and a welcome point with some snacks and beverages in reception area.
We had morning safari for 333 $. It\'s a good price for private safari, it starts 5:30 and you are back at 12. Breakfast to go is provided. Cars are very good and comfortable, even in group, i think, you can have nice observation. We were alone in the car, our guide was a wonderful man, he did his best to show us the animals. We saw lions twice, a lot of giraffes, hippos, elephants, zebras and so on. When we were back we saw a lot of elephants from the pool area.
The most impressing thing - dinner. It is the best dinner we had in South Africa, even better than 300$ dinner in a fancy restaurant in Cape Town. And this one was only buffet, included in our stay but such a big choice and what wonderful taste has the chef, my compliments, every dish was beautifully done. On your way to dinner you can see monkeys on the trees. Hotel is beautiful. Perfect choice for first nights in Kruger. Thank you very much for our wonderful memories.

Posted on 20/09/2025 by Booking.com

Hotel ótimo, com uma localização muito próxima à entrada do parque Kruger. Boas opções para alimentação. Vista para o parque sempre com animais passando por perto. Funcionários simpáticos.

Posted on 19/09/2025 by Booking.com

It’s our 4th trip to Kruger Gate Hotel. We love the fact that we can fly directly to Nelspruit and it’s a short drive to the hotel. The newly renovated bedrooms are lovely. Also love the new breakfast area.

Posted on 21/09/2025 by Booking.com

Lage, Personal, Buffets, Ausstattung. Fazit: Eine supergute Lodge!

Posted on 17/09/2025 by Booking.com

Super schönes Hotel mit Blick auf den Kruger Nationalpark .
Personal sehr freundlich und Hilfsbereit.
Man kann auch diverse Safaris über das Hotel buchen.

Posted on 17/09/2025 by Booking.com

Quarto muito confortável e espaçoso.

Posted on 16/09/2025 by Booking.com

De tudo. Localização excelente. Banheiro excelente. Cama excelente. Café da manhã melhor do mundo. Jantar legal. Piscina linda com possibilidade de ver animais (vimos hipopótamo na nossa vez).

Posted on 18/09/2025 by Booking.com