Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Maximise Your August Safari: Kruger Wildlife Viewing Tips

Embark on a remarkable journey this August at the Kruger Gate Hotel, where you are perfectly situated to witness the splendour of Kruger National Park’s wildlife.

Antelopes drinking water from a lake during an August safari

An August safari offers some of the best conditions for exploring the Kruger National Park. The winter weather means the landscape opens up, making it easier to spot animals moving across the plains or approaching waterholes. Mornings start off with invigorating temperatures. They lead to midday warmth that makes for pleasant game drives as you spot everything from roaming warthogs to lounging wildcats. Early starts are especially rewarding, as August Kruger wildlife viewing peaks in the still hours.

August safari advantages: Why it’s prime time in Kruger

Kruger wildlife viewing in August: What to expect

Shallower water in August encourages wildlife to gather at constant sources like the Sabie River, seasonal dams, and shaded pools. These natural gathering spots become prime viewing points, offering the chance to see the Big Five within a single morning drive. Herds of buffalo often appear near the riverbanks, while hippos float lazily in the shallows. With less plants covering them, leopards become easier to spot as they perch on open tree branches or prowl near the water’s edge.

Best tips for an August safari full of wild encounters

Be near the water where the animals are to make the most of your August safari. Timing is key for your guided game drive or a self-drive adventure. Not only will morning viewing boost your chances of catching wildlife when it’s most active, but staying quiet, alert, and patient can lead to historic moments. You’ll get to catch hyenas as they feed or impala thirstily lapping up refreshing waters.

August safari from Kruger Gate Hotel: Right at nature’s doorstep

Staying at Kruger Gate Hotel during your August safari places you right at the entrance of the park’s southern region, well-known for its teeming wildlife. You’re in a supreme position to catch early wildlife movements, with minutes between your room and the start of a game drive. And in some cases, the wildlife comes to you: with views of nearby waterholes, the action can reach your location.

August safari atmosphere: Quiet bush, clear views

A striking part of an August safari is the peace of the bush. Light foliage and fewer flying insects create calm viewing conditions. The golden light of winter sun colours the atmosphere with rich tones, creating unparalleled backgrounds for your Instagram picture. The delightful air also keeps game drives comfortable. It’s a month when Kruger wildlife viewing is steady and rewarding, with opportunities stretching from sunrise through the soft glow of twilight.

August safari: Best times for Kruger wildlife viewing

An August safari in Kruger National Park is a top choice for wildlife enthusiasts. The brisk season ensures that animals gather near the remaining water sources, offering greater chances of sightings throughout the day. Predators like lions regularly rest near roads after a night on the hunt, and the soft morning light decorates your surroundings with extraordinary hues, perfect for an intimate ambiance. These periods also improve your odds of successful Kruger wildlife viewing, specifically when paired with the right routes.

August safari routes around southern Kruger

Choosing your journey is just as important as the time of day. The southern region of Kruger, especially near Skukuza, Crocodile Bridge, and Lower Sabie, is a known hotspot for Kruger wildlife viewing. These stretches offer well-maintained roads and an enjoyable August safari.

Kruger Gate Hotel is optimally positioned for those wanting direct access to this region. 

Plan your August safari with expert help

A visit to Kruger Gate Hotel comes with the extra benefit of an on-site team that’s ready to help. The hotel’s staff helps you make the most of every August safari outing. We have a Sightings map outside the Kudyela Restaurant where guests can update their sightings daily. We can recommend the best times and locations for top-tier Kruger wildlife viewing.

Having experts on hand also means flexibility. Kruger Gate Hotel makes it easy to explore the magic of the wild in August, with both flexibility and expertise. August days may start mild but warm up fast, so pack layers, grab binoculars, and get ready for unmatched Kruger wildlife viewing from dawn to dusk.

Room comfort meets game drive convenience

Staying at the hotel during your August safari means blending the excitement of the wild with indulgence at day’s end. The stylish rooms offer everything you need to unwind after a full day of Kruger wildlife viewing, comfortable interiors, luxury linen, and views of the bush that provide superb, breathtaking reminders of where you are. 

Ready for an Unforgettable August Safari?

Embark on a remarkable journey this August at the Kruger Gate Hotel, where you are perfectly situated to witness the splendour of Kruger National Park’s wildlife. Your adventure will be seamless and unforgettable, with expert safari planners on hand and a prime location just outside the park. Experience the thrill of spotting the Big Five amidst the golden shades of the bush, all from the cosiness of tailored game drives or even from the hotel’s own viewing deck overlooking the Sabie River.

Don’t let the opportunity pass you by—transform your August safari dreams into reality. Reach out to the Kruger Gate Hotel’s friendly team today to plan your ultimate adventure in the wild. Your extraordinary August safari experience awaits!

Guest Reviews

I was at this location for a wedding. Spectacular views, wonderful food and atmosphere!

Posted on 20/11/2025 by Google

Spent there 4 days with my partner. Extremely good experience, the hotel is very nice, well decorated, well located and their games are extremely good!
Really recommend them!

Posted on 19/11/2025 by Google

We phoned Reception at 16h00 on 20 Nov and requested a top sheet and light weight blanket for the night; on return after a sunset gamedrive and supper at the Boma we were disappointed that it was not delivered.

I had a headache, the shop was closed and I asked the Hostess at the Boma, Debra if she knew if there is some assistance. She went out of her way to find me 2 panado\'s! Thank you Debra!

There are so many vista\'s and various offerings at this hotel; I feel like so spoilt when visiting and the Boma is just beyond words! Thank you 😊

Posted on 23/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

This hotel is perfectly located just outside the Paul Kruger Gate by the Sabie River. We flew into Skukuza airport which is extremely small and booked the hotel transfer to collect us. The driver was very helpful, guiding us through paperwork needed for the park and giving us a mini safari on the way to the hotel.
Stayed for 3 nights and had 2 rooms. A lovely hotel with lots of different seating areas connected by wooden walkways, surrounded by trees with a stream running through it. It was well staffed and clean. There were viewing huts over the waterhole and Sabie River where we saw hippos and buffalo and a family of 3 bushbuck in the grounds.
The infinity pool was great, also overlooking the river and the pool bar/restaurant had a good range of food and drink and friendly staff. Just be careful not to leave food/drink unattended on the table as the monkeys come in.
Dinner at the outside Lapa Restaurant was fabulous - so much choice from their buffet and always some singing, often by the staff. The bushbabies patrol around the fence and occasionally come down looking for scraps, which the guests all found entertaining.
Breakfast was another huge buffet with a choice of inside or outside seating. There was also a bar, coffee shop and gift shop, plus a spa which we had treatments at, including extremely firm massages.
We booked 2 morning safari\'s with the hotel (I pre-booked these before we went) and they pointed out that it was fractionally cheaper for us to have a private tour as there were 4 of us. The vehicles can take 9-10 people but I\'m so glad we had the private tour and not the shared vehicle as it meant we could slide across the seats and see so much more and it was much more personalised. (We also did a sunset safari which we had to use SanParks for as private vehicles aren\'t allowed into the park in the evening, but it wasn\'t as good as a much bigger vehicle and less information).
The hotel used Kurt Safari for our morning tours and would thoroughly recommend. We had the same driver/guide, Karabo, each morning so he took us in 2 different directions and we saw an incredible variety of animals and he was very knowledgeable. It was a totally amazing experience!
The morning safari\'s start very early, and you have to fill in some indemnity forms before leaving (you need your passport numbers for this), so we had to be ready about 45 mins before entry to the park at 5.30am. We pre-ordered packed breakfast from the hotel and we stopped at a camp between 8.30-9am to eat - drink, sandwich, apple, yoghurt, biltong, snack. The camps we stopped at also had cafes and shops. The morning safari was about 6 hours, which is long enough really and gave some time in the afternoon to relax and catch up on sleep after a very early start.
We would love to visit Kruger again and if we did, I would stay at this hotel and I would definitely book the private vehicle safari.

Posted on 24/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

I had an amazing time with my sister and our friends. Beautiful accommodations, amazing food, excellent service!! A must visit!!

Posted on 23/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

Nous avons beaucoup aimé le cadre de l hôtel avec la gentillesse du personnel .
L hôtel est juste à côté du parc national donc très pratique pour les safari ( on recommande fortement les safari proposés par l hôtel )

Il y a de nombreuses activités dans l hôtel ( exemple : mini golf, spa/massage , piscine avec vue sur la rivière , belle salle de musculation …)
Et les petits déjeuners et dîners étaient tout simplement excellents !

Posted on 27/11/2025 by Booking.com

Sehr schön gestaltetes grosses Hotel in einem dschungelähnlichen Garten.
Wir hatten ein Deluxzimmer sehr gross und schön gestaltet. Bequeme Betten, 2 Waschtische im Bad, separate Toilette. Essen gab’s abends in der Booma obwohl gross sehr schön und romantisch!

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

Pool

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

O café da manhã e o jantar foram excelentes! Um buffet completo, muita variedade, funcionários muito simpáticos e prestativos. Valeu muito a pena!

Posted on 25/11/2025 by Booking.com

O hotel é muito confortável e tem funcionários fantásticos. A comida é muito boa. E ainda podemos desfrutar da experiência de estar na piscina e ver os animais bem na frente. Nós vimos Hipopótamos e Elefantes.

Posted on 22/11/2025 by Booking.com

Tudo perfeito!

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

Best Hotel ever!

Posted on 25/11/2025 by Booking.com