Christmas means summer in the Klaserie...

December at Baobab Ridge is pure summer. While much of the world prepares for snow and scarves, we celebrate the festive season with long golden days, balmy evenings, glowing sunsets and the joyful chorus of birds and insects thriving in the heat. Christmas here is celebrated outdoors, surrounded by green and life and the wild beauty of the Klaserie in full flourish. It is the height of summer, the height of abundance, and a truly unforgettable time to be on safari...

Christmas aside, what makes the Greater Kruger so extraordinary is the way the year unfolds in distinct chapters, each one offering a completely different experience of the bush. Whichever season you join us in, the magic is guaranteed. Here’s how the Klaserie transforms throughout the year:

Spring 

Kicking off officially on 1 September each year, spring brings the promise of new life, as the days and nights begin to warm up, trees begin to slowly leaf and the bush prepares for change. Daytime temperatures begin to rise, averaging in the high 20s (deg C, of course) and occasionally hitting the low 30s. Nights become slowly warmer as the promise of rain builds. 



The bush is still painfully dry but when the first rain falls, it seems to transform overnight, with fresh shoots of grass pushing through the parched earth. It’s hard to place hand on heart and say we get rain from October, with global warming affecting our weather patterns, but when it happens, it’s such a blessing and a marvellous thing to witness, as the wilderness sighs with relief and the transition to summer begins.

Summer

From 1 December to the end of February is summer in South Africa. This is when our skies are filled with migrant birds in their colourful breeding plumage, when the bush is filled with baby animals and the rains bless us, creating a veritable paradise. The days are hot and balmy, sometimes getting up to the high 30s and low 40s, and the evenings are warm with occasional humidity depending on the amount of rain we have. Life is everywhere, from insects to frogs, and everything in between. 

Everything makes the most of this time of year and experiencing the wilderness at its peak is simply mind blowing. You’ll thank your air conditioning in your room, live in the pool and love any spot of shade you can find! But it’s worth it, especially if you’re a keen birder and photography fan.

Autumn

Our favourite season here at Baobab Ridge. From March to the end of May the days are sunny and warm, the evenings begin to cool, the bush is still green but begins to lose its density and life is good. The grasses begin to seed and there are birds everywhere. The odd late storm adds a touch of magic and as the leaves begin to turn the colours are a sight to behold. As water sources created by rain begin to evaporate, animals are found more frequently at permanent water such as dams and waterholes, and the predators become more visible, having to work harder for their prey. 

You’ll need a jacket on your morning and evening game drives and the air conditioning won’t need to work as hard! Average daytime temperatures are in the low 30s, slowly descending to the high 20s and the nights dip towards the mid teens.

Winter

Running from 1 June to the end of August, these are our coldest months. Yes. It does get cold in the African bush, especially in the early mornings and evenings. And even more so when you’re on an open safari vehicle heading out as the sun comes up! Temperatures at night can drop to single figures and frequently do. But as the sun climbs, it warms up, with average daytime temperatures in the mid to high 20s. As the sun goes down, at around 16h00, it loses all power and the temperatures drop dramatically. 

This is the season of layers – embarking on your morning drive with all of them on and taking each layer off as the sun gets warmer, and going out of an evening with a single layer and adding them one by one as it gets colder. You will need a beanie hat, puffer type jacket and gloves. 

We provide you with warm blankets on the game drives, and hot water bottles if needed! The game viewing is exceptional, and concentrated around water. The bush is sparse and somewhat drab, but never loses its charm.

There's no "best" time to visit Baobab Ridge - every day is special, every month magical and every season spectacular. So with 2026 just around the corner, we're looking forward to seeing you on safari next year!