April 2026

Kruger National Park

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Kruger National Park: April 2026

April proved to be a month of shifting seasons and unexpected turns in the bush. A surprise mid-month downpour brought substantial rainfall, once again flooding the rivers and briefly reshaping the landscape. As we move deeper into autumn, the mornings have taken on a crisp edge, and in some areas the grass is beginning to lose its vibrant green hue. However, for the most part, the concession remains lush, and remarkably wet, with seep-lines and smaller streams still flowing steadily. With so much residual moisture in the system, it is likely to be some time before conditions begin to dry out. Although the rainy season is technically drawing to a close, experience has taught us that out here, it is always wise to expect the unexpected.
A Sightings Snapshot for April follows:
Lions
  • The Chava Pride has been a regular and welcome presence across the concession this month, with frequent sightings along the S41 and in the north-western reaches. The pride continues to thrive, with six adorable cubs in tow, often seen playfully trailing the adults as they move between areas. A standout moment this month was observing the pride feeding on a wildebeest near the northern boundary, showing their strength and importance of cohesion within this growing family.
  • For the first week of the month, the larger portion of the Mananga Pride was consistently seen around the central depression before melting away into the mountainous terrain. With the rivers rising and falling, crossing points shift constantly, often influencing the movements of these big cats; like domestic cats, lions and leopards are notably reluctant to get their paws wet. Meanwhile, the three Mananga lionesses that split from the pride some months ago, likely to draw the attention of the then-new Sonop males while younger members remained hidden, continue to move independently. One of these lionesses is showing signs of lactation. Given that mating was observed toward the end of last year, this raises the exciting possibility that a new generation, sired by the Sonop males, may soon be revealed.
  • After several months without sightings, it was a welcome surprise to finally encounter members of the Shish Pride again, suggesting they may have shifted their territory south of the lodges. Towards the end of the month, four subadults, now roughly three years old, were seen resting on the H6 one evening, and continued to appear sporadically in the area over the following week. Excitement grew when, one afternoon along the western boundary, two adult lionesses emerged accompanied by two tiny, spotted cubs, offspring of the “short-maned” male, estimated to be around two months old. One of the lionesses appears heavily pregnant, hinting that the pride may soon grow further.
Leopards
  • This month delivered several memorable leopard sightings across the Kruger concession. The Zamani male was observed mating with an unknown female on Gudzane Loop, followed by a clear sighting of him resting with an impala ewe in a leadwood.
  • The Lebombo male made a few appearances throughout his territory, with the most unforgettable encounter occurring when my tracker and I stopped to clear a large branch from the road. As he tossed it aside, the Lebombo male suddenly leapt out from behind a nearby bush, startled, and dashed a few metres before settling again beneath a small shrub. He later revealed he had been feeding on an impala lamb stashed in a leadwood tree, and was later joined by hyenas who lingered below.
  • The Dumbana female was seen once this month on the N’wanetsi Big Bend, and her long disappearance has been hinting towards her potentially having cubs. Toward the end of the month, one cub was spotted on the northern banks at a beautiful bend in the river, a location that has previously provided some of the most memorable sightings of Dumbana and her last two litters.
African wild dogs
  • Wild dog activity this month centred around a pack of eight individuals that spent a considerable amount of time south of the N’wanetsi River, particularly following the mid-month rains which caused water levels to rise and made crossing impossible. This provided consistent viewing opportunities, and on more than one occasion we were fortunate enough to witness them hunting impala. These hunts remain some of the most exhilarating sightings in the bush, as the dogs surge forward with relentless energy, leaping through the long grass while impala scatter in all directions.
Elephants
  • Elephant sightings were a daily highlight, with regular encounters of breeding herds moving through the landscape, often accompanied by very young calves. In addition, large solitary bulls and energetic bachelor groups gave added variety. One particularly memorable morning found more than 40 elephants spread across the breathtaking Amphitheatre, where a sweeping curved ridge and sheer cliff faces rise dramatically above the open grassland to the west, creating a spectacular backdrop.
Spotted hyenas
  • Spotted hyena sightings were frequent and highly entertaining this month, largely due to multiple den-sites along the H6. In the absence of large termite mounds—typically favoured in other parts of the Kruger—the clan has adapted by using a culvert beneath the road as a den, from which incredibly confident cubs can often be seen venturing out to explore. Large clans of over 12 individuals were regularly observed in the late afternoons, sprawled across the road as mothers suckled their young before the clan set off for the night. An especially memorable encounter early in the month involved six hyenas and the subadults from the Shish Pride, locked in a tense standoff that played out like a cautious game of cat and mouse as each group assessed the other.
Buffalos
  • Buffalo movements this month have been widely dispersed across the park, with herds following their characteristic slow, circular grazing patterns that can take weeks to complete. With abundant water and lush grazing available throughout the area, their movements have been less pronounced, resulting in relatively few sightings overall. Most encounters came in the form of smaller groups, with herds of up to eight individuals occasionally seen moving steadily along the southern sections of the S41.
Plains game
  • Plains game sightings reflected a noticeable shift in distribution, largely influenced by the mid-month rains and subsequent flooding. With water now widespread and grazing conditions significantly improved across the landscape, species such as impala, zebra, and wildebeest have become more dispersed, no longer needing to concentrate around permanent water sources. This has resulted in fewer large congregations and more scattered, mobile groups taking advantage of the fresh flush of grass in newly accessible areas. Additionally, some low-lying regions became temporarily waterlogged, encouraging animals to favour slightly higher ground, further contributing to the change in their usual movement patterns and making sightings a little less predictable, but still rewarding.
Rare animals and other sightings
A handful of rarer sightings added a special element to the month’s game viewing.
  • Two caracals were seen near Gudzane Dam, an exceptional encounter of these seldom seen cats.
  • A few black-backed jackals were also observed trotting purposefully through the area, while a striking herd of eight sable moved gracefully across the landscape.
  • A porcupine sighting rounded off one evening, offering a glimpse of this shy, nocturnal species.
Birds
  • Several of our largest and most striking predatory birds made memorable appearances this month. A huge lappet-faced vulture was seen perched prominently atop a dead leadwood, while a martial eagle was observed finishing off the remains of a Swainson’s spurfowl. Perhaps the most remarkable sighting, however, was a first for our area, a Narina trogon flying across the road right in front of one of our guides. His initial disbelief slowly gave way to awe as he recognised the unmistakable bird, with its vivid emerald, green wings and back contrasted by a rich cherry-red breast. Typically, these elusive birds remain hidden within the dense forest along the base of the Drakensberg mountains to our west, relying on their excellent camouflage, making this fleeting yet clear sighting particularly special.
By Jenny Hishin
Author / Field Guide