Our Kruger safaris in July 2022 brought us some spectacular wildlife sightings. From African wild dog pups venturing out of their den for the first time and predators squabbling over a kill to raptors scouting the area for their next meal and plains game gathering in large numbers at rivers and pans, Kruger dished up some unforgettable dry season game viewing experiences.

We spotted the elusive African wildcat, towers of giraffes, all the Big Five and various antelope species. Scroll down to see a selection of our Kruger safaris July 2022 wildlife highlights and when you get to the end, take some time to watch an unforgettable encounter with a herd of elephants who sprayed us with mud.

Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 2

African wildcat.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 3

Lion cub at a kill.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 4

Lilac-breasted Roller feeding on a Death's-head Hawkmoth larva.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 5

Lion in the long grass.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 6

Kudu bulls sparring.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 7

Two white rhinos.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 8

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 9

Hippo.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 10

White-backed Vulture.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 11

Leopard.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 12

Waterbuck bull.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 13

Lioness, hyenas and a jackal "sharing" a kill.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 14

A male lion arrives and the other animals scatter.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 15

Having dispersed the other predators, the male lion now has the kill to himself.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 16

Brown-hooded Kingfisher.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 17

Plains game at a waterhole.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 18

Buffalo herd.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 19

A Euphorbia on a rocky outcrop.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 20

Nyala bull.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 21

Vervet monkeys.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 22

African wild dog pups.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 23

African wild dog pup.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 24

African wild dog and pup.

(Image: Onne Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 25

Tower of giraffes.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 26

Leopard.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 27

Black-backed jackal.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 28

Pearl-spotted Owlet.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 39

Elephants on the move.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 30

Rhino calf.

(Image: Nicky Firer)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 31

Red-billed Oxpeckers sitting on the head of a hippo.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 32

Klipspringers.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 35

Male lion.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 36

Baby baboon.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 37

Martial Eagle.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 38

Hyena cub.

(Image: Simon Vegter)
Kruger Safaris July 2022 Highlights 40

Young Bateleur.

(Image: Simon Vegter)

Hilarious clip of a herd of elephants taking a mud bath and spraying mud on safari guests.

South Africa's flagship game viewing destination, Kruger National Park, offers fantastic all-year-round game viewing and each season has something different to offer. To find out more about what you can expect throughout the year, take a look at our blog When to visit the Kruger National Park.

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About the author

Dianne
Dianne

Dianne Kokkonidis was born in Johannesburg, grew up in the Transkei and spent years exploring Europe. She returned to South Africa to live on a farm in the Outeniqua Mountains when the call of Africa got too loud to ignore. She comes from a family of storytellers, so it's no surprise she's now found her way into writing about one of the oldest stories known to mankind - the lure of Africa.