How HOT does it really get

[Joao]

The worst I ever experienced was at Letaba.

When we arrived at camp from Shingwedzi the information board at Letaba said that the temperature at 08:00 was 40 degrees. I was pitching my tent at noon. Took a cold shower every ten minutes in my clothes and did not dry myself.

Two days later the rains started which produced severe flooding in the south of the park.

[Sparrow]

50 degrees C at Skuks 2009 what bliss

[twigga]

Walking on sunshine!
Great tips!

The worst we experienced was at Letaba, way back when....We walked around in the curio shop & museum like zombies, and paused extra long at the ice fridge to soak up the cool air...
All the staff became so suspicious of us. They screened movies in the auditorium in the museum and we watched everone of that movies, that aircon was so powerful, we were in aaaaawwww (wonder if they still do that?)

[Meandering Mouse]

Wet t-shirt, when I can.. no pics available.

I find that keeping the neck, feet and tummy cool affects all the body. When I used to run in the olden days, I would keep my head wet. It certainly helped. I always wet my head at picnic sites before I leave if I feel uncomfortable.I put water in the freezer at night and keep myself hydrated with chilled water for as long as I can.

For preggy mums, place a cold, wet towel over the tummy. It is essential.

[bert]

just back from 43
my best tip is pack the swimming gear and after swimming do not dry up and stay in the wet trunks
with a wet towel wraped around till you are ready for the afternoon drive.

[Scottm]

Nature has ways to reveal many of its secrets to us - think of WHY an elephant flaps its ears in the heat - not to blow air over its body, but to COOL THE BLOOD.....

To acheve the same cooling effect, we also need to cool OUR BLOOD and the quickest way to do so is to keep a wet cloth over the relevant parts of our body - parts of the body where the blood is close to the skin in the arteries and veins - ankles, wrists, neck and head. (if ever you are cold, warming these parts of the body will generally provide the quickest route to warmth)

So in extreme heat, wear toweling wrist and ankle bands and keep them damp, and drape a damp towel around your neck - it is the evaporation of the moisture from these items that will reduce the temperature of your blood, and your circulation will carry your cooler blood through your body, cooling your whole body in the process.

[GlenD]

Nature has ways to reveal many of its secrets to us - think of WHY an elephant flaps its ears in the heat - not to blow air over its body, but to COOL THE BLOOD.....

I tried flapping my ears in October at Shingwedzi, but people started stepping away from me rather quickly, wonder why

jokes aside, good advise Scottm

[Bush Baptist]

You might hit somebody GlenD

Thanks for the reason ScottM.

Will be taking a few sachets of rehydrate on the Nossob Eco trail at the end of next week.

[Grantmissy]

Now that it is spring I think we might see some sizzling hot days in Kruger over the summer months lying ahead but even during the hottest months there is a chance of some cooler overcast days. May Kruger have a good rainy season this year. Happy Summer Kruger visiting

[cheetah2111]

I have been at Croc Bridge on a day where it was 44degrees
That is when I cut the game drives shorter! Get away from that heat

[ndloti]

Yesterdays max from SA Weather :

PHALABORWA AIRPORT AWS 31.2
SKUKUZA 33.0

[Graham_5000]

I wonder what the hottest July temperature is?!

We did a 3 hour walk last month and although it was pretty warm and sunny, we did not even break into a sweat. The lack of any humidity can make even high temperatures comfortable. 30 degrees in Singapore with max humidity feels terrible though!

[Grantmissy]

Sorry Graham but I do not know what the hottest July temperature is but maybe someone will. I am also wondering how many days on average does it get to a stage where extreme discomfort is experienced in Kruger like this:

Temperature is not the only problem, as humidity and wind play a factor too!

ie, it is murderous when the hot wind blows...the only time I've actually left the Park for such a reason!

[Rooies]

December 1999, Shimuwini. The day time temperature was 42 on 5 consecutive days. The ceiling fan was useless and I had to carry my bed outside to sleep at night. One night I woke up and saw a 'hyena' walking up to me. I was petrified but could not move. As this animal approached me, I thought it would be useless to run away, because it would have caught me easily. Then the moon broke through the clouds and next to me was the resident duiker.

[Rooies]

According to the book 'Kruger, portrait of a National Park', It can go up to 47 in January and 35 during July.