Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa
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Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa |
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BEST TIME TO TRAVELThe question of when to travel is often a perplexing issue for first time visitors to southern Africa. The topic is complicated by different weather patterns in different parts of the region, and there are no hard and fast rules. Our approach is to help travelers prioritize their wish lists, discuss the impact of weather in the areas they are considering, and come to a decision on timing that best reflects the circumstances of each individual traveler/group. The good news is that there is no bad time to be in southern Africa. Analyzing the weather statistics, two points stand out. Firstly, the region is blessed with relatively moderate temperatures without extremes of hot or cold; secondly, southern Africa is a dry part of the world, with relatively low annual rainfall figures. These facts reflect the region's tropical to subtropical location, and its elevation (most non-coastal destinations being higher than 2,000 feet above sea level). What this means is that southern Africa is a year round destination, and we have no qualms recommending travel to southern Africa at any time of the year. There are nuances, as discussed below, but the bottom line is that you can have a fabulous southern African adventure at any time of the year. For safari, the general rule is that the dry winter months (April through October) are best for game viewing safaris to the interior of the region. During this time, a general absence of surface water causes game to concentrate around the few remaining sources of drinking water; the short grass and absence of foliage also make for easier sightings of the animals. As the dry season progresses, these effects become more pronounced - the period from July through October (the second half of the dry season) is generally considered peak season in most of southern Africa's safari areas. The weather throughout the dry season is fairly constant, with blue skies, sunshine, and very pleasant temperatures: days are warm to hot, and nights are cool to cold. October is the warmest month within this timeframe, and June is the coolest, but the camps and daily schedules are designed to keep guests comfortable, and climate during this period should not be a consideration for all but the most temperature-sensitive travelers. The period from December through March is known as the 'green season'. This is when most of southern Africa's safari areas receive their annual rainfall. Typically, this rain comes in the form of short, sharp afternoon thunder showers that clear up within an hour or so. Rain typically does not affect your safari activity schedule at all, the impact is indirect: with puddles of water throughout the bush, the game is no longer dependent on the permanent drinking holes and disperses; the grass grows back and trees have leaves, so visibility is tougher than during the stark dry season. We sometimes encounter an unnecessary reluctance among travelers to consider the 'green season' for their safari. Virtually all of the region's top safari camps are open throughout this timeframe, reflecting their confidence in delivering a high quality safari experience at any time of the year. There are in fact some advantage to traveling during this timeframe, such as: * Some camps (particularly in Botswana) offer discounted rates of up to 30% over the peak season; this represents excellent value for money * Many species of plains game give birth to their young during this timeframe, and the bush is alive with new-born babies * Migrant birds return, making for some of the best birding in the world * Beautiful colors and gentle light make for great photographic opportunities * Availability at the top camps is better * Lower occupancy levels mean that staff and guides are less stressed, and are even more enthusiastic and eager to please Overcrowding is never a problem in southern Africa's prime safari areas due to the concept of private reserves and concessions, and the strict limits on number of visitors to these areas. So this is not a factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Availability is a major factor though and, as discussed in the section on "When to Start Planning", long range planning is essential to securing space at your preferred safari camps, particularly during the peak season. Not everyone going to southern Africa is primarily focused on safari, and for some of our clients safari is just one component of a broader exploration of the country of South Africa. Apart from the Kruger National Park (South Africa's premier safari destination), virtually all of the country's other major highlights experience their best weather from October through April, including: * The Western Cape (encompassing Cape Town and the Winelands, as well as the Garden Route) - these areas, in contract to the rest of southern Africa, experience rain from May through early September * The Drakensberg Mountains and Battlefields * The beaches of Maputaland and Benguerra Just as with the safari areas, there is no time that needs to be avoided in South Africa, but the summer months (October through April) provide optimal weather conditions. * Three species of whales, for example, visit various points along the coast between June and October to breed and calve in natural bays, providing for some of the best shore-based whale watching in the world. * For birders, the summer months (November through March), when the region's many migrants return to breed, are most productive. * Rare Leatherback Turtles, the largest species of turtle in the world, visit the north-east coast of South Africa to lay eggs between November and March. * Great white shark viewing along the south western cape coast is best from May through September * The unique flowering of the desert fynbos in Namaqualand takes place after the meagre annual rains, typically during August and September. Call toll-free on 1-888-227-8311 or email us at
info@classicafrica.com Photo Credits: Bushman's Kloof Lodge |
