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The rainy, or green, season continues in Southern Africa's main safari destinations - it is a great period to visit as it is the time of new-born wildlife, with accommodation costs reduced by up to 50%. It is the height of the summer peak season in Cape Town and the Garden Route, with hotel reservations often at a premium. There is good game viewing in East Africa and the wildebeest herds are in the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti. The next couple of months are a great time for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda.
Green season continues in Southern Africa's safari destinations, where the bird-watching is at its best, and costs are still low. In Botswana, it is peak game viewing time in the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi. In East Africa, the wildebeest herds are now calving in the southern Serengeti, whilst across in the Indian Ocean Mauritius, Madagascar and Mozambique are best avoided at this time due to the possibility of cyclones bringing wet and windy weather. This month is the peak season for turtles laying their eggs on the shores of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.
The wildebeest herds are still in the Southern Serengeti, and with young borne amongst the herds at this time of year the number of predators is high. Rain clouds are starting to gather in Kenya & Tanzania towards the end of this month but conversely, the rains in Southern Africa's main safari areas are finally diminishing, heralding longer and brighter days. At this time the Victoria Falls is getting more spectacular as the rate of water flowing over the falls increases - this is perfect for high-water river rafting, but expect a soaking when viewing them.
Game viewing in Southern Africa improves as both rainfall and temperatures start to drop. In East Africa the wildebeest herds start to move north and west as the rains start to fall, heralding the beginning of the main wet season. Some safari camps close as roads become difficult to negotiate and some beach hotels on the Kenyan coast and on Zanzibar start to close for a couple of months. Climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro and gorilla trekking and Rwanda are both possible but can be hard work. The first flights of the season begin into Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park.
The long rains in East Africa continue with some safari lodges and beach hotels remaining closed. The first flood waters start to reach the Okavango Delta in Botswana, announcing the beginning of high season, and the water flow over the Victoria Falls is reaching its peak. Game viewing in Namibia’s Etosha National Park starts to improve and the beginning of the dry winter weather in Malawi makes it perfect for a safari or beach stay. May also heralds the start of the dry season in the Republic of Congo, where the more adventurous can track lowland gorillas in this little-visited country.
The main game viewing season starts throughout East and Southern Africa. Walking safaris in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park start operating again this month and combine brilliantly with a stay on the shores of Lake Malawi, whilst the Victoria Falls are at their thunderous peak. The first Southern Right whales are starting to appear off the Cape Town coast and the wildebeest herds in the Serengeti are braving the crocodiles of the Grumeti River. Those coastal properties in Kenya & Tanzania that closed for the rains are starting to open again for the season.
July is one of the premium months for game viewing throughout East and Southern Africa. The channels of the Okavango Delta in Botswana continue to fill with flood waters, with huge herds congregating, and the first of the wildebeest migratory herds start to arrive in Kenya's Masai Mara. Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is at its best during this time, and it is also a good month for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and for exploring Namibia's amazing scenery on a self-drive or flying safari. Winter is arriving in Cape Town, bringing with it cooler temperatures and some wind & rain.
The excellent game viewing in East and Southern Africa continues with the Okavango Delta flood at its peak. The wildebeest migration is in Kenya's Masai Mara and the northern Serengeti in Tanzania, with spectacular crossings of the Mara River the norm during this period. It is one of the busiest months for beach resorts on Zanzibar, with those heading for Mauritius in August advised to head for the north and west coasts to avoid the winds which often blow onto the east coast. Viewing wildlife in the Kruger National Park is superb at this time.
September marks the blooming of the wildflower season in South Africa's Northern Cape region of Namaqualand - a very unique and photogenic occurrence. The dry season continues throughout the lower half of Africa and temperatures start to rise with fantastic game viewing on offer. The migration is still in the Masai Mara and in northern Tanzania. There are good conditions for gorilla trekking and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, with the whale watching season in full flow in South Africa. A great month all round for watching wildlife.
Temperatures continue to rise as the dry season nears its end and game viewing remains superb in most regions. The migration is returning from the Masai Mara in Kenya to Tanzania's Serengeti and turtles are coming ashore in KwaZulu Natal province to lay their eggs. Resorts in The Seychelles and Mauritius are busy from now until the end of the year and spring is well underway in South Africa, bringing bright, fresh days to the Garden Route and Cape Town. Beach holidays in Mozambique are arguably at their best in October.
Summer arrives and the rains start in the main game viewing areas in Southern Africa. Lush vegetation appears, young animals are born and migratory birds arrive. Some camps in Zambia close for the rainy season, particularly in the Lower Zambezi National Park as flights cease. The whale watching season in South Africa starts coming to an end and as the short rains arrive in East Africa, the wildebeest herds start their journey south from the Masai Mara through the Serengeti. The arrival of the rain brings an end to peak season accommodation prices as rates start to drop.
The rainy, or green season continues in Southern Africa's main safari destinations with the possibility of spectacular thunderstorms, although temperatures are still high. In East Africa there is good game viewing throughout and the wildebeest herds are in the southern Serengeti. The Christmas and New Year holiday period brings many to the region with some areas extremely busy, amongst them Cape Town, the Kruger, Mauritius, Zanzibar and the beach resorts of Kenya & Mozambique. Those wishing to travel over this period are advised to book well in advance.
No experience can quite compare to your very first safari. Whether it’s starting out at the crack of dawn or just as the sun begins to set, the excitement that builds as you wait to spot your very first animal is truly one of the greatest feelings one can have. More than just viewing some of the most majestic creatures to grace the planet in their natural habitat, hearing the stories of your expert guide and taking in the breath-taking scenery will guarantee this is a trip you never forget.
Where would you like to go?
What sort of experience would you like?
Whats your ideal budget?
What is your comfort level?
What would you like to see?
Chris Wain has been with Africa Travel for over 30 years, leading the sales team, and no one knows Africa better.
He has travelled the continent, visiting over half of the 54 countries, and is particularly proud of being recognised by Condé Nast Traveller as one of their Top Travel Specialists in the world.
His African adventures have included such memorable experiences as gorilla tracking in Rwanda, canoeing along the Zambezi, quad biking in Namibia, and viewing lemurs in Madagascar. His travels have also seen him soaring along the Mozambican coast by helicopter, snorkelling with turtles in the Comoros, and exploring the medieval churches of Ethiopia, but he lists the city of Cape Town as his favourite African destination.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
Cape Town – it has an extraordinarily beautiful setting and fantastically positive locals
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
In addition to those already mentioned, I also have great memories of…..
Where would you like to visit next and why?
Having tracked gorillas previously in Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC I am keen to see their West African cousins in the Congo Republic, and the pyramids of Sudan have always held a fascination for me.
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Save up and just go for it. Africa is addictive - once it gets under your skin, I guarantee you will be longing to return.
Felicity, who joined Africa Travel in 2004, has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years and originally comes from South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province. Felicity is very well - travelled and has exceptional knowledge. Her favourite destinations in Africa are Botswana, The Seychelles, Tanzania and Mozambique. She lives her life according to the words of Mark Twain - "twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream, discover". When not dreaming and discovering, Felicity enjoys spending quality time with her family, gardening, oil painting and cooking up a storm.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
African Bush!! There are too many….. Ngorongoro crater, Okavango Delta, Zanzibar, Cape Town & the Seychelles
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
Being charged by an elephant and Hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
I am planning to visit Rwanda to do some Gorilla Trekking.
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
'Travelling is learning.' - Kenyan Proverb … Take a scarf - it will be used every day. Expect the unexpected!
Shaun joined the travel industry just over 10 years ago, working first for an online travel booking portal and an ecotourism company, specialising in sustainable travel in Southern and East Africa. He has travelled extensively around the globe but was always drawn back by the raw beauty that Africa has to offer. In his off time he enjoys the myriad of outdoor activities that living in Cape Town offers, from mountain biking and hiking to a leisurely paddle in False Bay, but most of all he enjoys finding new restaurants and eateries in and around the city. To name just one highlight that sums up Africa would be impossible, so he suggests you experience them all - from the sunrise while standing on a beach in Zanzibar, the smell of the bush when on a walking safari in Sabi, the stark beauty of the Cedarberg, and the dramatic sunsets in the Makgadikgadi that will stay in your memory forever.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
All of Africa is special it is difficult to define one particular place.
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
The dramatic sunsets in the Makgadikgadi.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
Madagascar – It looks like it could be interesting
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Take your time, take off your watch and just enjoy it.
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Christine fell in love with Africa over 30 years ago when she first visited South Africa. She has such a passion for the country that she made Cape Town her home many years ago and has eagerly promoted the continent ever since. She joined Africa Travel in 2008 and is now heading the Cape Town office, where she has her finger very much on the pulse of what is hip and hot. Some of her favourite places are the beaches of the Garden Route and the more remote areas of the Cederberg and Drakensberg Mountains and, aside from discovering more of her adopted homeland with her husband and two teenage sons, she also enjoys, hiking and horse-riding.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
It has to be Namibia. I took a road trip from Cape Town to Luderitz in July 2015, travelling via the amazing Fish River Canyon. This is the land of open space, amazing sceneries, unspoilt nature, wild horses and many places untouched by the human hand. A 7-day trip left me wanting to go back and see more of this wonderful country.
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
Looking down at the Fish River Canyon in Namibia and looking up at Table Mountain in Cape Town every day! I also enjoy escorting our groups in and around Cape Town. The Cedarberg is also still a favourite on my list.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
I would to love to go to Etosha National Park in Namibia but also the Okavango Delta in Botswana but anywhere in Africa it would be fantastic!
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Don’t be afraid to explore remote places. Africa will amaze you! Go on safari, explore the oceans, the rivers, the National Parks, there are endless experiences. The cities are great in South Africa but once you leave the city, be prepared for amazing scenery that will take your breath away, friendly locals and not to forget the wildlife.
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Christine first came to Africa as a young woman and immediately felt a connection which has never allowed her to leave. She lived in Johannesburg and in Knysna on the Garden Route, but came to Cape Town 22 years ago and realised it was where she wanted to be! She has been a tour guide throughout South Africa for the past 20 years and her love of all things green and growing has led to her specialisation in flora, especially of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
My favourite place has to be Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in South Africa – it truly is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, with its stunning backdrop of Table Mountain, and I am fortunate enough to be a tiny part of what makes it work, as a volunteer garden guide, and a volunteer at the educational centre there.
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
My most memorable experiences here in Africa have been on my beloved Table Mountain where I have hiked and guided extensively for the last 22 years. I’ve also done much rock climbing on the crags and have some remarkable memories of nailbiting adventureS. Jumping off the mountain to do a tandem paraglide was quite memorable too. I climbed Mount Kenya some years ago too, which was unforgettable. Scuba diving with whale sharks, ragged tooth sharks and dolphins in Sodwana, in the north east of South Africa, also rates up there with the best.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
I would very much like to return to the Okavango Delta, especially when the water is high, or to some of the wonderful lodges in South Africa, like Londolozi and Mala Mala. I find the birdlife fascinating and of course love to see the different plants and flowers in other parts of the country – always acknowledging that the fynbos of the Western Cape is unique beyond compare.
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
‘Just do it’! You will see a world in one continent, with so much to offer the traveler. Exquisite scenery, great experiences and friendly people
Alyson grew up in Zimbabwe and it was her parents who influenced her a great love of the African bush. It was not just a love of the wildlife but the plant and bird life and everything that is associated in the wild spaces of Africa.
Alyson started working in the tourism industry in 1997 as a Tourist Guide. After qualifying as a South African National Guide in 2004 Alyson started taking groups to many South African destinations often to the bush, plus Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls, Swaziland and Tanzania. A family that had travelled with Alyson on many occasions to several African countries asked her to take the family to Argentina, Peru and Ecuador which was an amazing experience. Alyson took 3 months off and learnt basic Spanish before the trip.
Alyson has been a volunteer guide at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for almost 20 years. Taking Spring Flower groups to the Western and Northern Cape gives Alyson the joy of sharing not only the incredible flora but the natural beauty where the spring flowers occur. Alyson has led many private garden tours in both the Western and Eastern Cape and the greater Johannesburg area. Alyson has recently been appointed as a Garden Guide at the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden.
Alyson has completed her wine certificate course with the Cape Wine Academy and is passionate not only about South African wines but the wine estates themselves. She enjoys sharing the history, cultures and various topics on South Africa with visitors to the country.
Debbie joined Africa Travel in May 2009 and has been in the travel industry for over 20 years, enjoying a number of roles, from airline ticketing to accounting. In her free time she loves hiking and enjoys experiencing and supporting her local community. Other interests include hobby crafts, cooking and entertaining. She has travelled numerous times overseas, but Debbie says that there is no place like Africa….it’s in her bones! She feels that there are such beautiful places to enjoy right on her doorstep, and that seeing Table Mountain every morning is just something that she would not like to live without.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
South Africa, my home. There is so much to see and my love of hiking makes this possible.
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
Climbing a part of the Drakensbergs, and seeing the majestic landscape. The Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga too. I also enjoyed a New Year’s with a difference, sleeping in local huts on a 6 day hike from Port St Johns to Coffee Bay.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
Tanzania, to climb Kilimanjaro…Morocco, to do some shopping
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Check out any festivals or activities in advance of your departure to ensure you get the most out of your trip, and plan your route accordingly. Wear sunscreen, and experience some local eateries in Cape Town – our cuisine is fantastic.
Julia’s love for travel began at a young age. Born in Cape Town, she spent many a holiday exploring Southern Africa with her family before starting her career in golfing holidays. After moving to the UK in the early 2000’s, but with her heart still firmly in Africa, she began arranging safari holidays to Southern and Eastern Africa, something she is very passionate about. She has been lucky enough to visit many of the countries with her own family now. Having taken a “hiatus” to have her children, she is back within the sales team at Africa Travel.
What is your favourite place in Africa?
My favourite destination is Zanzibar. I loved everything about it. The delicious food, the spice smell which seems to linger throughout the island, the beautiful views, the people, who are so warm and friendly and I particularly loved the Arabic influence in Stone Town, where I bought many a piece of artwork!
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
One of my most memorable safari experiences was in the Kruger National Park - we were on an evening game drive, and just whilst the sun was setting a large pack of wild dogs ran past our vehicle and started to play just a short distance away. The sounds and playfulness within the pack was such a joy to watch and something I had never witnessed before, or since.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
I would love to travel to the South Luangwa National Park, in Zambia. It is a bucket list of mine to do a walking safari and this is THE place to do it! Not only do you have the chance to get up close to the game in their most natural environment, you can do so in the safe hands of some of the best guides and spotters around.
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Pack light, apply plenty of sunscreen, soak up all the sights and smells, and have your camera at the ready as there is a memorable picture to be taken around every corner.
Sigrun, who joined Africa Travel in 2001, grew up in South Africa and has now been in the travel industry for almost 30 years. She travelled the length and breadth of the country in her younger years so knows the country very well, including many hidden spots that are off the normal tourist trail. She has also travelled widely in Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Zanzibar. Although Sigrun has been in the UK for over 20 years, she still misses Africa – especially the African bush, (and the smells on an early morning game drive!) and the glorious red African sunsets, (best enjoyed on the Zambezi river with a gin and tonic in hand).
What is your favourite place in Africa?
Africa is such a vast continent with so many contrasting landscapes, experiences, places and people, but I particularly love Namibia and its vast open spaces, barren landscapes, unusual geography and geology. I also love the central Drakensberg in South Africa and their emerald green hills, brilliant blue skies and rugged mountains, which are fantastic for hiking enthusiasts.
What is your most memorable experience in Africa?
I got married at the luxurious Birkenhead House in Hermanus right next to the swimming pool, overlooking the ocean. During the wedding ceremony, we spotted dolphins playing.
Where would you like to visit next and why?
Someday I’d love to do a Tanzanian safari – the Ngorongoro Crater and the Great Migration in the Serengeti are close to the top of my travel bucket list.
What's your best advice for someone travelling to Africa?
Get off the beaten track! Visit the lesser-known national parks, the smaller guest houses and the more remote areas and you will be rewarded with a far more authentic experience.
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