Where to go in April
The best places to explore at this time of year
The best places to explore at this time of year
April in Southern Africa is ‘shoulder season.’ It’s an excellent time of year to travel, you just have to know where to go! On safari, you’ll get the best of both worlds; the lush beauty of the wet season is still evident, but it’s stopped raining. In some places, the smaller bush camps start to reopen, ready for the dry season, and in South Africa, Kruger and the northern parks are entering prime game-viewing time. East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda) however, is in the midst of the ‘long rains’, making the weather unpredictable.
Botswana in April makes our hearts flutter. Officially ‘shoulder season’, it’s wonderfully quiet, prices are cheaper and the weather is dreamy. The iconic herds of elephant are beginning to congregate around the Chobe River, and in the Delta, the water is on the up making for some spectacular game-viewing and excellent mokoro safaris. In the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari, there’s still a good carpet of emerald-green grass across the sand, but elements of the dry, parched desert we all know and love are visible too. You’ll also catch sight of the zebra migration as the herds start to make their way back to the Boteti River, and it’s a good time of year to spot the unique brown hyena.
During April and May, Victoria Falls is at its postcard-perfect best. The waterfall is in full flood, enormous clouds of spray rise up to the sky, and it’s a phenomenal sight. It’s high-water season and pretty much all the adrenalin activities can be done, with the exception of the Devil’s Pool in Zambia. If you’re looking for a safari, all of the larger camps and lodges in the main parks will be open and game viewing is good – try Matusadona, Hwange and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, and the Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and the Kafue in Zambia. Bear in mind, however, that some of the smaller bush camps may still be closed, particularly in Mana Pools in Zim, and the South Luangwa in Zam.
It’s Autumn down south, and temperatures are starting to cool down from the hot, steamy summer months. In Cape Town, the days are still bright and warm, but the evenings and mornings are a little chillier. It’s one of the best months for a safari in South Africa too; in Kruger, the weather is mild, there’s little rain, and the vegetation is drying out, revealing fantastic game viewing, and there’s a similar situation happening in Madikwe, the Eastern Cape and Phinda. If you’re looking to do a classic South Africa combination of Cape Town, Kruger and Mozambique, this is the perfect time of year.
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