November

November receives rather an unfair reputation in the world of safari – but don’t listen to the naysayers. Yes, the dry season might be over for most of safari Africa, but a few drops of rain here and there shouldn’t affect your game drives. In most cases, the rain is a welcome relief to the high temperatures, and the accompanying thunderstorms (and sunsets) are spectacular. It’s a magical month for a safari, with lower rates, lower tourist numbers, and some seriously unique sightings. And if you’re desperate for some sunshine, you couldn’t do much better than Cape Town and the Garden Route in South Africa.

HIGHLIGHTS

Best places to visit in November

Tanzania

In a country as vast as Tanzania, with so many parks and reserves, we could recommend a different place for every month of the year. And in November, it’s the Ngorongoro Crater. Known as Africa’s Eden, Ngorongoro is one of the best places in the world to see the Big Five and November is no different. With the advent of the rains, predators seek out the many new-borns making for some action-packed game viewing, and the crater itself springs to life in a carpet of lush, emerald green. Alternatively, if you’ve got your heart set on Tanzania but would prefer a little more sunshine, try the Selous - the rains tend to arrive a little later than in other areas.

Zambia

For something a little different, add Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia to your November safari wish list. Home to the second largest wildebeest migration on the continent (after the Serengeti-Mara), the beasties start to arrive in Liuwa from November onwards, enticed by the promise of fresh grass, and the sight of them scattered over the plains is magnificent. In other parts of Zambia, the smaller bush camps tend to close for the green season but many of the larger camps are still open. In the South Luangwa, make a beeline for Mfuwe Lodge and catch the elephant wandering through reception, munching wild mangoes as they go.

Botswana

November in Botswana is something of a secret, particularly in the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Central Kalahari. It’s a time of new life and the rains coat the sandy, scorched earth in a layer of grass, attracting animals from far and wide in a photographer’s dream! New-born babies spring around the plains (and where there are babies, predators are never far behind…) and the migrant birds start to appear. Travelling in November is also a great way to save some pennies. Lodges offer fantastic deals, and there are some superb last minute deals around too.