September

As the end of winter approaches, temperatures start to heat up across the continent, and the parks and reserves of ‘safari Africa’ become increasingly drier. If you’re on safari, that means phenomenal concentrations of game around the last few waterholes, and, like August, September is traditionally one of the best months for big game viewing across most of East and Southern Africa. Over at the Indian Ocean, the climate is blissful; the mercury may be rising but the humidity is still several weeks away. Oh, and did we mention that European school holidays are over, so most areas are a little quieter than before. Cape Town’s hotting up nicely too!

HIGHLIGHTS

Best places to visit in September

Zimbabwe

First things first, Victoria Falls is perhaps not as dramatic as the showers of spray and plunging water of the rainy season, but it’s still very impressive – and as the parks of both Zambia and Zimbabwe are in their peak, it’s a great time to combine a visit. But what makes Vic Falls so special in September are the heart-pumping, blood-thumping activities. In low water, the frothing ‘Devil’s Pool’ is exposed and those looking for some excitement can take an exhilarating swim to peer over the edge of the precipice. Low-water white water rafting is also on offer, undoubtedly a more white-knuckle experience than its high-water partner, and definitely not for the faint hearted!

Zambia

One of our favourite ‘bush and beach’ combinations is Zambia and Lake Malawi, and September is one of our favourite months to do it. In Zambia, the iconic mammals splash in shallows of the river to keep cool, and the big cats are easy to spot as they stalk the riverbanks. It’s a great time of year for an iconic walking safari (multi-day or just for a few hours) and all bush camps are open, giving you the pick of the accommodation. Over at Lake Malawi, the temperatures hover around a pleasant 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, ideal for topping up that tan on the beach, sailing, snorkelling, spa-ing – everything, really!

Namibia

Following the rule of exceptional big game viewing, Namibia’s Etosha National Park is at its peak in September. Think more big cats than you know where to look, and rhino, buffalo, elephant and herds and herds of plains game all at the same waterhole. Combine your wildlife-watching with a voyage to the rugged Kaokoveld and Damaraland regions in the north, before heading down to the skyscraper dunes of Sossusvlei – all three areas are in their most iconic, camera-loving state and won’t disappoint. It will get hot during the day but it’s not unbearable and the dry, clear days are ideal for exploring.