DESTINATIONS — AFRICA
Namibia: blooming flowers in the
Succulent Karoo
Tanzania: stunning views at
Ngorongoro Crater
EXPERT Dawn Parr,
ASK AN
Botswana Tourism “When temperatures rise, activities are
planned for early morning and late afternoon. Yet a storm in the Kalahari is an amazing sight to see!”
Anil Sofat, Somak “The Green Season, especially April and May, is a good time
of year for large groups who can’t afford to travel in high season.”
Ryan Powell, &Beyond
“Flying safaris get trickier at this time of
year. Charter companies have to be smart about their routeings and mud can close some airstrips.”
early June in Kenya, are followed by ‘short rains’ which sometimes hit both destinations in November and December, though the latter are less predictable. Proximity to the equator means temperatures don’t vary much. Altitude makes the most difference, both to temperatures and when it comes to the effects of the rain. For example, in Tanzania, the elevated Ngorongoro Crater is green year-round, whereas the low-lying Selous transforms from brown veld to a dense green bush. Here, the long rains can render roads impassable and some camps close in April and May. Game is still
relatively easy to spot on the open plains of the Serengeti and the Mara despite higher grasses and more
FAST FACT
Wilderness Safaris has opened Gomoti Tented Camp on a
community-owned site in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
abundant water, but roads can be muddy and slippy so clients should be prepared for a bumpier ride. However, clients can benefit from lower prices (sometimes saving up to 20%), and value-added offers. There’s also far less traffic. “During peak season, you can find up to 100 vehicles at a single sighting in a very busy area,” says &Beyond’s Ryan Powell. “In the Green Season it’s quieter, which
translates into exclusivity, both at lodges and on game drives.”
l SOUTH AFRICA South Africa’s climate is a little different to its neighbours’, so there isn’t really a Green Season in the same way. Kruger and the other northern parks and game reserves do receive rains over the December to March period, like neighbouring Botswana and Zambia, making the parks greener, the grasses taller and game spotting more challenging due to the extra water. But the fact that this period is one of the best times to visit Cape Town means there is no low-season cost saving – this hotter, wetter season is actually more
expensive. Claire Farley of 2by2 Holidays
says: “You pay a premium of 10-20% because it is when most people visit South Africa. “In Kruger you get the best prices between May and August, when it’s their dry season and the game viewing is actually at its best. Strange but true!” The Eastern Cape game reserves
have different climate patterns, with rains from June to August. Weather can be unpredictable during this period and, rather than temperatures rising as they do in the northern parks, it can become chilly and windy, so recommend that clients pack warm gear as well as waterproofs. The upside of visiting at this time comes in the form of savings of 15-25% on prices, and the chance to see humpback and southern right whales off the coast. TW
26 June 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 53
Zambia: the Zambezi forms the border with Zimbabwe
PICTURES: WILDERNESS SAFARIS/COLIN BELL; KWANDO SAFARIS; &BEYOND
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