April safari - cooler weather & lower prices

April safari highlights

April heralds cooler weather in Southern Africa as it transitions into the dry winter, while the 'long rains' season has commenced in East Africa. Expect lower lodge prices and no crowds, although watch out for Easter and other public holidays in South Africa, which can attract more local visitors.

Great Wildebeest Migration - rain and good lion action

If you visit in April, you will need your rain jacket. The herds are moving slowly northwards from the southern Serengeti Plains in Tanzania - via the Ndutu region, past the Simba kopje, in the direction of Moru. Simba kopje is known for its lions, so expect action as they target the young wildebeest. The wettest part of the day is the evening. The rainfall makes the plains slippery, and vehicles without 4×4 mode will battle to go anywhere.Find out more about the Great Migration here.

Maasai Mara secret season

April continues to enjoy green landscapes with low visitor numbers, making it an excellent time for wildlife viewing - but this is also the wettest time of the year, so come prepared. The high number of antelope calves results in lots of predator action - you will see resident cheetahs, lions, leopards and hyenas targeting vulnerable young animals.

Beaches and islands

Seychelles enjoys warm temperatures, clear water for diving and sand-in-your-toes chilling out for families. April in Mauritius heralds hot temperatures, perfect for beach lovers and water activities.

Southern Africa

Southern Africa has emerged from the hot, wet summer season, with April enjoying lower temperatures and less rain. The bushveld is still very dense, meaning that wildlife is not as easy to see as in the dry winter months, but areas like Greater Kruger enjoy good sightings year-round due to a higher lodge and vehicle density.

South African combo safari

Cape Town & the Garden Route

April signals autumn in Cape Town and the Western Cape, with pleasant weather and few tourists around, expect for the busier Easter period and public holidays. The Mother City and nearby Cape Winelands are starting to turn from green to reds and yellows as decidious trees prepare for winter.

Greater Kruger

The Greater Kruger area offers green landscapes and excellent wildlife action. You can combine these two destinations via a 2-hour direct flight from Cape Town.

Chad

Travel to Chad is best during the dry season months of November to April. Zakouma National Park offers an exceptional wildlife experience, including elephants, buffaloes, big cats and excellent bird-watching, with the floodplains in the eastern half of the park being the most productive.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia shows off during April with high water levels and a massive plume of spray that towers above the falls that can be seen from afar - sometimes even obscuring the falls - 'the smoke that thunders'. There is little chance of river rafting due to high water levels, but most other activities are available. Read more about Victoria Falls seasons and other useful info.

Botswana's great zebra migration

April sees large numbers of zebras moving from their summer feeding grounds in the greater Makgadikgadi Pans areas to the Chobe and Okavango Delta. Read more about the zebra migrations - the longest mammal migration in Africa.