November - unique African safari moments

November safari highlights

Our safari experts view November as the month of variety and for seeking out localised migrations and other unique safari experiences.

Southern African bushveld

In the bushveld destinations across Southern Africa, temperatures are high, and the short rain season usually occurs in mid to late November. Rainfall timing varies each year but is seldom enough to impact safari activities. Vegetation is still sparse - so wildlife is easy to see. Also, there is little or no standing water - meaning that animals are forced to gather near permanent water sources like rivers and waterholes, making them easier to find. In early to mid-November, wildlife viewing can be exceptional - making the discomfort of the heat well worth it. When the first rains arrive, many species scatter into the vast inland for seasonal food and fresh pools of surface water, so game-viewing can become less predictable after mid-November.

South Africa

In South Africa's Western Cape - which has a Mediterranean climate - November heralds the transition of the Cape Winelands to summer-green exuberance and Cape Town starts to get into festive mode. Beaches, restaurants and trendy venues, including those along the beautiful Garden Route, are crowd-free before the local holiday season. It’s the end of the whale-watching season in Hermanus.

Zambia

• Kasanka National Park: November ushers in the spectacular annual bat migration as 10 million straw-coloured fruit bats descend on fruiting trees - the world’s largest mammal migration.

• Liuwa Plain National Park: you can experience the second-largest wildebeest migration in Africa. Every year, at the start of the rainy season in November, over 30,000 wildebeest begin to converge in herds to give birth and disperse from rising flood waters. Zebra, tsessebe and lechwe join them in their annual circuit of Liuwa and the Mussuma region of neighbouring Angola, often with hungry predators hot on their collective heels.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is at its best between October and March. For those drawn to the captivating landscapes of the South Omo Valley and the enigmatic Danakil Depression bordering Eritrea, November and December hold particular allure due to lower temperatures and rainfall. For wildlife and bird watchers, Ethiopia is packed with endemic species. The national parks offer many enticing encounters - from Ethiopian wolf, gelada monkeys and walia ibex to blue-winged goose, golden-backed woodpecker and Abyssinian catbird.

Madagascar

The peak season crowds have left, and November is the perfect time to enjoy low season prices with top wildlife viewing opportunities. Temperatures are warm and there is little rain - the wet season is just around the corner - great for coastal holidays for snorkelling to view bright tropical fish and corals.

Wildlife highlights include fossa, aye-aye, indri, sifaka, satanic leaf-tailed gecko and panther chameleon while birdwatchers will enjoy plenty of endemic species including blue coua, Madagascar pochard and various species of vangas and ground-rollers. This huge island has many dramatic must-see landscapes, including Baobab Alley, red tsingy, spiny forests and dense tropical forests.

Great Wildebeest Migration

The herds of wildebeest and zebra follow the 'short rains' that fall in November - leaving Kenya's Maasai Mara and heading south into the Loliondo and Lobo areas of Tanzania's Serengeti.

Which of our ready-made safari trips are at their best during November?

The list below provides a few examples of our many ready-made safaris at their best in November every year. If none meets your wishes, start the discussion with one of our safari experts to find your November safari of a lifetime - including the amazing experiences mentioned here.