Planning a safari adventure but unsure about timing? The truth is, there’s no single “perfect” time to visit Londolozi – each season paints the African bush in different hues and brings unique wildlife experiences. Your ideal safari depends entirely on what captivates you most: dramatic skies, intimate wildlife encounters, or perhaps the romance of starlit dinners by the campfire.
Let’s explore what makes each season special, so you can choose the perfect time for your safari or experience new seasons with us.
Summer Safari Magic (December – February)
December: Nature’s Symphony Begins
Summer arrives with a flourish of life. The evening air fills with nature’s orchestra – frogs calling their melodic songs while crickets provide the rhythm. This is tortoise and butterfly season, when these gentle creatures emerge in abundance. Long, fiery sunsets stretch across windless evenings, creating perfect moments for reflection and photography.
Christmas on safari offers a unique twist on holiday traditions, while New Year’s Eve celebrations under African stars create memories that last a lifetime.
January: Thunderstorms and Green Abundance
Peak summer brings balmy days that build into magnificent thunderstorms. There’s something magical about that first scent of rain hitting dry earth – it signals the land’s awakening. Everything transforms into vibrant greens, from carpet-like grasses to leafy canopies that become feast halls for elephants and giraffes.
Guests enjoy a late afternoon drink whilst watching the cloud formations of a frontal system build on the horizon.
A dramatic summer thunderstorm
A leopard scans through green and lush vegetation in summer.
For photographers, summer offers dramatic opportunities: storm clouds gathering on horizons, wildlife silhouetted against emerald backdrops, and zebras whose striking patterns pop against the lush vegetation.
This zebra calf’s black and white pattern stands out against the greenery.
The rain in summer can also create a great effect like in this image of a male lion at night.
February: Love in the Wild
Romance finds its perfect setting in February’s warm embrace. Honeymoon couples discover why Londolozi is ideal for celebrating love – private game vehicles for two, spectacular sunsets, couples’ treatments at the Healing House, and intimate candlelit dinners under star-filled skies.
Autumn’s Gentle Transition (March – May)
March: Floral Splendour
Though summer rains taper off, the bush remains alive with flowering displays. This is when you discover the smaller wonders – clusters of mauve bluebell barleria, bright scarlet firecracker flowers, and delicate indigo blooms. Mild temperatures make any time perfect for game drives.
The calm before the storm. 5 members of a wild dog pack scan their surroundings from an elevated area just as the sun is starting to dip towards the horizon.
The Pride of the Cape flower is a spectacular March bloomer.
April: Seasonal Shifts
Warm days give way to crisp evenings as autumn’s touch becomes noticeable. The landscape maintains its lush beauty while elephant herds begin congregating around the Sand River. April brings the impala rut – fascinating displays of animal behaviour as males compete for mates.
Easter at Londolozi adds special charm with bush breakfasts under tree canopies, complete with surprise visits from the “Easter bunny” bearing hot cross buns and chocolate eggs.
View this post on Instagram
May: Winter’s Gentle Arrival
As winter begins, Londolozi transforms into a hub for different activities. This season is perfect for bush breakfasts, wine tastings, and stargazing. Gather around fires while sampling South Africa’s finest wines under brilliant star displays.
What is photography like in winter?
Winter skies in South Africa are at their clearest during the months of May, June, July and August. Londolozi is one of the best places to see stars without the pollution and lights that limit stargazing in cities and areas where there are large populations of people. Take along your camera and practice your night photography capturing the African skies at their brightest. Ask your guide to tell you a bit more about the constellations and to advise you on the correct settings for capturing night scenes like this:
And this…
A great night of music and sing-alongs in the Varty Camp Boma.
Winter’s Crystal Clear Beauty (June – August)
June: Coral Trees and Aloe Blooms
Winter showcases the sacred coral tree’s spectacular red flower spikes, lasting through October. Aloe flowering season creates stunning displays that attract sunbirds and butterflies seeking nectar. Short grasses and clear morning air make wildlife spotting easier during game drives.
Leopard returning victorious from a hunt.
Tip: Bring along your binoculars and bird books to identify the sightings that you see. Remember to bring along your telephoto lenses for getting close-up images or hire a lens/binoculars at our Photographic Studio.
A Collared Sunbird sits on an aloe branch after feeding on the nectar.
Wild dog viewing can often be more productive in the winter. Should a pack of wild dogs choose a den-site on Londolozi or the surrounding properties, the likelihood of regular sightings is greatly enhanced as the dogs localise their vast movements and hunt almost daily.
July: Peak Winter Activity
It is now the height of winter where the days are cool and the animals are a lot more active during the daytime. The summer rains have dried up but for a few pans, dams and rivers where animals congregate and interactions play out.
August: Wildlife At The Waterhole
Dried-up pans force large elephant herds to frequent the Sand River, often visible from camp. This water concentration creates spectacular viewing opportunities.
Spring’s Awakening (September – November)
September: Golden Beginnings
Spring arrives while the bush retains its golden-brown winter coat. Dusty sunsets continue painting the sky in magnificent colours, though you might spot the first green shoots and leaves beginning to emerge, hinting at the transformation ahead.
Magnificent winter sunsets continue into September
October: Migration Season
Plants and grasses begin their comeback, attracting sunbirds, and insect pollinators. This marks the dry season’s end as temperatures rise toward summer. Bird numbers increase with returning summer migrants – watch for red-chested cuckoos, European rollers, Wahlberg’s eagles and other spectacular species making their journey from the northern hemisphere.
A European roller perches on a dead tree looking for it’s next meal. These birds travel thousands of miles between Southern Africa and Europe, every year.
November: New Life Everywhere
Lambing season begins as impalas give birth to their young. Nothing matches the excitement of watching newborn lambs springing up throughout the reserve. These skittish youngsters stay close to their mothers for protection from predators.
Late November brings mass wildebeest calving. While many survive these crucial early weeks, some do become targets for predators, enabling the necessary but raw reality that is the circle of life in the African wilderness.
Finding Your Perfect Safari Season
Every month at Londolozi offers something extraordinary. Summer brings dramatic weather and lush landscapes. Winter provides clear skies, active wildlife, and comfortable temperatures for extended outdoor activities. Spring and autumn offer the magic of transition – witnessing nature’s cycles of renewal and preparation.
The question isn’t when to visit Londolozi, but rather what type of experience calls to your soul. Are you drawn to thunderstorms and emerald landscapes? Do you prefer crystal-clear skies and active wildlife? Perhaps you’re enchanted by the romance of starlit dinners or the excitement of witnessing new life in the wild?
Whatever your preference, Londolozi’s year-round calendar ensures that your safari will be filled with unforgettable moments, regardless of when you choose to answer Africa’s call.
Jemma! Thanks for the reminder that any season at Londolozi is special! We just returned from a fabulous stay in June. We love the winter months with you and look forward to returning next year, and help celebrate the 100th anniversary!
June is a wonderful time! Looking forward to having you back with us next year.
Hi Jemma, every season brings something different in the bush. What ever the season there is always something spectacular to view on Londolozi. Winter months the you will be able to see more of the animals as the bush is drier. Summer you get more hotter weather and the bush is thicker after the rains. Plenty of amazing animals to view and the stay at Londolozi is the best all year round.
Londolozi is definitely an all-year-round destination depending on the guests’ preferences. For me that’ s really April/ May. Not too cold or too hot, no thunderstorms (or nearly none), still lush and green, the animals all very happy and well-fed. Just a pleasure to see them.
And in comparison to the brown-grey hues of late winter early spring, the green backgrounds make very good photo opportunities.
And -for me- Eatser is a very special, very nice time at Londolozi with all these additional bunnies hopping around and the lovely brunch on Varty’s lawn.
Thanks for this comprehensive article about what to expect during each South African season, further broken down into months. Whilst anytime is the best time to visit, I find I’m drawn to Autumn, preferably April. I like the hint of the winter morning chill that greets you upon leaving for the morning drive, that gives way to the warmth of the sun, tempered now that the summer has passed. The verdant hues of the landscape are reminders of the summer rains that have passed, waterholes are still full and the river is flowing purposely through the property. And so, once again, my visit is booked for next April when I can once again rejuvenate my wild self.
Hi Jemma, it would be fantastic to see new life, but also flowers blooming and clear.winter sky. It’s difficult to choose…
It is tricky when each season is so different – best way to find out what you prefer is to try them all out.