“Morning, this is your wake-up call.” And with those words, your winter day on safari begins. It is still dark outside and a frosty start to a winter’s morning safari, the anticipation and the excitement of the morning’s adventures starts to build.
After a quick coffee and warm pastry in the lounge you jump onto the vehicle, wrap the blanket around you, pleasantly surprised by the hot water bottle. Your breath leaves you in white puffs, the grasses are covered in ice-crystals and golden spider webs hang suspended from the shrubs.
Winter Weather & Wildlife
Traditionally, the winter months have always been hailed as the best time of year to go on safari (While summer has its own incredible merits, we’re focusing on the unique beauty of the colder months). In South Africa, the Lowveld winters are celebrated for their wonderfully warm temperatures. A safari from May through to August offers an exceptional climate, although morning and evening safaris can be quite chilly (by midday, you could be lounging by the pool, sipping an Aperol Spritz, and soaking up the sun.
The frost and lack of rain have transformed the lush, green grasses of summer into short, blond savannas, providing better visibility over longer distances. The sparse vegetation makes it easier to spot and photograph big cats like lions and leopards, or catch a glimpse of a distant cheetah.
Large herbivores, driven by a constant need for water, are also easier to find. As smaller puddles and mud wallows dry up, elephants and buffalo are almost guaranteed to be found quenching their thirst at larger waterholes and dams. Our own camp dam offers incredible game viewing opportunities throughout the day with a variety of animals and birds.
Forever Sunsets & Skies
Even the heavens seem more stunning in winter, with deep navy blue skies over the Timbavati day after day, and although the days may end earlier and with a more pronounced chill in the air, the winter skies continue to burn red and pink for what seems like forever. Then producing a sky of such magnitude and beauty you will always remember the starlit sky of Africa.
After the sun dips below the horizon, the sky takes on a life of its own, shifting colours and beams of light that leave guests gasping at the magnificence sunsets and skies. It is the winter dust particles in the air that extend the duration and intensity of these natural phenomena, making the colours even more astonishing.
As the orange hues of sunset slowly turn to inky blue, the winter night’s stars and Milky Way appear in their full splendour. The stars are truly spectacular this time of year, with the Scorpio constellation ruling the sky, making winter the optimal season for viewing shooting stars and meteor showers.
Indulge In Decadence
Winter is also the perfect time to indulge a little more than normal, not that we need any excuses, but a frosty game drive provides more opportunities to indulge in some of the more decadent safari treats. Imagine your cappuccino accompanied by the best blueberry muffins in the bush, after tracking elephants. Or treating yourself after dinner around the fire with one of the most decadent pieces of fudge you will ever find this side of the Kruger National Park.
The wonderful Chef Ryan always embraces the winter theme, offering a variety of warming delights. If you are not being treated to a gourmet meal in our dining room then our fireside dinners feature slow roasts, rich creamy sauces, and sticky hot desserts.
So, if the fireside dinners, starlit skies or perfect days aren’t enough to entice you, then the game viewing certainly will.
