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The largest animal migration in the world is under way with as many as two million wildebeest gathered on the fertile plains of the Southern Serengeti. The migration moves gradually North over the next few months until in May they begin to amass on the Mara River to begin to cross into the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.
Although most of Southern Africa is in the middle of its rainy season, the climate in South Africas Cape is almost Mediterranean making this is a wonderful time of year to visit.
The wildebeest in the Serengeti have begun to calve, which heralds a time of plenty for the many predators that abound here.
Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtle eggs start hatching from late January to mid February. Rocktail Bay is one of the finest places to witness this rare and exciting spectacle.
Africas second largest migration of wildebeest, zebra and springbok is arriving on the grassy plains of the normally arid desert sands of Botswanas Makgadikgadi National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Thousands of flamingos also arrive to breed in the shallow salt pans of Makgadikgadi that have temporarily filled with water. Along with Namibias Skeleton Coast, this is one of the finest places in Africa to see the elusive brown hyena.
The rains that have fallen in the highlands of Angola have gathered into the Okavango River that now threads its way across the Caprivi Strip towards the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert. Soon it will begin to empty into the permanent channels and lagoons of the Panhandle area of the Okavango Delta and the annual flood will begin.
Many of the camps in Zambia and Botswana that close over the rainy season begin to reopen again.
Namibias Fish River Canyon opens for hikers wishing to undertake the challenge of walking the length of the second largest Canyon in the world.
The flood is reaching the drier areas of Botswanas Okavango Delta. It is actually possible to see the water creep across the dry sand and hundreds of waterfowl and mammals congregate to catch the smaller creatures that are swept along.
Walking safaris begin to operate in Zambias South Luangwa National Park.
The many small pans and waterholes scattered through the drier regions of Southern Africa have dried up and animals begin to congregate along the rivers and permanent waterways.
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The annual Southern Right Whale migration begins to arrive in the bays of South Africas Western Cape to calve. From now until October this is considered the finest place in the world to watch whales from the shore.
The migration has reached Kenyas Masai Mara where they will stay until late September.
Wild dogs will have established dens for their litter, which makes this an excellent time of year to locate this rare and elusive predator in northern Botswana.
The Busanga Plains in North Kafue become accessible to visitors.
In late August/early September South Africas Western Cape and Namaqualand explode with the greatest wildflower show on earth. Combined with whale watching along the Garden Route and the superb game and birdwatching in the Kalahari and Karoo Deserts, makes this an excellent time for the wildlife enthusiast to explore the Cape.
Game concentrations reach incredible numbers along the permanent rivers of Southern Africa with as many as 70,000 elephant and herds of buffalo 1,500 strong amassing along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando Rivers of Northern Botswana.
Summer migrant bird species begin to arrive throughout Southern Africa with the amazing spectacle of thousands of colourful carmine bee-eaters returning to their colonies on Zambias Luangwa River.
September is one of the best months to visit Zimbabwe and this is prime time for game viewing by foot, canoe, horseback or vehicle. Multi-day White Water Rafting is at its best on the Zambezi River from now until November.
The first rains will begin to fall in Southern Africa towards the end of the month. This will signal the start of the great herds spreading out to areas of fresh grazing and browse.
Although hot, this is probably the most amazing month in Zambia with the last few lagoons and oxbows drying up and the game concentrated around the dwindling rivers.
The rains will have started, signalling the start of the hot sunny months in Southern Africa.
Birdwatching is at its best for migrants from now until March and many species will soon be in breeding plumage.
The Cape climate is perfect with warm, clear sunny days making it a fantastic destination to escape those winter blues for Christmas in the sun.
The Wildebeest will start to gather on the Southern Serengeti.
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