Thinking about a safari in November? It can be one of the most rewarding months to explore Africa. The first rains in some regions transform dry plains into lush green landscapes, migratory birds return, and newborn wildlife take their first wobbly steps. You’ll also enjoy fewer crowds compared to peak season, as long as you pick your destination wisely.
Lush safari scenes await in November, Image Credit: Phinda Forest Lodge
Is November a Good Time to Go on a Safari?
There’s never a bad time to visit Africa! It’s all about where you go. November can be a great time for an African safari, but it’s important to choose your destination carefully, as this marks the start of the rainy season in some regions. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Rainfall
Although it’s summer in Africa, some destinations do experience rain. And although this can make for stunning green scenery, you want to make sure it doesn’t, well, rain on your parade. Plan your trip with a trusted tour operator so that you understand precisely what conditions you can expect and plan accordingly.
Wildlife
The dry season (winter in Africa) is widely considered the best time for a safari in many regions because the bush is sparse and waterholes scarce, making it easier to spot wildlife. However, November is an excellent time to go on safari if you want to see lion cubs and all the other cute newborn wildlife making their debut in this great, big world. In areas like Mozambique, November is also a great time to witness the start of the sea turtle nesting season.
Summer brings an array of baby animals
Crowds
Prefer a quiet holiday? Then you should consider visiting during less busy times of the year. In November, destinations are ramping up for the busy December and January seasons, but it’s still quiet enough to enjoy a less crowded experience.
Value
Visiting during peak seasons can push up rates and reduce availability. Although we always recommend booking your dream African safari well in advance, there are some lesser-known but incredible destinations where you can still get great value. But visiting in November generally gives you more and better options.
A child-friendly safari in KwaZulu-Natal, Image Credit: Phinda Forest Lodge
Where to Go in Africa During November
Here are some of the places we love recommending to our guests who want to travel in November and are looking for a more exclusive holiday.
1. Mozambique, Southern Africa
I love visiting Mozambique in November – it’s still warm and tropical, yet blissfully quiet before the Christmas and New Year rush. It also makes the perfect finale to a safari.
Expect sun-drenched days hovering around 30°C and balmy Indian Ocean waters around 25°C. The humid summer rains are on their way, bringing brief, refreshing afternoon showers, resulting in verdant landscapes.
It’s an ideal month for snorkelling, diving, or dhow cruises around the Bazaruto Archipelago, where sea turtle nesting begins. This protected marine park is actually one of the few places on Earth where all five species of sea turtle can be found, making it extra special.
Your little piece of peace on the beach in November, Image Credit: Azura Marlin Beach Lodge
Our Favourite Property: Azura Marlin Beach
Azura Marlin Beach, on Benguerra Island, overlooks a one-kilometre stretch of pristine white sand in the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park. With direct beach access and calm waters, it’s perfect for those who want to spend long, lazy days in the sun and ocean.
Visiting in November, you’ll enjoy snorkelling vibrant coral reefs, sailing on traditional dhows, or picnicking on remote sandbars surrounded by the turquoise Indian Ocean.
Fishing is another highlight at this lodge, with a dedicated centre that offers tag-and-release adventures in seas famed for their black marlin. Spend long, quiet afternoons walking or horse-riding along the beach, then unwind with cocktails at the Peri Peri Club or at your private pool as the sun sets.
Slip into a laid-back African summer, Image Credit: Azura Marlin Beach Lodge
2. Franschhoek, South Africa
South Africa’s “Gourmet Food Capital”, the Franschhoek wine valley, is a smorgasbord of delights. Stacked with award-winning restaurants and wineries, you’ll be begging for more at every turn. If you appreciate the finer things in life, and your ideal holiday is gourmet dining and bottomless bubbly, this will be heaven to you.
And, if that isn’t enough, the setting for this gastronomic dream is just as much a feast for the eyes. With sun-soaked vineyard carpets set against dramatic mountain ranges, this is the perfect backdrop.
November is an excellent time to visit if you love sunny weather and spending leisurely days sipping wine in stylish vineyard settings. Pack your most stylish outfits, complete with sunnies and big sun hats, for all your wine tasting excursions, as there will be photo ops wherever you go.
The Franschhoek Valley, Image Credit: Marlin Clark
Our Favourite Property: Babylonstoren
One of my absolute musts for a soul-restoring getaway is visiting Babylonstoren‘s calming farmlands in the Cape Winelands. You can spend days on end here without getting bored, with everything from gardens to peruse to spa treatments and excellent wining and dining options.
With a massive garden brimming with over 300 varieties of edible plants, this is getting up close to Mother Nature in a whole new way, inviting all your senses to the party.
Enjoy the mountain and vineyard scenery, pick your own fresh fruit and vegetables, savour farm-to-fork cuisine, sip fine wine vintages, and find mindful rest and restoration amid the beauty of the Cape Winelands. The Cape Dutch accommodation gives you luxury country living at its best, and you’ll feel more grounded than ever before when you leave here.
Your luxury home in the Cape Winelands, Image Credit: Babylonstoren
3. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Often overlooked by travellers, this magical wilderness is a kaleidoscope of natural wonders. Famous for its tree-climbing lions, Tarangire National Park also hosts several fascinating species.
You can look forward to seeing the rare fringe-eared oryx and the elegant gerenuk, both remarkable sightings on any safari. Tarangire is also known for its abundant elephant herds and majestic, ancient baobab trees.
In November, the first rains arrive after the long dry season, transforming the landscape into a green paradise. These short rainstorms only last for a while. It’s a wonderful time for photography, with vibrant birdlife filling the skies and newborn wildlife providing plenty of heartwarming photo opportunities.
A Tarangire National Park safari is just as mesmerising during the rainy season, Image Credit: Little Chem Chem
Our Favourite Property: Little Chem Chem
Little Chem Chem is set on the edge of an acacia forest and surrounded by the riverine landscape that Tanzanian safari-goers travel miles for. The suite-like tents offer splendid views of Burunge Lake and make you feel like you’ve stepped into a bygone era of safari.
With plenty of plains game, abundant birdlife, and predators such as cheetah and leopard, there’s always something to make you gasp in wonder. This is also one of the best locations on the continent to explore Africa on foot, so if you’ve always wanted to go on a walking safari in East Africa, this is an excellent choice.
Other activities include night drives, photographic safaris, hot air balloon trips, helicopter flights, and private dining experiences. I have a soft spot for Botswana, and visiting in November is special because it feels almost like a performance reserved just for me.
Immerse yourself in nature here. Image Credit: Little Chem Chem
4. Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Where desert and ocean collide, the Skeleton Coast is a must-see destination in Namibia. Unlike anywhere on Earth, an abundance of shipwrecks scattered along the desert coastline gives it an otherworldly feel.
November is a great time to visit because it sits just outside the peak safari months in Namibia, giving you a great experience with better availability. It’s at the start of the rainy season, with only occasional rainfall. This month is also the peak season for seal sightings, when Cape fur seals give birth to their pups and gather in the thousands along the coastline.
Spend time searching for incredible desert-adapted wildlife and enjoying excellent fishing opportunities. During this time, sunsets are also dramatic with rain clouds, and the short bursts of rain clear the sky of dust for spectacular photography. It’s still hot, however, with daytime highs of around 27−29°C.
Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Our Favourite Property: Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
November is a wonderful time to visit Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. Set along the life-giving Hoanib River in remote Damaraland, the camp offers prime access to the Skeleton Coast National Park.
Explore by 4×4 in search of desert-adapted elephants, giraffes, and lions, hike rocky outcrops, or fly over shipwrecks scattered along the coast. Evenings bring crisp air, star-studded skies, and fireside comfort at this luxurious outpost of true wilderness.
You can also go rhino tracking, visit the giraffe sanctuary, and go on cultural visits to local Himba and Herero tribes. It’s always a deeply profound experience for me to step into someone else’s unique cultural lifestyle, so if you feel the same way, this is right up your alley.
A royal setting for your Skeleton Coast safari, Image Credit: Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
5. Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
If you like a bit of beach and bush away from the crowds, South Africa’s east coast is the place for you. Get in ahead of the festive rush and enjoy quiet scenes in one of the country’s most diverse provinces.
Phinda Private Game Reserve is often referred to as the “Seven Worlds of Wonder”, as it has seven distinctly different habitats in one reserve, namely grassland, woodland, wetland, forest, mountain ranges, rivers, marshes, and pans.
From Big 5 safaris in Phinda to the sunny coast of the iSimangaliso wetland park, there’s a world of natural wonder just waiting to be explored both above and below the surface.
Turtle seen during Phinda’s scuba tour, Image Credit &Beyond Phinda
Our Favourite Property: &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
November is a spectacular time to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve, when KwaZulu-Natal’s landscapes turn lush and alive after the first summer rains. Nestled within a rare sand forest, Phinda Forest Lodge is a go-to if I’m looking for a bush and beach escape in one easy stay.
I especially enjoy the fact that the lodge is hugged by the forest, making you feel like you’re tucked away in a zen cocoon. Here you can enjoy day and night game drives in search of the Big 5, guided bush walks, and hands-on conservation experiences with rhino or pangolin specialists.
Then head to the nearby iSimangaliso Wetland Park for ocean safaris like snorkelling, diving, or spotting dolphins, whale sharks, and turtles along the warm Indian Ocean coast.
Escape to the lush forest, Image Credit: Phinda Forest Lodge
Travel to Africa in November
African travel in November offers a variety of experiences as diverse as the continent itself. If you’re ready to explore, our team of African Travel Experts are on hand to get the ball rolling.
We know Africa better than anyone else, and we’re ready to make your dream African holiday, no matter the time of year, a reality. Let’s start dreaming up your November safari today!
