November is a good month to go on safari in Tanzania’s Northern circuit. It will probably rain a bit, but visitor numbers are relatively low and you’ll be able to get some reasonable low-season deals. South Africa is a good choice for a November holiday too. It’s a lovely time in the Cape, and the private game reserves offer excellent wildlife viewing throughout the year.
See below for an overview of the best parks to visit in Africa by country. Please note that the listings focus on the most popular parks only and are not comprehensive.
Every safari is unique; you can’t predict what you’ll see and that is what makes it so exciting. However, to experience some specific safari highlights you need to plan carefully. Read on to get some insider tips on where to go on safari in November.
Wildebeest Migration in Liuwa Plain, Zambia
In November, when Zambia’s wildlife-viewing season is coming to an end, Liuwa Plain NP is home to the second-largest wildebeest migration in Africa. After the first rains, more than 40,000 wildebeest gather on the plains, followed by large numbers of zebra, tsessebe and red lechwe. Predators including lion, cheetah, spotted hyena and wild dog stay close to the herds and add to the drama. Combine Liuwa Plain with a visit to Kasanka National Park to see the spectacular bat migration (another October/November highlight, see Safari Highlights in October), and you have a safari with a difference far away from crowds.
November is an excellent month for chimp trekking in Nyungwe Forest NP. When going on a gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP, sightings are close to guaranteed at all times. This isn’t the case with chimp trekking, which has the highest success rate in the Wet season. Due to the abundance of fruits available in November, the chimps don’t travel as far as in the Dry season when their whereabouts on any day are difficult to predict. However, chimps aside, the Dry season months are better for hiking, watching other primates and generally enjoying this remarkable high-altitude rainforest.
Turtle Nesting Season in iSimangaliso Wetland, South Africa
Every year from November to February, female loggerhead and leatherback turtles visit the beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park to lay their eggs. These take about 70 days to hatch. Between January and March, batches of up to about 100 hatchlings can be found at night making their treacherous journey to sea. Visitors can witness this ancient nesting ritual on responsible nighttime turtle tours. These often incorporate a night drive through the Eastern Shores section of the park with a chance to see leopard, buffalo, rhino and small nocturnal animals such as genets and chameleons.
Swimming With Whale Sharks Off Mafia Island, Tanzania
One of the best places to swim with whale sharks is Mafia Island, part of the Greater Zanzibar Archipelago in Tanzania. The season runs from October to April, but sightings are most common in November and December. These giants can measure up to 12m/40ft, but their gentle nature and lack of teeth make them very safe companions in the water. Aside from whale sharks, divers and snorkelers will also enjoy the remote island’s extended reefs that teem with colorful fish, sharks, groupers and turtles. You might even see one of the world’s most-threatened and mysterious marine mammals here, the dugong.
