susan300

I am being told that prices are lower this time of year, but will that mean seeing fewer animals. If that's the case, it doesn't seem worth the long trip and perhaps April/May would be better? Any thoughts? thank you.

mkhonzo

Susan 300, the short answer is NO, they game willnot be "less".
The long answer is the green season for years was undesireable by comparison to the drier months, which offered a better climate overall.

Botswana is attempting to draw tourism back in the quieter months, hence the attractive pricing of the green season. the game viewing should be great, the temps perhaps a little HOT!
Enjoy iit while you can.

mv

Susan

this very much depends on where you go.
In fenced parks obviously the animals have nowhere else to go!
In other places like Botswana, Zambia and others the herbivores tend to be where the best water and grazing is.
In the green season there are more small waterholes available and the herbivores are therefor more scattered.
Most of the predators are territorial and will therefor be in their usual places.
Depending on whether you go early or late in the green season the grass can be quite long making finding the animals slightly more difficult.
Everything will be green and the wild flowers will be out. You will probably find the bush much more attractive in the green season. My next safari will be to Kwando in the green season

Michael

napamatt

Plus there will be many more birds due to the influx of the migratory birds from further north in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Margo

Might I ask when the Green Season occurs? And where? I am planning a trip to Botswana/Namibia/Zambia at the end of Jan and into Feb. Will it be "green" then? Overall what can I expect of the weather during that time?
Do people wear shorts?

Thanks, Margo

mkhonzo

you are in good shape, you are travelling in the secret season, green is after ends around end of May early june.
that is for bots specifically.
hot, humid weather, green grass and good flowers.
Yes people wear shorts at that time.

Richard_Smith

Susan

The dry season in Southern Africa (roughly May through to October) coincides with their winter months. Leaves fall off trees and shrubs and grasses turn yellow and fall over. Since there is less vegetation to obscure your view, you will see further into the surrounding bush and are likely therefore to see higher numbers of animals.

Will this mean you don't see the animals people typically want to see in the green season (which as the above posts show means different things to different people)? I agree with the posters above who said you will see the animals you want to see and that the migratory birds are of interest (to some), but I think you will generally work harder for your game and potentially go for periods of time unable to see very much. The animals are still there (although they may be scattered) but are hidden by the thick bush.

I also agree that the green bush is beautiful and often animals during green season are in better condition than during times of drought. They also tend to have young at this time, coinciding births with times of adequate food.

Whether the difficulties associated with green season gameviewing are made up for by reductions in costs and fewer people being around is a question only you can answer. However with prices at less than half the high season costs, for many this are becoming the only affordable time to travel to countries like Botswana.

Yours, Richard

llbwolf

While we are on the topic, could anyone enlighten me on what to expect in January (1-23)in Zimbabwe (Hwange, to be specific)?