South Africa in November

South Africa in November

By Andre Van Kets

Co-founder, Discover Africa

Safari Enquiry

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By November, the summer season has officially begun to set in, and this means warmer days and nights—often pleasant enough to go without a jacket until the early hours of the evening. This month usually sees daytime sticking around until 18:00 to 19:00 before the moon starts to shine.

As the weather is warmer and less rain occurs, game viewing is at its best as wildlife in reserves and national parks can be found near water sources.

Parks like the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Madikwe Game Reserve, and the Pilanesberg National Park are excellent locations to see The Big Five and many other animals.

Weather in November

November’s temperatures make it an ideal month for swimming and every other outdoor sport. Game life tends to stick around water to drink, creating exceptional wildlife viewing. Because of this, a safari experience is perfect during this time.

During this season, you can watch predators in their natural environment, as their prey are easily spotted on warmer days.

Pros

• Great game-viewing
• Warm weather
• Outdoor activities
• Baby animal sightings

Cons

• Peak season

National Parks to Visit in South Africa and Why

Kgalagadi National Park

Kgalagadi contains some of the most significant predator populations, such as black mane lions and cheetahs. Other wildlife include springbok, gemsbok, and blue wildebeest. The park is rich in bird life; visitors can spot the black-chested finch, yellow canary, red-eyed bulbul, and crimson-breasted shrike.

What to do:

• Game drives – morning, afternoon, and night drives
• Birding

Madikwe Game Reserve

The Madikwe Game Reserve is a Big Five destination, and as summer approaches, game life is visible all around. The rich vegetation contributes to excellent game viewing in the reserve.

What to do:

• Birding
• Game drives

Pilanesberg National Park

While Pilanesberg National Park is small, it has become one of South Africa’s famous parks. It houses the Big Five and animals such as waterbuck, wildebeest, zebras, and impala. To see the wide variety of animals South Africa has to offer, visit the Pilanesberg National Park.

What to do:

• Tennis
• Interactive drumming
• Hot air ballooning
• Photographic safaris