APRIL
"April is a quieter month to travel in Africa, and for those willing to embrace a little unpredictable weather, it can be a wonderful time to go. Rwanda and Uganda are particularly appealing this month, as gorilla trekking permits become easier to secure and the forests are at their most beautiful and birdlife-rich. April rewards travellers seeking lush scenery, lower rates and a more peaceful, off-peak experience of Africa.
WHERE TO GO IN APRIL
Makgadikgadi, Botswana
April is a magical time to visit the Makgadikgadi. The rains are easing and the vast salt pans are still flooded and shimmering, the zebra herds that gather on the floodplains in their thousands are beginning their journey south and the flamingos that descend on the shallow, mineral-rich waters add a flash of extraordinary colour to an already otherworldly landscape. As the wet season draws to a close there is a wonderful sense of transition about the place: wild, elemental and unlike anywhere else on earth.
WHERE TO GO IN APRIL
Seychelles
One of the most quietly beautiful months in the Seychelles, April sees the northwest trade winds beginning to ease, the seas warm and calm and the islands settling into a wonderfully unhurried rhythm that feels a world away from the everyday. The beaches are at their most peaceful, the snorkelling and diving are exceptional and the lush tropical interiors are vivid and green after the short rains. For those looking to extend a safari with something truly restorative, the Seychelles in April is simply hard to beat.
WHERE TO GO IN APRIL
Rwanda
The forests of the Virunga volcanoes are impossibly lush and green, the crowds are thin and the gorilla trekking is as extraordinary as ever. Permits are limited throughout the year, ensuring that every encounter remains wonderfully intimate regardless of the season. The mist that wraps the volcanic peaks in April adds an ethereal, otherworldly quality to the experience that is genuinely unlike any other time of year. For those who value authenticity and intimacy over perfect weather, April in Rwanda is one of Africa’s most moving wildlife experiences.
