OCTOBER
"October brings the first rains to East Africa and with them the migrating birds begin to arrive - thousands of them, transforming the skies overnight. The landscape shifts from golden to green almost before your eyes. It's a magical transition if you know know where to be"
WHERE TO GO IN OCTOBER
Seychelles
October is a wonderful month to escape to the Seychelles. The southeast trade winds are easing and the islands are transitioning into their most beautiful season: warm, calm and bathed in long, golden days that make the turquoise waters and powder-white beaches feel almost impossibly idyllic. The diving and snorkelling are exceptional, the islands are quietly peaceful and the sense of being somewhere genuinely remote and unspoiled is as strong as ever. A perfect complement to a safari on the mainland.
WHERE TO GO IN OCTOBER
Zimbabwe
October is widely considered the finest month to visit Mana Pools, and it is not hard to understand why. The dry season is at its absolute peak, the Zambezi floodplains are parched and dramatic and wildlife congregates along the riverbank in extraordinary concentrations: elephant, buffalo, lion and wild dog all jostling for space in one of Africa’s last true wilderness areas. Walking safaris here in October are nothing short of extraordinary, with the bush stripped back to its bare bones and every footstep feeling like a genuine encounter with wild Africa. Raw, elemental and utterly unforgettable.
WHERE TO GO IN OCTOBER
East Africa
October is one of the most rewarding months for birding across East Africa. The Palearctic migrants begin to arrive from Europe and Asia, joining the resident species in extraordinary numbers and transforming the bush into a birdwatcher’s paradise. From the shores of Lake Victoria to the acacia woodlands of the Masai Mara and the forests of Kenya’s highlands, the variety and abundance of species on display at this time of year is simply breathtaking. For serious birders and curious beginners alike, East Africa in October offers a quite extraordinary window into one of nature’s most remarkable seasonal events.
