February fun: African destinations to escape to in the month of love

Looking for a unique getaway this February or a chance to see more of the continent? Here are a few incredible African destinations to explore or put on your bucket list for future travel.

Summer Lovin’ on the Garden Route

A rugged coastline dotted with beautiful beaches, tranquil lakes and glassy lagoons, majestic mountains, rolling hills and shady valleys, and a plethora of quaint seaside towns make up the Garden Route — among the most popular of African destinations.

Pristine bays and beaches characterise the coastline at spots like Hermanus and Stilbaai, where southern right whales are often spotted. A lush and fertile area of greenery runs up into the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, which offer wonderful hiking trails, wildlife watching and mountain hideaways.

Inland, the town of Oudtshoorn rests in a semi-arid valley and is home to the famous Cango Caves and ostriches, which are farmed here on a grand scale. 

Further up the coast, a verdant band of ancient indigenous rainforest borders the coastline between Wilderness and Knysna. Here adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will find a wonderful array of activities and experiences to enjoy.

Numerous hiking trails wind through the forests where you can walk, mountain bike or horse-ride along dappled paths or slide through the canopy of the trees high above the ground on a zip-line adventure.

African destinations: New Life in the Serengeti

One of the main events on the safari calendar is the annual calving season during February and March in the southern Serengeti.

February sees a lot of rain across the vast plains of the Serengeti, transforming the landscape from tawny, dry scrublands into a lush, green oasis. Herds of wildebeest stretch as far as the eye can see across plains alive with wildlife and pumping with action.

The rains not only bring new life to the plains but to the herds as well, with foals everywhere. Perfect conditions, ample food and water, and plenty of time to gain strength before the long haul north to the Masai Mara make this the ideal time to birth.

About 8,000 young wildebeest are born every day for about six weeks and the plains are filled with tiny, teetering foals taking their first steps on their gangly legs.

Where there is food there are predators, and it is during this time that the Southern Serengeti and Western Ngorongoro Conservation Area (around Lake Ndutu), see the highest number of predators anywhere in Africa. With such vast numbers of wildebeest born over such a short period, pickings are rich. Large prides of lion and clans of spotted hyena patrol the plains. This is also one of the best times and places to witness incredible cheetah hunts.  

Dreamy destinations: Sleep Under the African Stars

Experience Africa in its purest form with a night under a blanket of stars reminiscent of the days of exploration.

Sleeping under the stars has always had a special allure and the warm, balmy nights of February are the best time to do it. Whether it’s a raised star-bed on a platform in the middle of the African bush or a treehouse kitted out for sleeping with soft bedding and twinkling starlight, this has to be one of the most romantic roofs to sleep under. Several excellent camps throughout Africa offer this unique and unforgettable experience.

Another fantastic way to experience Africa is by fly-camping, which offers an opportunity to feel what it is to be in the wild on your own. Fly-camping follows in the footsteps of early hunting safaris, where nights were spent wherever the day’s tracking ended. It involves heading out into the bush and setting up camp wherever you stop.

Nowadays, fly-camping is usually arranged from one camp location base, where you head out into the bush for the night and return to base camp in the morning. It promises an intimate and unforgettable in the middle of the wilderness. One fly-camping closer to home is at Samara Private Game Reserve near Graaff-Reinet.

Must-see destination: The Makgadikgadi Pans Migration

One of nature’s greatest spectacles occurs at the Makgadikgadi Pans on the edge of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert every year. Thousands of zebra and antelope begin their annual migration from the southern Okavango to the distant Makgadikgadi grasslands in search of greener pastures, safe breeding grounds and water. 

Triggered by the rains and second only to the Serengeti’s in number of zebras, this annual exodus of animals in their thousands is an awe-inspiring sight. The mega herd leaves the arid expanse of the Makgadikgadi saltpans and heads north towards the Masai Mara.

This little-known phenomenon is best seen from one of the luxury safari camps in the Makgadikgadi and Nxai National Parks or the Kalahari Desert. These are African destinations teeming with wildlife and lush greenery during the rainy season.

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