Iain McConachie, our North America Retail Manager shares his personal insight on why October and November are spectacular months for visiting Botswana and Zimbabwe.

My wife and I have gone on two unforgettable safari trips, travelling in early November – one to Zimbabwe and the other Botswana.

Apart from incredible game viewing, travelling during these months offers lower rates and fewer travellers in our already private wilderness areas – and if your guests are looking for sun and warmth, even better (just be sure to advise them on the average temperatures).

If you are looking for up-close and personal wildlife encounters, it is one of the best times of year to visit as the animals gather around the rivers and waterholes, looking to cool off and drink. As a result, I’ve had some of the best wildlife sightings of all my African travels during these trips.

We spotted four leopard in an hour at King’s Pool, and on other days a leopard mother and cub, and a male leopard kill. While taking in the sights and sounds of the bush on our deck at Ruckomechi, an elephant surprised us and climbed onto our tent’s deck to get a seed pod. We saw lions trying to hunt buffalo, a pack of 18 wild dogs (10 of which were pups) on the move in the Linyanti and incredible sundowner settings with, at times, literally hundreds of elephants at Hwange, Mana Pools, Vumbura and King’s Pool. More than I can ever recall.

If ever there was an ideal opportunity to visit the bush, October and November get my nod!