March safari - no crowds and lower prices

March safari highlights

March enjoys favourable weather in southern Africa, where the summer heat has dissipated. Wedged between the Christmas festive season and Easter, this is a period when fewer people travel - resulting in lower lodge prices and no crowds. There are many antelope calves in March - and the predators are cashing in. Coastal beaches and offshore islands still offer good beach weather during March, but for late March travel, your safest bet is Southern Africa, due to the imminent arrival of the East African 'long rains' season.

Great Wildebeest Migration - calves and predator action

Every year, half a million wildebeest are born on the Serengeti plains in Tanzania during February. In March, you will find the herds in southwest Serengeti's Ndutu and Kusini Maswa regions, moving slowly with the babies in tow. The wildebeest calves are not yet as fast and fit as the adults - a bonus for predators looking for easy pickings. Be prepared for some afternoon rainfall in March. Expect no crowds and lower lodge prices during March. Find out more about the Great Migration here.

Maasai Mara secret season

March heralds green landscapes with low visitor numbers, making it an excellent time for wildlife viewing. The high number of antelope calves results in lots of predator action - you will see resident cheetahs, lions, leopards and hyenas targeting vulnerable young animals.

Beaches and islands

Coastal beaches and offshore islands still offer good beach weather in East and Southern Africa, although April sees the East African 'long rains' season commencing, so travellers in late March may encounter increased rainfall there.

Mozambique's Quirimbas Archipelago is ideal for beach retreats, featuring pristine beaches and turtle nesting during March. Also in Mozambique, watch out for manta rays and whale sharks at Tofo. Seychelles is popular for island-hopping in March, offering warm temperatures (expect occasional thunderstorms) and clear water for diving.

South African combo safari

Cape Town & the Garden Route

March offers warm Cape Town and Western Cape weather, although the summer heat has dissipated. The Mother City, nearby Cape Winelands and Garden Route are at their best, and the volume of tourists is low.

Greater Kruger

The Greater Kruger area offers green landscapes during the summer rains, and the presence of antelope calves means plenty of predator action as the big cats, wild dogs and hyenas cash in. You can combine these two destinations via a 2-hour direct flight from Cape Town.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is at its best between October and March. March is a relatively cool month and relatively free of tourists.

For wildlife and bird watchers, Ethiopia is packed with endemic species. The national parks offer many enticing encounters – from Ethiopian wolf, gelada monkeys and walia ibex to blue-winged goose, golden-backed woodpecker and Abyssinian catbird. March is good for spotting migrant bird species departing Africa for Eurasia.

Chad

Travel to Chad is best during the dry season months of November to April. Zakouma National Park offers an exceptional wildlife experience, including elephants, buffaloes, big cats and excellent bird-watching, with the floodplains in the eastern half of the park being the most productive.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia shows off during March with high water levels and a massive plume of spray that towers above the falls that can be seen from afar - sometimes even obscuring the falls - 'the smoke that thunders'. There is little chance of river rafting due to high water levels, but most other activities are available. Read more about Victoria Falls seasons and other useful info.

Botswana's great zebra migration

March sees large numbers of zebras massing in the greater Makgadikgadi Pans areas as they prepare to migrate back to the Chobe and Okavango Delta. Read more about the zebra migrations - the longest mammal migration in Africa.