Water hole watch

In July ’03 we took a group of 10 friends to East Africa, i.e., Kenya and Tanzania. For my husband, Mark, and me, it has become a nearly annual sojourn to a very favorite place; a trip there in July ’05 was our 12th. After Africa, every place else seems to pale.

Africa is generally a year-round destination, although in most cases the best game viewing occurs during the dry season. In East Africa, this is usually July through October and mid-December through February, except in the Serengeti in Tanzania where the migration often begins during November rains and lasts through June.

Game viewing in Southern Africa — i.e., Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa — peaks from about June through October, when the animals are more concentrated around water holes and rivers. However, it is important not to discount the rainy season when the parks are less crowded, the terrain is lush and green, prices are reduced, dust isn’t a problem and bird-watching is often at its peak.

BERNA NITZBERG
Aptos, CA