Madikwe

The thermometer peaks this month, so midday is best spent poolside with a cold drink in hand. With more than 350 bird species recorded in the reserve, birders are in their element, and the young antelope born in early summer are getting braver (and keeping the predators very interested).

The storms grow fewer and further between, and the heat finally takes its foot off the pedal. Grass stands tall and golden-green, waterholes are still brimming, and the light is soft and lovely for photography. A gentle, easy-going month on safari.

April is one of Madikwe’s best months for weather for a reason. Skies are clear, days are pleasantly warm, and the nights carry the first hint of a chill. Impala rams are rounding up their harems and bellowing at rivals, and the green bush slowly fades to gold.

The rains are a distant memory, and the bush is thinning by the day, which means one thing: game viewing is getting seriously good. Animals start gravitating to the waterholes, and the wild dog alpha female is house-hunting for the perfect den. Bring a fleece for those fresh early mornings.

Pack your warmest jacket: early mornings in Madikwe can be properly nippy. But crisp air comes with clear skies, sparse bush and wildlife clustered around the water. Best of all, the wild dog pack settles down at its den, turning one of Africa’s most elusive predators into one of Madikwe’s most reliable sightings.

Midwinter brings bare trees, blue skies and lots of action at the waterholes. Gemsbok, springbok and other Kalahari wildlife stand out against the dry grass, and if luck’s on your side, tiny wild dog pups may make their first appearance at the den. Hot coffee and blankets make the early starts more than worth it.

Dry, dusty and full of drama. Vegetation is at its sparsest, so predators have nowhere to hide, and the wild dog pups grow bolder by the week. Afternoons warm up beautifully, while hazy, golden sunsets over the bushveld make for some spectacular sundowners.

Mornings lose their bite, the days are deliciously mild, and the game viewing is still in top form. The wild dog pups are almost big enough to run with the pack, and the first migrant birds are starting to make their way back. It’s a near-perfect month to be out in the bush.

The bush holds its breath. It’s hot and bone-dry, and the remaining waterholes are where all the action is, until the first thunderstorms roll in and everything turns green almost overnight. Carmine bee-eaters and other summer visitors add flashes of colour, and visitor numbers are often lower too.

The bush is suddenly crawling with cuteness. Impala lambs arrive almost all at once, followed by a whole nursery of other youngsters (the predators have certainly noticed). Afternoon showers cool things down, and the birding is superb as the summer visitors settle in.

Hot days, dramatic storms and a bush overflowing with young animals. With no malaria and an easy hop from Johannesburg, Madikwe is a winner for families over the festive season. Plan the afternoon around the pool, and the evenings around the thunder-and-lightning show.