Suggested itineraries in January

Southern Africa, located in the Southern Hemisphere, means that January is the peak of summer. An ideal time to escape to glorious sunshine and leave the damp, cold and dreary winters of the Northern Hemisphere behind. Highly recommended places to visit in January are the Cape and the lovely Garden Route in South Africa. Mozambique is also beautiful in January although it can get very hot and there is a chance of short, sporadic showers. Due to the rains in the summer season, vegetation is thick, green and lush which can mean that game is a little more dispersed and high grasses make viewing more difficult, but is excellent for photographic safaris. The summer season for birders is the ideal time to visit Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The migrant birds flock south to breed - including flamingos, pelicans and the rare and beautiful Woodlands Kingfisher. Butterflies, wild flowers and iridescent insects are in abundance, making for spectacular sightings. Sunsets are also at their most dramatic with storm clouds reflecting the vibrant colours in tandem with the moonrise.