A Wild Winter Wonderland

With winter upon us, the changing landscape at Nambiti takes on a whole new look. The vegetation becomes less dense and changes from verdant green to earthy hues. In the mornings, a gentle mist rolls through the valleys, shrouding the reserve in a soft, mystical, veil that lifts as the sun rises.

Have you ever wondered why most animals’ coats are earthy colours? With the vegetation thinning out and grass becoming shorter, what better way to hide than to blend in with your surroundings? Nature has mastered the art of disappearing in plain sight – the animals can see you, but you can’t see them, making for an intriguing game of ‘spot the wildlife’.

Nevertheless, winter is still one of the best times to visit a game reserve. Although the colour of the vegetation makes animals more camouflaged, the shorter grass and bare branches allow for more visibility. You and your guide will be able to see further into the distance, extending your viewing scope and helping you see more animals.

Mornings and nights are chilly, but the winter sun warms up the beautiful days. Nambiti is in a summer rainfall area, which means that winter days are generally sunny, crisp and clear. You may not feel inclined to take a dip in your lodge’s pool, but you can certainly enjoy lapping up the sun on a lounger or deck. And because it doesn’t rain much in the winter, there is less available water for the animals around the reserve. This means that they’re more likely to gather around dams and watering holes, which become real viewing ‘hot spots’ over the winter months.

There’s another winter bonus for people who prefer to sleep in – because it gets light later, you won’t have to set your morning game drive alarm as early as you do during the summer months.

Despite the benefits of a winter break in the wild, some of the winter months aren’t as busy as the summer months, which means more exclusivity at the reserve; perhaps your lodge will offer reduced low-season rates over this time.

So, now that we’ve let you in on this little game reserve secret, you can see why we love our winters at Nambiti. Come see for yourself why this season is so special – but don’t forget your warm jackets, beanies and gloves!