TRAVEL IDEAS: AUGUST

Beyond the Okavango Delta, the waters have begun to recede, concentrating the game at the dwindling water sources. In Zambia, the weather is perfect for a walking safari. The cool and dry weather makes August a wonderful time to tour Namibia. Zimbabwe is another option for those wanting true exposure to the wild. The Great Migration normally spills into the Masai Mara, braving the crocodiles to cross the Sand and Mara rivers. The Kenya coast is hot and fine, as are the Seychelles and the islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Mauritius is dry and sunny, with excellent family offers for the school holidays. Humpback whales can often be seen in Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago and off Fort Dauphin in Madagascar.  It's also a great time to visit the east coast of Sri Lanka.

Whilst it's monsoon season down south, August is the perfect time to visit the east coast of Sri Lanka as well as the best time of year to see the whales on their migratory route and where both the blue and sperm whales choose to mate. The area is renowned for having the island’s best beaches with flat turquoise seas (unlike the south-west coast which is more geared towards surfing) and low rainfall. Properties here tend to be fairly bunched together along the beach but our favourite is Uga Bay located on the Pasikuda Beach centred around its deep blue infinity pool with beach views and surrounded by tropical gardens. A light and bright feel throughout with all rooms looking out over the ocean. Offering an array of watersports such as kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling and fishing trips. For those wanting an off the beaten track experience Gal Oya National Park offers guests a truly unique option of safari - to explore one of Sri Lanka’s most remote and untouched wildernesses - those lucky enough can witness the Asian Elephants swimming across the largest reservoir in the country. In Minneriya National Park ‘The Gathering’ is usually taking place (from August to late September), elephants in their hundreds converge on the tank (it has been described as the biggest gathering of elephants in the world). It’s also the Perahera Festival in Kandy where Elephants and their mahouts throw an elaborate display of colour on the streets with fire dancers alike. For the surf addicts this is also the best time to visit the Maldives with the Southern Hemisphere winter bringing in the largest swells to the archipelago.

In Botswana, Mombo and sister-property Little Mombo reopened in 2018 after extensive refurbishment. World-renowned as “the Place of Plenty,” Mombo’s location on Chief’s Island within the Moremi Game Reserve attracts an enormous number and variety of animals, which makes it a hugely sought-after destination. Wilderness Safaris COO, Grant Woodrow notes “Our emphasis in terms of luxury and service excellence has always been on sharing and honouring the amazing natural environment in which we operate and these new camps continue to do just that – operating on 100% solar power and remaining committed to having as light an environmental footprint as possible. Mombo is undoubtedly one of Africa’s foremost wildlife and ecotourism destinations – one that embraces a true low impact and high experiential value tourism model”.