When to come
Gondwana Game Reserve is a year round Cape safari. Each month has its own light, its own flowers and its own feel on an open vehicle. Come for the season you want. Dress in layers every month. Mornings on the vehicle start cool even in summer.
January
High summer. Long light and warm days. Yellow pincushion is in flower around Christmas and into the new year. Blue Crane finds refuge on the plains and raises chicks. Antelope continue to produce young. Black wildebeest calves and impala lambs are on the plains.
What to wear. Light bush colours for the middle of the day. A warm fleece or padded jacket for the early drive. A wide brim hat, sunscreen and a swimsuit. Insect repellent for summer evenings.
February
Still summer. Heat holds on the plains and the light stays long. Calves and lambs remain part of the picture. Fynbos keeps its summer face.
What to wear. The same summer layers. A light raincoat if a shower passes through. Closed shoes for walks and sandals for the deck.
March
Autumn begins. Fynbos moves into fuller bloom. Look for ericas and bearded proteas. Nomadic nectar feeders such as the Cape sugarbird and orange breasted sunbird return. Many antelope, including impala, go into rutting season and hold territory in noisy disputes.
What to wear. Layers matter more. A fleece for mornings and evenings. Neutral tops and trousers for the drives.
April
Autumn continues. Ericas and proteas hold the colour. Sugarbirds and sunbirds stay busy on the nectar. The male malachite sunbird moults into metallic green plumage through this season.
What to wear. Warm jacket for both drives. A beanie starts to earn its place toward the end of the month.
May
Late autumn. Fynbos bloom continues. Nectar birds remain a feature of the drives.
What to wear. Add a beanie and light gloves for the vehicle from now until September. A windproof outer layer helps when the air turns.
June
Winter. Protea forests are in full bloom. Purple ericas colour the wetland areas. Nectar birds are a strong part of the day. The endemic orange breasted sunbird nests on the reserve at this time. If the lion pride has cubs, they often come out of hiding and guests see them for the first time.
What to wear. Full winter layers. Fleece or puffer, beanie, light gloves, scarf or buff and closed shoes. Days can still open into clear light between the cold drives.
July
Mid winter. Proteas and purple ericas keep the colour. Nectar birds stay on the flowers. Quiet cold mornings suit slow viewing from the vehicle.
What to wear. The same winter kit. Pack for four seasons in a day. Soft layers beat one heavy coat.
August
Late winter. Protea bloom continues. Nectar birds remain. The reserve still holds winter light and winter air on the early drive.
What to wear. Keep the beanie and gloves. A warm jacket stays on the seat beside you even if the day softens later.
September
Spring opens. Sweet thorn acacia begins to flower and draws bees to the bright yellow blooms. September bush opens with bright pink flowers. Gladiolus and other bulbs are in flower. Burchell’s coucal, the rain bird, starts calling. Many sunbirds move to higher ground while summer residents return, including red chested cuckoo, Diderick’s cuckoo, white rumped swifts and European swallows. Reptiles become active. Eland, red hartebeest and gemsbok calve. Young antelope are seen on the reserve.
What to wear. Layers again. Beanie and light gloves still help on the morning drive through September. Antihistamine can help if fynbos pollen troubles you. A light raincoat for passing showers.
October
Spring continues. Flowers, returning migrants and young antelope shape the drives. The air warms through the day while mornings can still bite on an open vehicle.
What to wear. Summer kit returning, with a warm layer kept for both drives. Hat, sunscreen and closed shoes for walks.
November
Early summer. Yellow pincushion comes out in time for Christmas. Blue Crane is on the plains. Antelope continue to produce young.
What to wear. Light clothing for midday, warm jacket for dawn and dusk, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit and insect repellent for the evenings.
December
High summer into the festive stretch. Long light, warm days and calves on the plains. Yellow pincushion is part of the Christmas picture. Blue Crane raises chicks on the reserve.
What to wear. Summer layers as for January. Pack the warm jacket anyway. Southern Cape mornings stay cool on the vehicle.
Good to know
See Seasons on the About Gondwana menu for the same year in four blocks. For the full tick list see What to pack, or download the Safari packing checklist.
Gondwana Game Reserve is about four hours by road from Cape Town and just over an hour from George Airport. The reserve is malaria free.
A conservation fee is charged separately for each stay and goes to a registered conservation fund.
Book through Book Now or write to reservations@gondwanagr.co.za. The lodge line is 044 333 0200.
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