Seasons

Gondwana Game Reserve changes with the year. Fynbos, birds and wildlife each take their turn. Whatever the weather, a Cape safari holds its own kind of magic.

November to February. Yellow pincushion comes out in time for Christmas. Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird, finds refuge on Gondwana and raises chicks on the plains. Antelope continue to produce young. Black wildebeest calves and impala lambs are abundant.

March to May. Fynbos is in full bloom. Look for ericas and bearded proteas. Nomadic nectar feeders such as the Cape sugarbird and orange breasted sunbird return. The male malachite sunbird moults into metallic green plumage. Many antelope, including impala, go into rutting season and hold territory in noisy disputes.

June to August. Protea forests are in full bloom. Purple ericas colour the wetland areas. Nectar birds are abundant. 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.

September to October. 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 and many young are seen on the reserve.