Seasonal Safaris from Coast to Zambezi

From turtle hatchlings to rare bird sightings, Isibindi’s sister lodges offer two ecosystems and a single summer itinerary through Southern Africa, best seen between November and February.

While much of the northern hemisphere heads indoors for winter, summer in Southern Africa brings wildlife to life. From the Indian Ocean to the Zambezi River, two Isibindi Africa lodges unlock seasonal sightings few travellers ever encounter, best experienced from November to April.

At Thonga Beach Lodge, set on a remote stretch of northern KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a World Heritage coastline), turtle season arrives with the summer rains. Each night, loggerhead and leatherback turtles crawl ashore to nest along the protected beaches. From January, tiny hatchlings begin their dash to the sea. Guests can join guided drives and low-tide beach walks to witness nesting females digging their egg chambers and laying under starlight, and hatchlings dashing into the warm Indian Ocean waters for the very first time. With the rains come reef sightings too: guests may spot pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins that frequent the coast year-round. Ocean safari boat trips from the lodge offer front-row views of this marine spectacle.

As rainfall returns, Thonga’s surrounding forests and wetlands explode with birdlife. More than 520 species have been recorded here, and the summer months mark peak activity. Guided birding walks and game drives reveal a vast cross-section of coastal species drawn to iSimangaliso’s diverse wetland habitats. Sightings might include European rollers, broad-billed rollers, bee-eaters, warblers, and other Palearctic migrants who arrive in full breeding plumage, joining flamingos, pelicans, cuckoos and herons in the forest edges.

Meanwhile, 1,000km inland, the Zambezi comes alive at Tsowa Safari Island. The lodge sits on a private island in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park, surrounded by floodplains, riverine forest and woodland. Summer is prime birding season here too. There are over 400 species recorded, including African finfoot, Schalow’s turaco, Pel’s fishing owl and returning migrants such as pratincoles and pygmy geese. Raptors and kingfishers breed along the riverbanks, and early morning birders will often sight kingfishers, warblers, and bee-eaters.

December also marks the start of calving season across the park. Guided game drives reveal newborn impala, giraffe calves, and zebra foals on the plains, with predators frequently on the move, following the seasonal influx of newborns. Elephants and buffalo gather in family herds along the water’s edge, while hippos and Nile crocodiles bask on sandbanks and shallows. Canoe safaris and sunset river cruises offer intimate ways to explore the park’s green-season pulse.

Together, Thonga Beach Lodge and Tsowa Safari Island form an unforgettable and under-the-radar seasonal safari route. Both are part of Isibindi Africa Lodges, a family-owned conservation brand known for low-impact design and deep community ties. For travellers chasing something different this summer, now is the time to go.