What to Expect
| Weather | Our summer (October to March) is usually hot and wet, with a rainfall of around 400 – 550 mm. The winter months of April to September tend to be a little cooler, but still warm, and dry. |
| Temperature | Daytime temperatures in summer (October to March) are high and may soar above 36°C/ 97°F. Winter (May to August) is known to produce beautiful warm days, though the evenings and early mornings can be very chilly. |
| Best time to travel | Game viewing at Kwandwe is excellent year round. |
| Altitude | 250 – 490m/ 820-1574ft above sea level. |
| Vegetation | Kwandwe’s vast landscape is affected by the ocean, with south-facing slopes capturing moisture from the sea breezes, resulting in denser or taller vegetation and brightly coloured lichens. In contrast, the north-facing slopes tend to be drier and more open and feature striking aloes, which flower in spectacular profusion during the winter months (June to August). Forest-like thickets of tree euphorbia grow on the steep, south-facing slopes. These spiny plants are immune to destruction from most animal species (except the black rhino) thanks to the poisonous milky latex they exude. |
| Airstrip | Kwandwe has a 2.1 km Category 3 tarred runway. GPS Coordinates are available on request. |
| Malaria | This is a malaria free reserve. |
What to pack
While basics like sunscreen, batteries and an extensive range of branded safari wear can be bought from our Safari Shop, we would recommend you bring the following:
| Clothing | For hot summer months, we recommend light cotton trousers and shorts, light cotton shirts (long and short sleeved), comfortable walking shoes, sandals, shower-proof rain jacket / windbreaker, good sun hat, fleece, bathing suit. For winter, pack an extra warm jacket, woollen hat, a scarf and gloves. At all times of year, please bring neutral-coloured clothing and avoid anything light and bright. |
| Other | Insect repellent, a small torch, suntan lotion, sunglasses, camera (telephoto lens recommended), and books or a Kindle for siesta time. |
Travel documents
South African regulation requires children under the age of 18 to possess an unabridged birth certificate and for visa applications to be made in person; please enquire at your local South African embassy for more detailed information.