Are you sitting down? We're about to blow the whistle on some truly classified safari information, infiltrating the inner sanctum of the khaki-clad illuminati to bring you a jaw-dropping truth - summertime in Southern Africa is a really good time to go on safari! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to book a safari in this amazing, secret season and have a flippen amazing experience... This blog will self-destruct in five seconds...

If you don't believe us, just ask that super secret agent Tom Cruise. He spent an extended summer stay in Hoedspruit in the heart of South Africa's Greater Kruger filming the final instalment of Mission: Impossible. Did he have a good time? You bet. Did he die of heatstroke? Nope. Was he blown away by how awesome the "green" season is? Abso-freaking-lutely. 

Here in the deep South, summer's called the green or emerald season for a good reason - because everything that can turn green does so, thanks to the arrival of the rains and the warmth of the sun, creating fabulous conditions for all forms of life to positively thrive. 

In safari parlance it's the secret season because for some reason very few people think going on safari in Africa at this time of year is a good idea. They think it's going to be too hot, too humid, too full of insects, too rainy and stormy, too hard to find game... The secret is that they couldn't be more wrong to avoid Africa in the summertime... Here's why...

The livin' really is easy...

Yup. It's not just the fish that are jumpin' in the summertime here. Everything's full of beans, from the myriad baby animals born at this time of year to the predators snacking on them with almost gay abandon! The sky is full of feathered things with incredible summer migrant bird species flaunting their best, breeding plumage and partying day and night with raucous calls. The frogs, crickets and cicadas vie for first place in the "loudest creature in Africa" competition and the bush turns into a dense jungle of every shade of green imaginable. 

Here in Southern Africa summer officially starts on 1 December and (again, officially) lasts till March. In truth, though, as soon as it rains the secret season begins as the first storms of the season quickly transform the dry and dusty wilderness into a verdant paradise filled with food for everyone. We always hope the rains will bless us in October, when the mercury starts to rise alarmingly and it feels like the land is going to break because it's so freakishly parched. Whenever they come, the change the rains bring is drastic and truly a privilege to behold.

While summer officially ends as February gives up the ghost, you won't notice much difference when autumn kicks in as March and sometimes even April are still prone to spectacular storms and wonderful downpours and the bush still looks absolutely amazing, with the grasses at their highest and the beauty at its best.

Beauty and the beasts...

Summer is hands down the most beautiful time of year and you will never appreciate wild Africa as much as you do when it's in all its gorgeous green glory. Everything that can flower does and everything that can push out leaves does so in extremis. Things grow everywhere and no matter where you look the landscapes are simply breathtaking and filled with abundance.

Because of the amount of good, green food the rains produce, the herbivore species explode at this time of year, giving birth en masse to their babies and making the most of the time of plenty. Impala, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs... You name it and there's going to be a mini-me of some description following it and forming creches of cuteness at every turn. 

Even the little critters like the dwarf mongooses let loose their little ones during the height of the summer, and the birds are just off the charts with their breeding colours at full mast and hatchlings in every nest. 

This means that things of tooth and claw that eat things that eat greens are also in bonanza mode. Summertime is an all-you-can-eat buffet for predators making for some truly spectacular sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah and painted wolves, as well as hyena, caracal, serval and wild cats... 

So... What are the challenges of being on safari in the secret season?

Turning up the heat...

Yes. It gets hot at this time of year. And as soon as it rains the humidity levels increase, but honestly, it's not that bad. Your body adjusts to the conditions and as long as you up your fluid intake and stay out of the sun as much as you can, always wearing a hat when you're in it, you'll be fine. 

All of the lodges and camps we work with are built to avoid the heat with lots of shady nooks and crannies available, wonderful ventilation and refreshing swimming and plunge pools. A few even have air-conditioning! Or at least cooling systems and fans. 

Most of the open safari vehicles have canopies on at this time of year too, so you're not going to be gasping as exposed thighs meet hot seats. For those that don't - just cover up buttercup. Lightweight long-sleeved shirts or cotton sarongs that can be used as coveralls keep you cool, as do soft scarves soaked in ice-cold water and draped around your neck. 

If you dress accordingly and don't run around like a mad thing in the midday sun, summer in the African wilderness can actually be fan-bloody-tastic. You are going to sweat. You are going to get sticky. But the rewards of being in the bush outweigh whatever slight discomfort you may encounter.

Many legged, winged things...

Summertime is bug time. Fact. Especially after dark when things with legs and wings are attracted to outdoor lights. But strategically placed citronella and other bug-busting oil-based lamps and candles do keep them at bay so that you're not fishing crunchy things out of your dinner. 

For things that bite, like mosquitoes, then insect repellants are the way to go. They can be sprays, roll-on type sticks or wristbands and they are very effective at keeping the little buggers at bay! Of course, we recommend anti-malarials at this time of year as you can never be too careful and wherever there's water, there's mozzies. So as soon as it rains, the biting begins!

There's a lot of other insects that fly but other than looking a bit evil here and there are totally harmless, so we like to encourage our guests to adopt a "wow, that's an interesting looking bug" approach to the secret season and enjoy learning about the amazing selection the insect kingdom provides!

You may encounter some eight-legged freaks and multi-legged weirdos too. Spiders are very active in the summer months, as are scorpions and solifuges and this is the time of year you'll see our dear shongololos in action - the large, black millipedes that look like small trains crossing the roads. Centipedes are the shongololo's flatter, uglier cousins and come out mostly at night.

If you really have a problem and are petrified of bugs, and know for a fact that learning all about them is not going to chase the heebie-jeebies away, then perhaps the secret season is not the best choice. But if you are open to embracing all facets of the wilderness then this is most definitely the time of year to be on safari. 

Wet, wet, wet... 

Make no bones about it, the secret season is the wet season. Which means rain, hopefully in biblical proportions. We love rain because here in Southern Africa water is in short supply. And precious. So we're never happier than when the storm clouds are brewing and you can smell the rain on its way. 

From a safari point of view, you'll most likely experience the magic of an African storm if you come and visit during the summer. It's a spectacular thing to behold and the downpours it brings are truly incredible, but - and here's the thing - it doesn't rain ALL the time. Which means safaris are not just possible but absolutely phenomenal because of the transformative effect rain has on everything wild.

You will probably need a lightweight rain jacket, but all of the camps and lodges we work with have ponchos on their game drive vehicles and umbrellas  on hand. And you won't mind getting wet because it doesn't get cold. In fact, we'll place a bet on you dancing in the African rain if you get the chance, that's how magical is it.

So there you have it. The secret's out now. All that's left for you to do is give us a shout and get the planning for your summer safari under way.