Travelling in January

January is high summer in South Africa; from Cape Town through the gorgeous winelands all the way along the scenic Garden Route. The perfect antidote to a northern hemisphere winter.

January is in the middle of Patagonia’s summer, so although there is still snow on the peaks, it’s an unbeatable time for hiking. Trek mountain trails, cross a glacier on foot, and kayak on lakes and rivers whilst admiring pristine landscapes.

The 'green season' brings great value for money and fewer travellers. African showers turn the landscape into a tapestry of green. Herds of birthing plains game are followed by predators provide action packed safaris, and the birding is excellent.

The world’s least explored continent must be seen from every angle. In January the sun barely sets, so it’s the ideal time to sail beside whale, walk through penguin colonies on the beaches, and witness the mighty albatross soar.

Hundreds of thousands of zebra gather on the Serengeti’s short grass plains ready to act as a giant lawnmower, eating the longer tough grasses before the million following wildebeest.

January is our favourite time to visit Costa Rica, as you can combine the natural treasures of the rainforest with the laidback delights of the beach. Temperatures are warm and there’s little rain on the Pacific coast.

If you’re a keen birder, you’ll already know that Uganda is one of East Africa’s birding hotspot with more than 1,030 recorded species. Visit in January to see shoebill, green breasted pitta, African green broadbill, and more.

Volcanic Easter Island is famed for its mysterious moai, but there’s far more to the island than the stone heads. In January you can hike, bike, and even scuba dive on the coral reef. There’s even a moai under the sea!

Your best chance of encountering the elusive snow leopard is in Ladakh, in the Indian Himalayas.The best time is during the winter months, from January to March, when it is truly a winter wonderland and the cats are found hunting on the lower slopes.

Make the most of the wet season in Zambia by taking to the water. Kayaking on the Zambezi, the Kafue, or the Luangwa Rivers in the early morning is the best way to see birds, and nothing is more romantic than a river boat cruise as the sun goes down.

Start the year with some family time, getting to know your closest primate relatives better! The mountain gorilla are the biggest draw in Uganda and Rwanda, but we also adore watching the more active chimpanzee, who build their nests high in the trees.

In January the Great Migration - the world’s most spectacular movement of animals - settles in the plains of the southern Serengeti. Travel now to Tanzania to see the herds of zebra and wildebeest, and the predators following in their wake.