Tanzania
March is generally warm and sunny with the ‘long rains’ starting in the second half of the month – the rain does not last long during the day and game drives are conducted normally in the northern Tanzania game parks. It is a great time for game viewing in northern Tanzania and one of the best times for viewing migratory animals and predators in Ndutu. The vegetation is lush and green. Most tented camps and airstrips in Selous , Katavi, Ruaha, Gombe and Mahale in the southern and western Tanzania are closed from mid March. All the game parks offer excellent bird watching in March including Eurasian migrants, which are present from October to April. At the coast the first half of March is sunny with excellent big game fishing (marlin, barracuda, sailfish, tuna) off Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba.
Mafia Island
Diving season continues and snorkeling is always available. Mafia enjoys flat seas and clear waters. March is great for exploring the mangroves with the paddle boards
March is the beginning of the monsoon season. Humidity builds up, and if the wind stops it can be very calm, warm and sweaty. Divers and water babies enjoy this month since they can stay in and on the water to keep cool and have the dive sites to themselves. Definitely the time to sleep with a fan. Rains usually start in earnest at the end of March
Kilimanjaro & Mt Kenya
Although one can climb throughout the year, March is not one of the best months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro due to rains. During the rainy season from March to May, clouds tend to pile up and over the summit dropping snow on top and rain at the base. The temperature at this time of year is relatively warm.
Uganda
March is the start of the wet season and the number of visitors travelling to Uganda falls. There is still plenty of bird spotting and wildlife opportunities – especially in Kidepo National Park in the north of the country. March is an excellent month to see leopards and the sightings increase.
South Africa
Head to: the Drakensberg Mountains. March is the tail end of the summer rain season and the start of the area’s best hiking season (mid-March to mid-June). This time of year the Drakensberg is at its most green and the waterfalls, because of the rain, are incredibly dramatic. Other beautiful parts for this time of year include the Natal Midlands, the Maluti foothills, and the Garden Route.
Avoid: Northern Kruger Area and private game reserves to the north (Timbavati), because it is still super hot in the far reaches of the country.
Madagascar
March is still rainy season in Madagascar and there may still be a few cyclones and heavy rain at the end of the afternoon and at night and possibly in the evening. Roads to Bekopaka, Belo/mer and Manja are closed because of high level of some rivers and no bridges. Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park is closed. The bush, rice fields and vegetation are very green and trees, plants, cactus and orchids are in flower. With less visitors hotels are empty a little cheaper. Andravona, Andavadoaka and Salary have great weather, lovely warm sea and nice beaches!
Malawi
March is also an exceptional month for birding in Nyika National Park and many migrant birds that fly south of the equator during the northern winters, can now be spotted with ease throughout the park. Many herds of antelope can also be seen in closer proximity to Nyika’s pine forests, as they try to get shelter from the rains.
The rains continue throughout the month and the air is crisp and clear.
Namibia
The afternoon thunderstorms which highlight the traditional February afternoon start drying up leaving the countryside look green and fresh. Omajovas – the omajova season is very short (at most it will last a month) just after the rainy season, these giant mushrooms sprout out of the sides of termite mounds in central and northern Namibia. These mushrooms are a local delicacy and can weigh up to a kilogram. They are handpicked from the termite mounds and sold on the sides of the roads. During the rainy season large herds of plains game can be seen west of Okaukuejo. Rainy season is lambing and calving season in Etosha. Migratory water birds and waders appear at Fischer’s Pan. 10 species of migratory raptors spend their summers in Etosha, including Bateleur and Tawny Eagles.
Zambia
Great time to see one of the world’s biggest yellow billed stork colonies – only accessible by boat. Excellent wild dog month.
We might get rain on 6 days in the whole month, the weather is warm and it’s the perfect time of the year to use your pool as you watch the wildlife go by.
This is a secret month to travel where you can combine driving with boat and walking safaris in South Luangwa.
Zimbabwe
Great for birders, baby animals and good on the pocket too! Whilst January, February and March fall in the rainy season they are still a great time to visit Zimbabwe as many animals give birth and there are lots of babies – The Ngamo Flats in Hwange and the Linkwasha concession are good plances to visit. Gonarezhou National Park and Eastern Highlands are excellent for birding at this time of the year. Waterfowl, cranes and ducks begin to nest. The Falls are in good flow with good visibility.
Republic of Congo
The first rainy season has now started in earnest so expect muddy-roads, humid afternoons and spectacular thunderstorms. Elephants are often encountered near the swamp forests and passing through the savannahs. The Adzobe trees are sprouting new leaves in a brilliant red to contrast with the forest greens. Even though we do not trek gorillas during rain-storms, the rains very rarely hang around for hours upon end giving us time to search for Neptuno or Jupiter drying themselves in the trees.
Bhutan
March marks the end of winter and moving forward to spring and is a good time to visit Bhutan. Temperature during this month range from 22° C and minimum 0.6 – 3.9° C.
March is the beginning of the peak season and the Paro Festival falls in March/April. March is a good time for photography as skies are clear devoid of any fog.
India
Wildlife viewing is great as water bodies shrink. Forests are already thinning out. March is a great time to visit western Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan which are already experiencing warm weather. Beyond March the days will start to get too warm. This is also a great time to visit Kaziranga as monsoon hits the park starting April. In March elephants start migrating from Rajaji Tiger Reserve to Corbett Tiger Reserve.
March is perhaps the last month when weather in the parks is still quite comfortable for safaris. Temperature during this month ranges from 35° C and 20° C and days are usually dry and sunny.
The winter months (Jan-March) are probably the best months to see the Snow Leopard as they descend to lower altitudes. Expeditions are conducted through these months in Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir. After March when the weather starts warming up, the prey base for these animals move to higher ground (above 15,000 ft.) and the snow leopard follows.
Nepal
Wildlife viewing is great as waterbodies shrink and forests are thinning out. It is a good time to visit southern parks in Nepal, specially Chitwan and Bardiya. March daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 33°C with night temperature down to around 17°c. March to early June are hot months with temperatures rising progressively to a peak in May. South – westerly winds prevail, and relative humidity is lowest in March.
Indian Pitta, Paradise Fly catcher, hill mayan, Thrush, Minivet, cuckoo, Parakeet are some of the major birds that can be seen during the safaris.
Sri Lanka
Migrant bird species start to leave Sri Lanka during March particularly towards the latter part of the month. Mannar would still be good for waterfowl and waders; Yala, Bundala, Wilpattu and Uda Walawe in dry zone for a large number of migrants and resident species. Sightings of endemics are very good as the nesting season also begins. Less leeches in Sinharaja, Kithulgala and central highlands as conditions begin to dry out.
During the past few years blue whale sightings have declined in March although a few individuals remain. Trincomalee season begins during March where sightings may also be possible. Chance encounters may be possible off Kalpitiya if heading further away from the Dolphin line. The last week of March has produced sightings of sperm whales’ pods numbering 30+ individuals in the past few years. Sightings of super pods of sperm whales numbering 30+ individuals has been recorded off Trincomalee during March. March is a good time to snorkel with black tip reef sharks and turtles.
Elephants can be seen in Hurulu Forest Reserve near Habarana. Access to Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks could be possible, but it depends on the water levels in the reservoirs. Udawalawe would be the better option for Elephant watching during this season although encounter rates in Yala (where sightings cannot be guaranteed) are still good.
In March Yala may provide more leopard sightings but it could be very crowded due to heavy traffic. So, best option would be to use accommodation from Katagamuwa entrance to avoid queues at the Palatupana gate. Water levels at villus will start to decline in Wilpattu and leopard sightings should be on the rise.
Seychelles
March, April and May tend to be the hottest months in the Seychelles and some of the best times to visit. The temperature in March average about 31 celsius. The seas are still nice and calm making for great snorkling, diving, fishing and island hoping between the 115 islands.
January to March is the peak hatching period for Hawksbill turtles which are still coming up to nest. The turtles and hatchlings can be more easily spotted on the outer islands which are heavily involved in conservation.
Maldives
Temperature between 27-31 degrees Celsius approximately with moderate winds / breeze, generally calm waters
Chance of Rain is slightly more across the country
Wildlife to be spotted: Turtles / Dolphin / Reef Sharks / Eagle-Sting Ray / Manta season almost beginning along with Whale Sharks as well
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