Peak and off-peak Africa travel, also known as the high and the low safari season, suit different types of travellers, for various reasons. Some travellers, especially those coming to Africa for the very first time, like to have a trip that plays by the travel book: the weather is just right for a safari, dry and clear, the wildlife can be seen more readily, near waterholes and riverbeds, and the lodges are just full enough that stories can be shared during lively dinners around a boma. Other travellers, and I fall firmly into the second category, prefer not to go by the book. Travelling during what is called the off-peak season gives a completely off-script experience: the weather is hot and balmy, with spectacular thunderstorms and sudden rain showers, the bush is green and full of wildflowers and intense scents, and the wildlife is still visible, only now you need to have a little more patience to see them. The truth is that, no matter how much marketing you read about “the peak season” or the “best time to travel to Africa”, there is no best time, really. Africa is huge, and the best time to visit one destination might be the worst time in another. It is a continent that is beautiful year-round, and you have to pick your timing according to the experience you hope to have.