Animals in the United States

Strictly Star Craig Revel Horwood Visits The Wildebeest

A Strictly Come Dancing star enjoyed a meal with his family at an award-winning restaurant in Norfolk.

Craig Revel Horwood shared a photo to his Instagram of the evening out at The Wildebeest in Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich.

The 59-year-old visited on Tuesday night and ordered off the à la carte menu which includes pan-roasted halibut, buttered lobster and Blythburgh pork fillet.

Craig Revel Horwood with the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire) In the Instagram caption, he said: "What a fab-u-lous dinner with the godchildren in their beautiful new home county of Norfolk. Thanks to The Wildebeest for the amazing food."

The restaurant was bumped up from two to three rosettes at the AA Hospitality Awards ceremony held on September 25 in London and presented by Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman.

Revel Horwood returned to Strictly this autumn for its 20th series where he will be judging the likes of Wynne Evans, Toyah Willcox and Sarah Hadland.

The choreographer and theatre director is the only judge to have appeared in every series of the show since it launched on BBC One in 2004. 

Migration Marvels: 5 Wildlife Journeys For Your Travel Bucket List

Go on a 9-night Tanzania Migration Safari to see the legendary Great Migration, which is when millions of wildebeest and zebra move annually across the Serengeti in search of water and food.

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Looking for a unique travel experience that is truly out of the ordinary and will provide a lifetime of memories? Discover some of the most beautiful places on earth as you go on a journey to witness a handful of the world's most spectacular wildlife migrations that offer an unparalleled opportunity to connect with nature and experience different cultures. From the great migrations of wildebeest across the Serengeti, to the breathtaking journey of monarch butterflies in Mexico, these are five wilderness migrations worth traveling for.

In Mexico's Central Highlands one of the planet's most spellbinding wildlife events unfolds: the yearly migration of the monarch butterfly. Natural

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Mexico Highlands: Watch the Annual Monarch Butterfly Migration (January, March & December)

In Mexico's Central Highlands one of the planet's most spellbinding wildlife events unfolds: the yearly migration of the monarch butterfly. Natural Habitat Adventure's Kingdom of the Monarchs is an amazing 6-day tour that takes you on a journey to a secluded mountaintop forest to spot myriad monarch butterflies taking to the skies in a mesmerizing spectacle (they have even been known to land on lucky onlookers). The exclusive group tour also lets participants explore the incredible culture of Mexico's mountain villages as you discover traditional communities and local markets.

In Africa: Chase the Great Migration (June-March)

Go on a 9-night Tanzania Migration Safari to see the legendary Great Migration, which is when millions of wildebeest and zebra move annually across the Serengeti in search of water and food. Unforgettable Travel Company's tour experts offer a wealth of insights on the region and will create a custom itinerary that allows for plenty of intimate wildlife encounters and travel to unforgettable UNESCO sites, such as Zanzibar's Stone Town. This tour includes a stay in a luxury tented camp in the northern Serengeti.

In Moab, Utah: See Moab's Bats in Action (August-October)

Utah's famous bat migrations, especially around Moab, happen yearly from August to October as bats make their way from their summer feeding to their winter hibernation homes. The Moab Resort, WorldMark Associate, in partnership with Bat Conservation International, offers some engaging family-friendly programming to teach guests about these fascinating, if often misunderstood and unfairly maligned, creatures. Events include bat boxes placed throughout the resort, bat-themed coloring books and more. Guests get the opportunity to watch bats at dusk and learn about the pivotal role they play in our environment.

Who could resist watching baby sea turtles escape their shells and bravely make their way to the sea.

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In Jamaica: Watch Baby Turtles Make Their Race to the Water (July-December)

Who could resist watching baby sea turtles escape their shells and bravely make their way to the sea. Guests staying at Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Royal Plantation or Sandals Ochi can book the Turtle Watching Experience through Island Routes, with proceeds benefiting the Oracabessa Foundation and its impressive turtle conservation efforts. Island Routes, the Sandals Foundation and local turtle conservation authorities have collectively come together to help protect and monitor baby turtles and do all they can to ensure they reach the water safely.

From LA to La Paz: Experience Baja's Fall Migration (November-December)

Baja, California, is an ideal destination to observe the fall migration of wildlife, including humpback whales and a variety of seabirds. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers a 12-day journey from Los Angeles to La Paz where you can snorkel with vibrant marine life and explore incredible landscapes. The journey features highlights, such as the Channel Islands, Mexico's Wine Country and the abundant birdlife of the Pacific Flyway. With expert guides and a focus on community engagement, this adventure is a wonderful way to experience Baja's natural beauty. It's a perfect trip for nature enthusiasts.

The Best Time To Go On Safari Is Not When You'd Expect

Viral images of traffic jams in the Serengeti offer the impression that there are too many tourists in Africa's wild places. But looks can be deceiving. The issue isn't the number of overall visitors: It's the fact that too many people go on safari to the same places at the same time, whether that's Botswana's Okavango Delta during its flood or during East Africa's seasonal Great Migration of wildebeest, which cross the Mara River at the risk of becoming a crocodile's lunch.

Seasoned safarigoers know traveling outside of peak times yields far fewer crowds but equally compelling wildlife experiences. While you'll need to watch the weather, traveling off-peak also translates into lower nightly rates and better availability at top camps and lodges.

We've put together a region-by-region guide to off-peak safaris in sub-Saharan Africa's most popular destinations. With a little careful planning, you can experience these wild spaces while often having them practically all to yourself.

Kenya and Tanzania

A bedroom at Nyasi Tented Camp in Tanzania's Serengeti

Courtesy of Nyasi Tented Camp

July to October is peak season in the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. During this period, the rains draw the Great Migration, millions of wildebeest along with zebra and Thomson's gazelles roaming in search of fresh grazing. While herd crossings through the crocodile-rich Mara River are dramatic, travelers pay much higher prices and are likely to run into hordes of vehicles vying for the best vantage points along the river.

When to travel off-peak

The migration is cyclical, and the herds generally follow the rains clockwise through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve. In November, the herds leave and so do the tourists. Until June, visitors will have quieter viewings of the northern Serengeti's glorious landscapes and abundant wildlife, including coppery topi, defassa waterbuck, and smaller herds of resident wildebeest. But try to avoid April and May, when the long rains make game drives more difficult.

"The migratory bird movement is also a major highlight during the low season," says Gina Ferguson of safari travel specialist Roar Africa. "Many species of birds migrate to East Africa during this time, including the endangered lesser flamingo."

Also expect to pay considerably less by avoiding the peak of the migration. "During the green season, prices drop significantly," notes Hagai Zvulun, founder of Tanzania's Entara Lodges & Camps. "You can save between 20 and 40 percent on overall safari costs by booking outside the peak season."

Or head south. While you won't see the famous Mara River crossings, discovering the migration as it moves into southern Tanzania from December to January is a remarkable experience. From February to March, the calving season begins, with the abundance of young antelope drawing numerous predators. Calving soon gives way to rutting, which sparks plenty of mating battles between males competing for females.

The heart of the action is on the Ndutu Plains, where Legendary Expeditions runs the charming Nyasi Tented Camp, nine suites under canvas with double beds, private loungers, and en-suite bathrooms. At Nyasi, exclusive-use vehicles come standard, allowing you to set the pace of your safari. Remember that temperatures in February and March can be hot (84°F and above during the day), with a higher likelihood of rain as you head toward March/April.

Botswana

Jack's Camp is an iconic retreat in Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pans.

Courtesy of Natural Selection

June through September is Botswana's busiest season for tourists. During this time, the Okavango Delta is in the middle of its seasonal flooding, bringing abundant wildlife with it, while the dry days of winter drive wildlife to the Chobe River up north. Although there isn't a great migration event to concentrate crowds into specific areas of the delta, prices spike and availability dries up.

When to travel off-peak

Peak season in the Okavango Delta is all about witnessing the floods, but by visiting the Okavango Delta from March to May, when the vegetation is still green from summer rains and the floods begin to trickle south from Angola, you can still enjoy excellent game viewing but with gentler prices. Head for camps near the delta's northwestern panhandle, like Natural Selection's North Island Okavango, a contemporary feeling four-suite camp, if you want to ensure water activities such as mokoro (canoe) trips down hippo channels and speedboat safaris.

Another benefit of traveling in the green season is that "the wildlife are all having their babies, so it's a superb time to see the young ones being born," says Daniella Ponter, founder of Vancouver-based Sikeleli Travel & Expeditions. And while game viewing takes a little extra work when the landscape is green, the rainy season from "September to March is the most spectacular time of year for birding in Botswana," she says.

Visit the Makgadikgadi Pans—the iconic Jack's Camp was fully rebuilt in 2021 in February and March to marvel at the annual zebra migration. It's the longest mammal migration in Africa, with thousands of zebra arriving from Chobe and the Okavango Delta and plentiful predators in tow.

South Africa

Guests of andBeyond view a lion in South Africa's Sabi Sand game reserve.

Peak season in South Africa is driven as much by the Northern Hemisphere summer holidays as it is by the climate. July to September is the high season in the Lowveld and in Kruger National Park, and it coincides with the dry months of winter. Less vegetation means easier game-viewing, and animals are drawn to the waterholes, occasionally delivering thrilling predator encounters.

When to travel off-peak

The Southern Hemisphere summer months (November to March) bring dramatic afternoon thunderstorms and short, sharp downpours that wash the dust from the air and turn the bushveld into a green canvas. They also spark the arrival of myriad migratory bird species. From November the trill of woodland kingfishers is the soundtrack to any safari in the Kruger National Park and adjoining private reserves.

The green season in South Africa has "plenty of exciting and possibly unexpected benefits," adds Daryl Dell, an experienced private guide and travel specialist with andBeyond, which has just reopened Ngala Tented Camp after a major rebuild. "There is a much higher chance of seeing young animals like zebra foals, wildebeest calves, and impala lambs . . . [and the] gorgeous greens of summer provide guests a real understanding of what the bush looks like in full flourish. You can identify more of the tree and plant species. It really helps to show off the diversity of the Lowveld."

Keep a close watch on the heat and humidity, as temperatures often spike above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Opt for the early-morning game drives and find a shady pool lounger in the heat of the day.

Zimbabwe

A guest room at Wilderness Chikwenya Camp in Zimbabwe

The dry days of winter (June to September) are peak months in Zimbabwe (and much of Zambia), again coinciding with the Northern Hemisphere holidays. It's also the best time to spot game because the vegetation is sparse and wildlife is drawn to the waterholes. If you want to see Hwange's famous elephants, dry season is the best.

When to travel off-peak

In Mana Pools National Park, where people go for magnificent wildlife sightings framed by the wide Zambezi River, the shoulder season in September and October brings warmer days, the chance of dramatic afternoon thunderstorms that clear the dust and create spectacular sunsets, and the best fishing for tiger fish in the Lower Zambezi River. In late September, the Albida forests surrounding Wilderness Chikwenya Camp are full of nutritious seed pods, attracting herds of hungry elephants, baboons, and eland quarreling over the tasty pods. Remember that many camps in the area close from November to April, when the rains make roads impassable.

Hwange National Park is the largest (and oldest) national park in Zimbabwe, famous for its huge elephant herds and large prides of lions. Camps here are usually open year-round, and summer rains turn the Ngamo Plains into "a mini-Serengeti" of wide grasslands dotted with a diversity of species, says Graham Simmonds, operations and trade manager for Wilderness Zambezi. "Many animals give birth during this time so there will always be sightings of baby animals [and] it's possible to see many migrant bird species as well."

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