Produced by Virtuoso with Micato Safaris
January 16, 2026

Fewer travelers, baby wildebeests, and more.

Across East Africa, each season carries its own rhythm. Between November and March, that tempo slows into what Micato Safaris calls the “quiet season.” The plains turn lush and green, temperatures are mild, and baby animals are plentiful. It’s not quiet because there’s less to see – there are just fewer crowds around. Low traveler numbers (with the exception of the holidays, which are always in high demand) translate to fewer game-drive vehicles in the bush, clearing the way for intimate moments to witness wildlife and the beauty of calving season.

“It’s a big misconception that quiet season means less wildlife or bad weather,” says Virtuoso travel advisor Susan Morley, who specializes in planning safari travel. “In November, for example, the rains are usually short. On my last trip, we had maybe ten minutes of showers, followed by clear views of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.” 

Quiet season’s freedom gives Micato’s safari directors – expert local guides who join every Micato departure – more flexibility to make game drives extra special, lingering near popular water holes and other wildlife gathering spots in the Maasai Mara without other vehicles clamoring nearby. Fewer travelers also means more space to unwind at some of the continent’s best camps and lodges.

Micato Safaris has refined its approach to the quiet season over decades (the company celebrates its 60th anniversary this year), combining long-standing relationships across Africa with in-depth itineraries designed to maximize time on the ground. For solitude on the horizon – and the best accommodations and experiences before they’re booked for next year’s quiet season – now’s the time to start planning. 

Take in the Serengeti from above.Micato Safaris

Small-Group Safaris with Big Adventure 

This year, Micato Safaris debuts three new classic group safaris (trips for up to 18 travelers with predetermined departure dates), including a sweeping, 15-day loop through Kenya and Tanzania’s greatest reserves: Tsavo, Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. The trip’s quiet season departures promise a slower pace, opportunities to spy baby wildebeests in open country, and overnights in some of Africa’s most exclusive lodges, including Kenya’s 12-room Mahali Mzuri and the 45-room Hemingways Nairobi. 

The journey begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s culturally rich capital city, with a visit to the Giraffe Centre to hand-feed a few of the world’s tallest animals (and learn about endangered Rothschild’s giraffes), followed by a private tour of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen’s former farmhouse and gardens. Over the next eight days travelers head into the bush, where their safari director guides daily game drives in Tsavo National Park, the Maasai Mara, and the Serengeti. One of many highlights: a hot-air balloon excursion over the Serengeti, followed by breakfast in the bush. Departures: Multiple dates, January 29 through December 31.

Safari vehicles feature overhead roof hatches for a better view of Africa’s giants.Micato Safaris

How to Make Your Safari Private

For those who prefer grand landscapes on a more relaxed scale, Micato Safaris’ Private Classic trips turn the company’s celebrated group departures into private journeys. Whether it’s a 15-day circuit in Kenya and Tanzania inspired by legendary journeys from the twentieth century (such as Teddy Roosevelt’s 1909 safari) or a 13-day adventure through East Africa’s most famous reserves, families and friends traveling together have a game-drive vehicle and safari director to themselves, creating flexibility for an impromptu picnic in Tsavo, an extra-early wake-up call to catch first light over the Serengeti, or even an unforgettable sunset wedding ceremony.

“My team worked tirelessly with me to pull off a beautiful, intimate wedding,” says Micato safari director Brian Nel, who coordinated a surprise elopement for a couple traveling privately. “The reveal came when the couple got back to their room after a day on safari, and all the wedding dress options were laid out in their suite for the bride-to-be to choose from.”

While Private Classic departures are available year-round, quiet season safaris yield an unhurried atmosphere that matches the closeness of the journey, as travel mates spy herds of elephants in the afternoon grazing on soft grass made green by rain.

“People are often surprised by how much wildlife they see outside of peak season,” Morley says. “The animals are always there, and what you gain during the quiet season is time.”

Every safari director has an average of ten years of experience in the bush.Micato Safaris

Micato Safaris’ Difference Makers

Since 1966, Micato Safaris has operated in a league of its own, forging genuine connections and giving back across Africa. (The tour operator won a Virtuoso Sustainability award in 2025 for its education initiatives in Kenya.) But the real highlight of a Micato trip is the outfitter’s safari directors – local guides best described as part naturalist, part storyteller, and part magic maker – who join every group, private, and bespoke journey.

Unlike many other safari outfitters that provide travelers with different guides at each destination, Micato’s safari directors remain with travelers throughout their entire trip. They manage cross-country (and cross-reserve) logistics; handle luggage transfers; coordinate with lodge teams about accommodations, dietary needs, and special requests; and serve as a consistent, reliable point of contact – always keeping the journey of a lifetime smooth.

“My philosophy is that no request is too great or too small,” says safari director George Kamonde, who recently arranged for a fitness-enthusiast traveler to join Maasai guides for early-morning runs in the bush, a mountain bike ride in Nairobi’s Karura Forest, and a hike in Kenya’s Chyulu Hills. For the trip, Kamonde coordinated with lodges to ensure access to fitness facilities and equipment. One example: “If yoga mats weren’t there,” he says, “I had them brought in.” 

The safari director’s top priority? Letting travelers focus on the experience instead of logistics. As Morley puts it: “All you have to do is show up and enjoy Africa.”