History

22 October
Sun Festival, Abu Simbel, Egypt
Be one of the privileged few to witness the sun’s first rays piercing the inner sanctum of Abu Simbel, lighting up the statues of the gods Amun-Ra, Ra-Herakhte and Ramses. Fittingly, the adjacent statue of Ptah (the god of darkness) is never illuminated. A feat of ancient engineering ensured this phenomenon occurred only on 21 February (the alleged date of Ramses II’s coronation) and 21 October (Ramses II’s supposed birthday). The painstaking UNESCO project to relocate Ramses II’s greatest monument in 1972 has led to both the Sun Festivals taking place here a day later, on the 22nd day of the respective months.

Culture

Late December
Incwala ceremony, Swaziland
Swaziland’s most sacred ceremony, which celebrates the beginning of the harvest, commences on the first night of a full moon and lasts six days. There are rituals of admiration of the king, thanksgiving, prayer and penitence, not to mention plenty of singing and dancing. As an integral part of the festivities, King Mswati III will taste the first fruits of the season, and thus grant the population the right to consume his harvest. Bring a brolly – showers should follow the offerings to the rain gods! 

Activity

October-December
Trekking, Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
In the months following the Ethiopian highlands’ rainy season, the slopes and plateaus of the Simien Mountains are lush and green and covered with wild flowers. There is no better time to strap on your hiking boots and explore this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Music

15-18 October
Lake of Stars, Malawi
This award-winning music festival takes place on the shores of Lake Malawi. Attracting talent from across the globe, it aims to promote Malawian music and tourism while also raising funds for local causes (all acts perform for free) and providing travellers and Malawians alike with the opportunity to enjoy incredible live music in an unforgettable setting.
www.lakeofstars.org

Wildlife

Late October-December
Fruit bat migration, Kasanka National Park, Zambia
Featuring some eight million straw-coloured fruit bats, many with wingspans close to a metre wide, this is one of Africa’s largest mammal migrations. The masses start to arrive in late October, with the full contingent on hand from mid-November until the end of the year. Climb into a lofty tree hide before sunset and take in the spectacle. During the day, there’s plenty of wildlife on ground level to keep you pleasantly occupied.