When to Go to Africa

When planning your African safari or holiday, it is prudent to research the optimal time experience you seek. You do not want to commence your beach holiday during cyclone season or discover that the migrating herds you intended to see have already moved on. Generally, Africa warm and sunny throughout the year. However, certain countries, and even regions those countries, experience a variety climates.

Best Time to Visit Southern Africa

Choosing the best time to visit Southern Africa depends entirely on what you want to see and do:

Game Viewing

The dry season in Southern Africa typically runs from May to October. During this period, game viewing is at its best in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia (with Namibia being a great destination year-round). As the season progresses into the hotter, drier months, animals congregate around the few remaining waterholes, trees shed their leaves, and vegetation becomes sparse. These conditions make it significantly easier to spot wildlife. While nights can be chilly during mid-winter, daytime temperatures remain mild, and the risk of malaria is at its lowest. The wet season spans from December to March. This is a hot and sometimes humid period, marked by brief but intense bursts of rain. The Southern African landscape is lush and green, offering exceptional birdwatching opportunities. Many animals give birth during this time, providing a unique game viewing experience, especially as predators often seize the opportunity for an easy kill.

Beach Holidays

A Cape Town beach holiday is ideal during peak summer from December to February. Expect bustling, vibrant nightlife, gloriously sunny cheer. By March, most visitors head home, resulting in better rates and uncrowded beaches until April. It is also considered the best time for a honeymoon in Africa. The best time to visit Mozambique is from to, when temperatures are pleasant and there is chance of rain. February is cyclone season in Mozambique; travel during this time is not recommended.

Best Time to Visit East Africa

The seasons in East Africa are more complex and deciding when to go depends on what type of safari experience you want to plan.

General Game Viewing and the Wildebeest Migration

Most safari areas in East Africa offer warm days, cool evenings, and excellent game viewing throughout the year. However, it’s important to note the region’s two distinct rainy seasons:

• April to May (the ‘long rains’)
• November to December (the ‘short rains’)

During the long rains, tropical downpours often occur in the afternoons, and many safari camps close. In contrast, the short rains season sees occasional brief showers, but safari camps remain open, and game viewing remains good. The best times to visit most Kenya safari destinations and major Tanzania safari areas are from January to the end of March and June to October, when the climate is mild and dry. However, a safari during the short rainy season (November to December) can still be a great option. Game viewing is excellent, the peak season crowds are absent, and you can take advantage of lower rates. For a Wildebeest Migration safari in the Serengeti, the best time to go is from January to September. The Serengeti is vast, so it’s important to be in the right location at the right time to witness the action – our Wildebeest Migration guide offers more details. To see the Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara, you should plan to be there between June and November.

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is a year-round activity. But if you’re hiking through the rainforests, you’ll certainly appreciate the drier and cooler months of January and February, and June to September.