Seasons in Africa: When Is the Best Time for a Safari & Beach Vacation
The weather sometimes likes to throw surprises, so seasonality in some countries in Africa is already rather subjective.
The weather sometimes likes to give surprises, so the seasons in Africa are often subjective.
There is no guarantee of no rain in the high season. Low season in Africa doesn’t promise that you’ll spend your entire vacation sitting in your hotel room.
The low season also has its fans. Hotels and lodges can be half cheaper, and tourists on the beaches, parks, and restaurants will be much less.
However, if the purpose of the trip is to see, for example, Victoria Falls or the great wildebeest migration, it is worth choosing only the high season, when the spectacle of a particular event is most likely.
So which seasons in Africa are most suitable for safari?
Because the country is on the equator, the air and ocean water temperatures are almost the same year-round. There are only two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The long rainy season usually lasts from March to May and the short rainy season lasts from November to December. During this time, the roads in the national parks can be washed out, making it difficult to drive on safari. The best season in Kenya lasts from July to October during the great migration season and in February when zebras and antelopes have their young.
It is worth saying that there is no guarantee of no rain during the dry season and vice versa. A pleasant bonus of the low season can be lower prices for accommodation and the absence of many tourists.
The seasonality of Tanzania is basically the same as in Kenya. The only thing is that great wildebeest migration is year-round, but in different parts of the park.
Regions where you can see the Serengeti wildebeest migration, depending on the month:
July to September–Mara river crossing in Kogatende, Northern Serengeti;
October to December–return to Central Serengeti from Kenyan Masai Mara;
December to March–Calving season;
April to May–Green season;
June–the start of migration to the western corridor of Serengeti, Grumeti area.
When traveling in these East African countries, it is worth paying attention to the rainy season, because if you want to go gorilla trekking, wet paths can complicate an already difficult hike. Low season March-May, high season June-September, December-February.
The rainy season in Zimbabwe lasts from December to March inclusive. The main attraction that tourists seek to see in Zimbabwe is Victoria Falls. The best time to visit Zimbabwe is from April to October.
Namibia has a rainy season, but the rains are not comparable to those in Zambia or Zimbabwe. From June to September, Namibia is dry and quite cool. The temperature can drop below zero degrees in the Namib and Kalahari deserts.
The best time for the safari in Namibia is when it is warm and sunny in September and October.
The seasonality in Botswana is like that of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The rains in Botswana last from December to March. The best period for a safari in Botswana is in June when the water levels in the rivers drop and animals gather at the little ponds.
The weather in South Africa varies at the same time in different regions. If, for example, in June, it will be cool on the ocean coast, going on a safari in Kruger will be comfortable. In general, South Africa is suitable for a year-round visit.