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?
Kenya
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.
Tanzania
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.
Uganda, Rwanda
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.
Zimbabwe
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
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.
Botswana
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.
South Africa
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.
Month by month at a glance
If you already know when you can travel, this is how the year tends to unfold across the main safari regions.
January to March. Calving season in the Serengeti, dry and easy game viewing in Kenya, and generally more comfortable gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. Cape Town is warm and sunny, and from March the Zambezi rises and Victoria Falls shows its full power.
April to May. A low season in many parks, with fewer visitors and quieter lodges. Namibia is no longer hot but not yet cold, which suits a longer trip around the country, and the Okavango Delta starts to fill.
June to August. The dry season across Southern Africa and the heart of the migration in Tanzania and Kenya, from the Grumeti to the Mara River crossings. Kruger is easier for spotting animals as the bush thins, and Botswana, Uganda and Rwanda are all good choices. This is also the northern summer, when whale watching at Hermanus and adventures such as sandboarding in Namibia, trekking Kilimanjaro or rafting the Zambezi work well. Lodges near the river fill early, so plan ahead.
September to October. Dry and warm in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Tanzania, while the herds are on the Kenyan side of the Mara River and the predators follow them.
November to December. Quieter parks and comfortable weather. The herds return to Tanzania to begin a new cycle, with births from December, and Cape Town, the Garden Route and Chobe are at their best.
Tell us when you plan to travel and we will suggest the countries that suit that month.