When to Go on African Safari & Where: Best time to Visit Africa.

In Africa, there is never a terrible moment to go on safari. In terms of providing you with the best chances to see what you want to see, however, there are better times. Here is a summary of where to travel and when to go on African safari vacations because, depending on your preferences, weather and rainfall may make or ruin a safari.

This suggestion about the ideal time to visit Africa is based on averages and the expertise of our seasoned advisers over the years, but one thing we can be certain of is that Mother Nature is unpredictable, which is why we adore her. This is by no means final.

When to go an African safari

Our main recommendation for the ideal time to travel to Africa is to choose a lodge safari over a tented one if you decide to go on safari during the extremely hot, extremely cold, or extremely wet seasons. It’s not very enjoyable to camp in tents during severe weather!

As long as you have a rain jacket and a dry roof to sleep under, you’ll be OK because rains in most parts of Africa happen as brief (and incredibly dramatic!) thunderstorms that are preceded and followed by gorgeous, sunny skies. If you dislike extreme heat, speak with one of our experts before scheduling your safari because the warmer seasons, particularly in the desert, can be brutally unpleasant!

The average daily maximum and lowest temperatures are derived from meteoblue.com, and all temperatures are expressed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Cape Town is the ideal time to visit South Africa.

Cape Town’s Mediterranean climate makes it a great destination at any time of year. Even though its winters are chilly and rainy, there are occasionally days with gorgeous sunshine and clear blue skies in between downpours. However, if you only want to spend time on the beaches, you should stay away from May through October.

In addition to being less congested than at the busiest times of the year, Cape Town may be breathtaking in the spring (September/October) and fall (April/May).

From roughly June to November is whale season, particularly in Hermanus, which lies 120 kilometers up the coast.

December’s average summer temperature is 28°C to 14°C.
July’s average winter temperature is 18°C/8°C.
The Best Times to Visit Drakensberg, Swaziland, and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

You can come here at any time of year and be mesmerized by its splendor. Even in the winter, the seaside areas are warm. Wintertime snowfall can transform the Drakensberg into a winter wonderland inland.

Inland and coastal regions can experience extremely hot and muggy summers.

Durban

December’s average summer temperature is 27°C/18°C.
July’s average winter temperature is 23°C/9°C.
Winterton’s Drakensberg

December’s average summer temperature is 28°C/16°C.
July’s average winter temperature is 20°C to 2°C.
When to Take an African Safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park

Any time of year is an excellent time to visit Kruger National Park, much like the rest of South Africa. Game-viewing in the dense bush is a little more challenging during this time because it’s a summer rainfall region (bring a jacket!). Typically, summer rain falls in the form of brief, spectacular afternoon thunderstorms.

Even though winter mornings and evenings might be chilly, a nice jacket will keep you warm. Animal sightings are more easier in the dry winter bush.

Ask one of our ABS experts when Kruger is available, since they may be extremely busy, particularly during South African school breaks.

December summer temperature: 30°C to 20°C
July cold temperature: 24°C/10°C

The Ideal Time to Go to Namibia’s Sossusvlei

Although it is possible to explore the Namib Desert’s breathtaking dunes at Sossusvlei throughout the year, October through March/April can be unbearably hot, with highs of 40°C in the hottest months of October and November.

As in any desert, mid-winter nights can be quite cold, frequently falling to 0°C. For this reason, we would advise a lodge safari rather than tent camping. This is the ideal time of year to go because of the warm daytime temperatures and clean, crisp air that highlights the dune’s amazing colors. The changing colors as the sun rises are stunning, so make sure to visit early in the morning.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 34°C/15°C.
July winter temperature: 27°C/6°C

When to Take an African Safari in Namibia’s Etosha National Park

The ideal time to see game is during the dry winter months (May to October), as Etosha’s rainy season (if it exists) is in the summer. Animal sightings are exceptional since the grass is sparse, the pan is dry, and the animals congregate near the waterholes.

Etosha experiences unbearably hot summers from November to March, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C. The pan fills up and brings amazing birds, and the region is transformed with lush flora following the rains.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 35°C/20°C.
July winter temperature: 27°C/6°C
When to Take an African Safari in Botswana’s Chobe National Park

Chobe experiences summer rainfall, just like Etosha. Amazing game-viewing chances are made possible by the animals congregating along the river during the dry season (May to October). The days in May and June are warm, but the nights can be extremely cold. Temperatures begin to increase in August and frequently hit 40°C in October, the year’s hottest month.

The rainy season, which runs from December to March, is hot and humid and, if you can tolerate the humidity, ideal for birdwatching. Additionally, many antelope, notably the impala, are giving birth around this time, which attracts predators.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 32°C to 22°C.
July winter temperature: 26°C to 8°C

When to Take an African Safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Because they are so close to one another, the daily temperatures in Okavango and Chobe are extremely similar. However, the rain and water levels play a major role in determining the ideal time to explore these wetlands.

When the rains have finished, the greatest time to go boating and mokoros is during the high water season, which runs from May to August. Depending on how much rain falls here and further north in Angola, the water levels then decline (the waters pour into the delta from there). It might not be feasible to navigate the streams by mokoro during the dry season.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 33°C to 22°C.
July winter temperature: 26°C to 8°C

The Best Time to Go to Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Victoria Falls

Like all natural wonders, Victoria Falls transforms its appearance with the seasons and is always breathtaking.

The Zambezi River rises one meter during the wet season (February/March to May), and the water pours up to five meters over the falls and along the canyon. This produces a tremendously strong sound and breathtaking aerial vistas, but from most of the pedestrian vantage locations, sighting is challenging (and wet!) due to the dense spray. Right now, the rainbows are amazing.

The falls are at their lowest between October and December, which are also the hottest months. During this time, they are smaller and split into “strands” of water, revealing the stunning rocks with little spray. At this time, the falls’ Zambian side may run entirely dry.

You can swim on the edge of Devil’s Pool’s waterfall during this dry season, which is an amazing experience that will leave you speechless!

If white water rafting is your goal, make sure to speak with one of our ABS advisors about which rapids may be tackled and how water levels impact rafting operations. High water rafting is available in January/February and June/July, while low water rafting (the most thrilling) is available from August to December.

Temperature in December’s Ave summer: 30°C to 21°C
July cold temperature: 24°C/10°C

The Ideal Time to Travel to Mozambique

Mozambique enjoys good weather throughout the year due to its tropical environment and the warm Indian Ocean. The rainy season, summer, which lasts from December to March, can be quite hot and muggy. Usually, the rain comes in brief, spectacular thunderstorms that are followed by sunshine. Cyclone season lasts from January to March.

The finest diving occurs during the dry and pleasant winter months of April through October/November, when the sea currents are calmer and there is less wind. From June to October, whales are frequently sighted.

December’s Ave summer temperature: 31°C to 21°C
July winter temperature: 25°C to 14°C

The Ideal Time to Travel to Madagascar

The climate of Madagascar is tropical as well. Being an island, we are particularly vulnerable to cyclones, so it is not a good idea to travel at this time of year (November to March). Because of the vast range of habitats on the island, from the hot beach to the cooler mountains, the climate is remarkably varied.

Choose your dates wisely based on what you want to see, as the whale season runs from July to December and the newborn lemur season is from October to November.

Antananarivo

Ave summer (December) temperature: 17°C/24°C
July cold temperature: 19°C/10°C
Nosy Be

December’s Ave summer temperature: 31°C to 23°C
July winter temperature: 24°C to 17°C

The Best Time to Go to Malawi’s Lake Malawi

Since Lake Malawi is located in a low-lying region of Malawi, it never gets as cold as the country’s highlands, which are open from June to August. Actually, the lakeshores experience beach weather almost year-round.

Many of the roads become impassable between November and March, which may be extremely hot and rainy (and the peak season for mosquitoes that spread malaria, so beware!). The hottest months are October and November, when temperatures frequently soar into the upper 30s.

December’s Ave summer temperatures are 30°C to 22°C.
July winter temperature: 25°C/15°C

The Ideal Time to Travel to Uganda

Once more, because Uganda is tropical, it never gets very cold, but it can get really wet. March to May and September to November are its two wet seasons. Some camps may close during the rainy season, and roads may become impassable or impossible to travel.

The greatest times to see gorillas are during the dry seasons, which are June through August/September and December/January through February. In the event that it rains and you visit during the rainy season, costly gorilla permits are non-transferable. The months of April and May are the wettest. Positively, permits are typically less expensive during the rainy season.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 20°C to 9°C.
July winter temperature: 20°C/11°C

When to Visit Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater for an African Safari

There is never a poor time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater because it is essentially a bowl where a remarkable variety of wildlife reside year-round. However, peak season, which runs from July to September and subsequently December to February, can be congested (in African terms).

The long rains occur from roughly February to April, while the brief wet season occurs in November and December. Although April and May are regarded as low season, the extended rainy season offers a delightfully green and uncrowded vacation. Unfortunately, the risk of malaria is increased during this peak mosquito season.

December’s Ave summer temperature is 19°C/10°C.
July winter temperature: 17°C/6°C

When to Take an African Safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park

While there is never a “bad” time to visit the Serengeti, the optimum time to visit varies depending on the season, with March and April being the low season due to the prolonged rains. The best time to see game is during the dry season, which runs from June to September.

A lot of people travel to the Serengeti with the intention of witnessing the Great Migration. This is the yearly round-trip path that hundreds of thousands of animals take across the Serengeti, Maasai Mara, and the adjacent regions, as explained in our Serengeti Budget Guide.

Although it’s uncertain because to nature, the animals typically graze from December to May and give birth to their young in February on the Serengeti plains (bringing with them the predators). They travel northwest to the Grumeti and Mara Rivers in late May/early June to July, when the spectacular crossings take place. It’s the busiest time of year, so book early!

December’s Ave summer temperature is 26°C/15°C.
July winter temperatures: 27°C to 14°C

When to Visit Kenya’s Masai Mara for an African Safari

There is never a terrible time to visit the Masai Mara, just like in the Serengeti. There is year-round game viewing and a moderate climate. June through October is the dry season, and November through May is when it rains, which are usually brief afternoon thunderstorms followed by sunshine, with the exception of March through May, when it rains more.

If you want to try to catch the Great Migration, the massive herds usually enter the Masai Mara in June or July and return to the Serengeti in November after crossing the Mara and Grumeti Rivers (with their snapping crocodiles).

December’s Ave summer temperature is 24°C/15°C.
July winter temperatures: 24°C to 14°C

When to Go to Zanzibar Island

Because of its location just below the equator, the island paradise of Zanzibar has an equatorial climate. It experiences two wet seasons: the long rainy season, which lasts from March to May, and the short rainy season, which typically occurs in November and December. During the protracted rains, it can get unbearably hot and muggy.

The dry seasons, which run from June to October and January to February, offer ideal sunny weather for swimming in the warm Indian Ocean and relaxing on the beach.

Keep in mind that a large portion of Zanzibaris are Muslims, therefore cultural sensitivity is essential. Every year for a month, the island observes Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset. Larger hotels and tourist attractions are still open during the day, but many of the smaller stores and eateries can be closed.

December’s Ave summer temperatures are 30°C to 23°C.
July winter temperatures: 29°C to 19°C

The Ideal Time to Travel to Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s climate varies by region and is accessible throughout the year. From a tourism perspective, the rainy season, which typically lasts from June to early October, is typically less congested. When the rains have stopped but the area is still verdant, October through January is the peak season.

During South Omo’s wet season, which typically lasts from April to May but can begin earlier in March or end later in June, travel is restricted. In October, they also have brief rainfall. It is advised to visit this place between August and October.

Ethiopia’s Dallol, Danakil

For those who dislike the heat, the Danakil Depression is best visited during the ‘cooler’ months of November and December (average temperature of 33°C) to avoid the unbearably high temperatures (average of 42°C in June/July).

Ethiopia hosts amazing events like Timket, which takes place on January 19, which attract a lot of tourists. The ancient Feast of Epiphany is celebrated with processions, dancing, music, and food in the streets.

Other significant Ethiopian holidays consist of:

Christmas: January 7th
New Year: September 11
Meskel: September 27 in Addis Ababa

July’s average temperature is 19°C/12°C.
December winter temperature: 21°C/8°C
Danakil

July temperatures are 42°C to 30°C.
December winter temperature: 33°C to 21°C
Lalibela

Summer temperatures in July are 19°C to 13°C.
December winter temperatures: 22°C to 9°C