Best Time to Go on Safari

Want to discover the best African tours and safaris for you?
You’ve come to the right place!

How to find the right season to travel on your African Safari Vacation?

Dry Season from April to September
These months provide the best game viewing opportunities.

Wet season from October to March
Lush vegetation in the summer month are preferred by some travellers, however game is sometimes not spotted as easily as in the dry winter months.

Find answers to your questions about the best time for your African safaris and tours! Superb deals on tours & safaris in South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Victoria Falls & more.

Since 1993 we have been on over 80 African safaris and tours throughout Southern & East Africa. We have taken our African tours and safaris at all times of the year – high season, peak season, low season, shoulder season.

We live in South Africa & my wife is a local. I can tell you what we have discovered: At any time of year you can find a country that will have the right blend of weather and game viewing quality to have an exceptional African lion safari.

Safaris in Afrika are invariably wonderful life changing experiences. We really like to avoid crowds. Crowds are a factor on most Kenya safaris that include the Masai Mara but you can go to top safari destinations like Kenya and Tanzania at times that you can avoid crowds. We consider these times as the best times to go. Our goal is to help you find these times for your African tours and safaris.

We love going on African safaris in truly wilderness areas (few people, lots of animals).

Thus we have especially enjoyed our low season Namibia safaris, Zambia safaris, Zimbabwe safaris, Botswana safaris, South African safaris and most recently our Mozambique safaris & island holidays. Below you will find free guides to seasons & links to pages giving you game viewing guides to top African safari parks. This will help you find the best time for your African tours and safaris if you want to do the research for yourself.

Or …

You can get free personalized advice. Scroll past the free guides below & fill in the form. Submit it and we’ll get right back with you with free customized African tours and safaris options suited to your interests and budget!

Botswana & Namibia Seasons & Weather

Botswana Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – October
Summer: November – March

Fall: April – May
Winter: June – August

The winters in Botswana are pleasant and the nights are cool. The temperatures during the days are in the 60’s but during the hot, dry summers temperatures can reach highs in the high 90’s and higher.

Namibia Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – October
Summer: November – March
Fall: April – May
Winter: June – August

Namibia is hot and sunny all year round but the temperatures and rainfall vary. The rainfall is not high in Namibia but there are areas of extreme heat (Etosha Park) which make it sunny alternative to American and European winters.

Discover The Best Time For Your Africa Safari In Botswana & Namibia – Free Expert Advice & Guide

Kenya & Tanzania Seasons & Weather

Kenya Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – November
Summer: December – March

Fall: April – June
Winter: July – August

Kenya has a definite rainy season that occurs from March to May. It is known as the long rains and it is common that to have a sunny morning and a downpour later in the day. The rains are short and thus usually aren’t a big problem for your African tours and safaris.

Tanzania Seasons & Weather

Spring: June – November
Summer: December – February
Fall: March – April
Winter: April – May

Tanzania has an interesting geography which contributes to its differing climatic conditions. Zanzibar and the other spice islands off of Tanzania’s coast have a sunny, hot, & humid climate. The Serengeti and especially the Ngorongoro Crater can be cool at night because they are on a high plateau. The north east enjoys temperate climates.

Discover The Best Time For Your East Africa Safaris In Kenya & Tanzania – Free Guide

South Africa Seasons & Weather

South Africa Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – October
Summer: November – March

Fall: April – May
Winter: June – August

Summers in South Africa are hot with the northern regions being summer rainfall areas and have warm, dry winter days and cool to cold nights. The southern areas have a winter rainfall season and the summers are hot and dry. In the southern parts of South Africa mountains are often covered in snow during the winter season.

Winter can be an excellent time to go on safari in South Africa. The animals are easy to spot in parks like Kruger. The days will be warm at Kruger and in Johannesburg but it does get very cool at night — 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees C).

Cape Town’s weather can be rainy, and windy. However if you love lush vegetation (the Cape is very green then) and whale watching then winter enables you to combine a great white shark and whale watching safari with an excellent big five land safari.

The winter is also an excellent time to come if you love golf, to the east of Cape Town behind a spine of beautiful mountains, winter is a season of blue skies and dry days, it is perfect for golf. It is also nearly perfect for golf at Sun City and around Johannesburg during the winter months.

Discover The Best Time For Your South African Safari Vacation – Free Guide

Malawi & Mozambique Seasons & Weather

Malawi Seasons & Weather

Spring: August – December
Summer: January – March
Fall: April – May
Winter: June – July

The higher altitude areas are generally hotter and the shores of Lake Malawi also boast high temperatures. During summer the average temperature is in the 80’s. The rainy season lasts from October to April.

Mozambique Seasons & Weather

Spring: October – November
Summer: December – March
Fall: April – May
Winter: May – September

Mozambique has a hot, tropical climate and it is ideal if you want to escape to sun and sea. The dry season is cooler but still warm (April/May and October/November). The pristine Quirimbas Islands are ideal, remote getaways virtually any time of year. Mozambique can have cyclones in February and March.

Intrigued by Mozambique or Malawi? Scroll below & contact us now for customized African tours and safaris vacation with the best time to travel to Africa for you!

Uganda Seasons & Weather

Uganda Seasons & Weather

Spring: November – December
Summer: December – February
Fall: March – April
Winter: May – October

Uganda has tropical weather conditions which are moderated by the country’s high altitudes. The hottest months are from December to February. But even during this time nights are much cooler. The wet seasons in the south of Uganda are from March until May and in northern Uganda from April to October.

Discover The Best Time For Your Gorilla Safari In Uganda or Rwanda’s African Rainforest

Zambia & Zimbabwe Seasons & Weather

Zambia Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – November
Summer: December – April

Fall: April – May
Winter: May – August

Zambia is one of the few African countries that has 3 distinct seasons. December to April is warm, wet and humid. Zambia’s Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa National Parks can be impassable due to bad road conditions. Thus several properties there close between November and April.

May to August is cool and dry and September to November is hot and dry. The climate is moderated by the altitude. It is one of Africa’s hottest new safari destinations!

Zimbabwe Seasons & Weather

Spring: September – October
Summer: November – April
Fall: April – June
Winter: July – August

The summers in Zimbabwe are hot with heavy rainfalls in the mountain regions and forest areas. Zimbabwean winters are delightful – sunny, dry and cool. There is little rainfall in the southern regions of Zimbabwe.

Discover The Best Time For Your African Safaris In Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe & Zambia — Free Guide

Victoria Falls lies between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Aside from being a world famous natural wonder Victoria Falls is always a great complement to any African safari. You can get there easily from both Southern and East Africa.

It has a special place in our family’s collective heart. Our daughter loves it and my wife and I spent our honeymoon on safari in Africa & visiting Victoria Falls Africa.

Here is a useful link for information on Victoria Falls

Here is another one for great deals on Victoria Falls hotels.

Lastly, click here to learn what we ask about African tours and safaris & what we seek to avoid when considering African safaris and African safaris companies. Want free personalized advice? Contact us now for African tours and safaris advice based on your interest and budget. Fill in the form below and submit it. We’ll get right back with you.