Africa is a big place. It straddles the equator and is surrounded by different oceans and seas that all bring their own unique weather patterns. There are deserts, mountains, jungles and rolling plains. So when visiting Africa to go on a safari holiday, when is the best time to go where?
Best time to safari in Kenya?
In Kenya the weather is focused around two rainy seasons. The main rains occur between April and June, arriving from the Indian Ocean. During this time, the coast is hot and wet, with high humidity and plenty of cloud cover. Over the next few weeks the rains work their way up into the highlands, often in a series of dramatic thunderstorms. The short rains happen in November but are less heavy and have little impact on safari.
Many of the main safari areas of Kenya, like the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, are in the south-west of the country, and the rains tend to fall between mid-April and the start of June. Mornings tend to be clear, with cloud building throughout the day and leading to a heavy downpour or thunderstorm in the evening that can last into the night. You do get short periods when the cloud sets in, but these tend not to last more than a few days. You can also get several days within this period when it is sunny and dry.
Best time to visit Tanzania?
The rainy seasons are the same as those in Kenya, the main rains falling between March to early June, the short rains in November to December. The rains arrive from the east, so it tends to start raining on the coast before the inland areas near to Lake Tanganyika. The main safari season runs from mid-June through until October, with a shorter dry period in January to February.
When deciding when to visit Tanzania it’s also important to take wildlife movements into consideration. The Great Wildebeest migration is famous for crossing the Mara River into Kenya in July-August, but is travelling in Tanzania for most of the year I search of grazing. For example, they calf in February in the Ngorongoro Highlands. Being in the right place at any time of year can lead to an amazing holiday.
Best time to go Gorilla tracking in Uganda?
Uganda has similar seasons to its Eastern neighbours, but with other factors affecting the weather there are variations. The rainy seasons are between March to May and mid-September to November. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest however, being a rain and cloud forest, it is always wet so season makes little difference. Indeed, further north, at Murcheson Falls National Park, the rains fall between March to November, showing how localised the weather patterns can be.
The dry seasons are officially June to August and December until February. They are drier but not dry as rain can fall at any time. Officially the driest month is June. Its also worth bearing in mind at any time of year that the gorilla areas are at higher altitude, making the air temperature always a few degrees cooler than the lowland parks.
Best time to visit South Africa?
South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere so its seasons are the opposite to those of the UK. December is the middle of their summer, while July is the middle of winter. A visit to Cape Town, the Cape Provinces including the wine lands during November to February is a lovely experience. Temperatures are pleasantly warm/hot, but with a cooling breeze often coming in from the surrounding oceans. Occasional rain occurs but the underlying weather is clear blue skies and warming sun. That’s why the wine is so good. During the winter months the temperature falls to single figures, with lots of clouds and rain blowing in. There are periods of clear skies and cold crisp days mixed in, but you should be prepared for rain.
Another season to consider when planning your trip is the whale-watching season. They tend to come up to the bays around the coast in April-May time, staying as late as November s they wait for their calves to grow in strength before bringing them back to the cold, summer waters around the Antarctic.
In the north of the country, around the Kruger Park, the seasons are different, influenced less by the southern air (it being blocked of by the Drakensberg Mountains) and more by the weather of the Southern African continent. Here the rain falls from October until April, the dry season being from May until September. September is regarded as a great time as you are losing the chill of mid-winter while still being dry.
Best time for a safari in Botswana?
The summer in Botswana coincides with the Rainy season. Between the months of November and the start of April it is hot and most of the annual rainfall happens. It comes in the form of thunderstorms, although the skies can be grey during this time as the cloud builds. January and February are the peak months for rainfall. The winter – May to August is dry and much cooler, although the occasional storm does occur. The two shoulder seasons in between tend to be dry, but rain should still be expected as the rains either clear or set in.
In the summer temperatures can climb to near 40 degrees, with a certain amount of humidity that falls in the afternoon after the rain has come. In winter it is much cooler, sometimes with frost on the ground at dawn.
The best time to safari is from April through until October when the climate is at its most pleasant and the animals most visible. Travel during the rainy summer is also quite possible, with good sightings and a large difference in price from the peak summer rates. One thing to remember is that during October and November there is very little water running over Victoria Falls, so a visit there can be disappointing.
Best time for a holiday in Namibia.
The seasons in Namibia, being in the Southern hemisphere, are the opposite to those in the UK. Therefore the hottest months are in December and January, their summer and the coolest from June to August. The summer is also the wettest time, but rainfall in Namibia is small and does not present a big problem. The spring months are a popular time to visit, as the temperatures drop and the rain eases.
As Namibia has so many terrains, varying from one of the driest deserts in the world through to part of the greater Okavango eco-system, weather conditions can vary enormously in different places during the same season. It can also get very cold in some areas, particularly at night time, so be prepared.
When to go on safari in Zambia
Although Zambia lies in the tropics, it lies on an upland plateau and this ensures that the prevailing weather is rarely uncomfortably hot, except perhaps in some of the larger, tropical valleys that cut through it. There are three main seasons: Between May to September is the coolest, driest time and is known as their winter, while the wet season runs from December until April. October and November is the hot season, also the driest time of year as the heat builds towards the rains.
It’s possible to safari in Zambia throughout the year as the game-viewing is excellent whenever you visit and the wet season may see more rain but there are less other visitors.
Remember, in many places its perfectly possible to safari during the wet seasons. The grass may be longer, the roads muddier and you may get wet every now and again but there are advantages. There are less people. There is a lot less dust being licked up into the air. And the prices can be significantly lower than during the peak seasons, leading a a saving of many thousands of pounds for the same itinerary and properties.
For detailed advice about specific National Parks and areas, contact our knowledgeable and friendly staff on 01692 283 517 and they will be happy to advise.