Africa Safari Tours - when to go

Africa has basically 2 seasons.... wet and dry. The animals you see will depend on the season you go. It is easier to see animals in the dry season as the grasses are low and the watering holes are fewer, this makes it easier to locate wildlife. The wet season however is when the wildlife gives birth and herds seem to be much larger. You can go to the same area in the wet season and the dry season and have 2 completely different experiences.

Most people consider viewing the best in the hottest times during the dry season when the animals are forced to visit water sources, but the landscape is more attractive in the wetter, greener months

Here is a guide to the weather for the major Africa photo safari destinations we offer:

Botswana - Subtropical climate with hot, humid, wet summers (September to April) and warm to cool, dry winters (May to August). Daytime summer temperatures may rise above 35ºC/95ºF, and winter nights rarely drop below 10ºC/50ºF.

Gabon - The best time to visit Gabon is June-September, the dry season. (best time to see animals.) Late December-January is the second-best time. October-mid December and late February-May are the rainy seasons, although its advisable to take a raincoat or collapsible umbrella no matter what time of year you visit. Gabon is hot and humid year-round. The average temperature is 23°C/73°F to 29°C/84°F.

Kenya - Gentle, warm climate. Daytime temperatures are mild and nights can be fairly cool. Summer extends from October to April, with December to March being the warmest months. All year, minimum temperatures are 11ºC/52ºF and maximum temperatures are 30ºC/86ºF. The cool season is from May to September. Depending on when the rains come, the Great Migration normally reaches Kenya in July. Hundreds of thousands of herbivores then disperse onto the plains of the Masai Mara for the next couple of months.

Malawi - Summer: January - March  Winter: June - July
Varies from cool in the highlands to warm around Lake Malawi. Winter (May to July) is dry and nights can be chilly, particularly in the highlands. The rainy season runs from November to March. Around Lake Malawi, in winter, the climate is particularly dry with pleasant cooling breezes. Best months to visit: The cooler months (May to October) are pleasant, but the lush green summer (November to April) while hot is rather impressive.

Namibia - Enjoys sunshine virtually every day of the year and you can expect hot summers (November - April) and pleasant winters (May - October) in this arid climate. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35°C/95°F and drop to around 18°C/65°F at night. Winter days are sunny and mild to warm with temperatures of about 23°C/73°F, which may drop to as low as 5°C/41°F at night. The coastal region is cool and dry throughout the year.

South Africa - Daytime summer temperatures (September - April) are high and may soar above 36°C/97°F. Winters (May - August) have chilly nights and crisp early mornings (minimum 3°C/38°F), but the days are fine and warm. Rainfall occurs predominantly in the summer months from September to April in the form of magnificent late afternoon/evening thundershowers.

Tanzania - Warm climate with maximum temperatures of 32°C/90°F. Early mornings and evenings can be cold with minimum temperatures of 12°C/90°F. Winter is from May to September, and summer from October to April. Rainfall is seasonal with the so-called ‘short rains’ in November and December and the ‘long rains’ from March to May. The Great Migration can be seen in the Serengeti National Park from November through to June.

Uganda - Uganda has tropical weather conditions which are moderated by the high altitudes. The hottest months are from December to February but it is still cooler at night. The wet seasons in the south of Uganda are from March till May and in northern Uganda from April to October. Daytime summer temperatures rarely rise above 29ºC/84°F with an average of around 26ºC/78°F, with a maximum of 35ºC/95°F and minimum of 8ºC depending on the part of the country.

Zambia - October to April is hot and sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. Temperatures average 25ºC/77°F to 35ºC/95°F and night temperatures drop to 14ºC/57°F to 20ºC/68°F. Low lying areas such as Victoria Falls, Kafue National Park, Zambezi Valley and Lake Kariba can be considerably warmer all year round with temperatures from 35ºC/95°F to 50ºC/122°F. May to September is sunny, cool and dry 20ºC/68°F to 25ºC/77°F but evening temperatures drop to 5ºC/41°F to 10ºC/50°F.

Zanzibar - Zanzibar is a few degrees south of the equator and enjoys a tropical climate that is largely dominated by the Indian Ocean monsoons. Average temperature in the summer months is 27ºC/80°F and in the winter months is 24ºC/75°F. It is very humid all year round, particularly in the summer monsoon rain period. April and May experience the highest rainfall with figures averaging at 249mm and July and August with the lowest averaging 60mm.

Zimbabwe - Hot, wet summers (November to March) and warm to cool, dry winters (April to October). Daytime summer temperatures may rise above 35°C/95°F, while the nights in winter rarely drop below 10°C/50°F. The weather is mild with little rain from April to May and August to September. Due to the political situation in Zimbabwe we strongly advise not going to this country and visiting one of the many other options Africa current offers.

Let us arrange your Africa Safari Tour. Pease contact our office at 817 481-8631 / 800 766-2911 or info@dynamictravel.com