Planning an African journey can be overwhelming and confusing! It’s a big continent with big seasonal variations between countries. Animals move with the seasons and the rains. Many questions much be asked to help you narrow down your options. When to go? Where to go? To get you started, we have created this interactive reference tool to assist you with your initial questions. This provides the basics to get you started. Please give us a call to discuss your custom itinerary in depth. We are African travel experts- we are here to answer any other questions you will inevitably have as we plan your trip together.
January
+
- Botswana: Rain likely, very warm temperatures, good game viewing, low tourist season
- Ethiopia: Dry season, great for trekking, Festival of Timkat
- Kenya: Peak tourist season, dry weather, great bird life at Rift Valley lakes
- Rwanda: One of the driest months, excellent for trekking
- South Africa: Peak season, hot weather, excellent game viewing, light rains
- Tanzania: Great Migration in the Southern Serengeti
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Heavy rains likely, excellent bird viewing, some lodges closed, low tourist season
- Zimbabwe: Rain likely, very warm temperatures, good game viewing, low tourist season
February
+
- Botswana: Rain likely, very warm temperatures, good game viewing, low tourist season
- Ethiopia: Dry season, great for trekking
- Kenya: Peak tourist season, dry weather, great bird life at Rift Valley lakes
- Rwanda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- South Africa: Warm, sunny days throughout country, light rains possible
- Tanzania: Great Migration in the Southern Serengeti
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Heavy rains likely, excellent bird viewing, some lodges closed, low tourist season
- Zimbabwe: Rain likely, very warm temperatures, good game viewing, low tourist season
March
+
- Botswana: Light rains, lush vegetation, excellent birding
- Kenya: Short rains may be experienced, but fewer tourists
- Morocco: Lush landscapes, mild temperatures at low altitudes, rain possible
- Rwanda: Long rains possible
- South Africa: Warm, sunny days throughout country, possible light rains
- Tanzania: Great Migration in the Southern Serengeti, possible intermittent rains
- Zambia: Heavy rains likely, excellent bird viewing, some lodges closed, low tourist season
- Zimbabwe: Rains starting to lighten, excellent birding.
April
+
- Botswana: Excellent time in the Kalahari, very green throughout, comfortable temperatures
- Madagascar: Beginning of the dry season, rains begin to lighten
- Morocco: Lush landscapes, mild temperatures at low altitudes
- Mozambique: Beautiful weather on the southern beaches, rains likely mid-country
- Namibia: Dry season, beautiful sunny weather, green vegetation
- Rwanda: Wettest month of the year
- South Africa: Warm weather, afternoon showers, excellent game viewing and flora/fauna in the Cape
May
+
- Botswana: Excellent time to visit the Kalahari, lush landscapes throughout the country, excellent weather
- Madagascar: Great weather
- Malawi: Dry season, attractive landscape
- Morocco: Lush landscapes, mild temperatures at low altitudes
- Mozambique: Excellent weather
- Namibia: Dry season, beautiful sunny weather, green vegetation
- Rwanda: Long rains possible
- South Africa: Dry weather, cooler temperatures, excellent game viewing
- Zambia: Ideal visiting time, cool temperatures, lush landscapes, excellent time to see Victoria Falls
- Zimbabwe: Ideal visiting time, cool temperatures, lush landscapes, excellent time to see Victoria Falls
June
+
- Botswana: Lush landscapes, mild weather, very cool evenings, Okavango floods begin
- Madagascar: Excellent weather, likely rains in East
- Malawi: Dry season, bright green landscape
- Mozambique: Excellent weather in Indian Ocean, whale migration
- Namibia: Dry season, mild, cool temperatures, sunny days
- Rwanda: Entering dry season, excellent for trekking
- Tanzania: Great Migration in Northern Serengeti/Grumeti
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Ideal visiting time, cool temps, lush landscapes, good time to see Victoria Falls
- Zimbabwe: Ideal visiting time, cool temps, lush landscapes, good time to see Victoria Falls
July
+
- Botswana: Dry season, good game viewing, lots of water in the Okavango
- Kenya: Shoulder season, excellent time to view wildebeest and zebra migration in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Madagascar: Excellent weather, likely rains in East, best whale viewing in Ile St Marie
- Malawi: Dry season, green landscapes
- Mozambique: Warm weather, whale migration, excellent game viewing
- Namibia: Dry season, mild to cold temperatures, sunny days
- Rwanda: One of the driest months, excellent for trekking
- South Africa: Moderate to cold temperatures, dry weather except rain likely in the Cape
- Tanzania: Great Migration in Northern Serengeti/Grumeti
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Ideal visiting time, cool temperatures
- Zimbabwe: Ideal visiting time, cool to cold temperatures
August
+
- Botswana: Dry season, excellent game viewing, mild temperatures
- Kenya: Great Migration in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Madagascar: Excellent weather, rains in East, whale viewing in Ile St Marie
- Malawi: Dry season
- Mozambique: Warm weather, whale migration
- Namibia: Warm weather, best time for big game sightings
- Rwanda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Tanzania: Great Migration in Northern Serengeti/Grumeti
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Ideal visiting time, moderate temperatures, great sightings at waterholes
- Zimbabwe: Ideal visiting time, moderate temperatures, great sightings at waterholes
September
+
- Botswana: Dry season, great game viewing, moderate to very warm temperatures
- Kenya: Great Migration in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Madagascar: Peak season, excellent weather & diving, cool in the highlands and warm/hot on the coasts.
- Malawi: Dry season, excellent game viewing
- Mozambique: Warm weather, whale migration
- Namibia: Warm weather, excellent time for big game sightings
- Rwanda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- South Africa: Mild temperatures, wild flower season, great game viewing, whale watching
- Uganda: Dry season, excellent for trekking
- Zambia: Ideal visiting time, warm temperatures, great sightings at waterholes
- Zimbabwe: Ideal visiting time, warm temperatures, great sightings at waterholes
October
+
- Botswana: Excellent game viewing, can be very hot, dry weather
- Ethiopia: Beginning of dry season, landscapes are green and filled with wildflowers
- Kenya: Great Migration in Masai Mara National Reserve at beginning of the month
- Madagascar: Peak season, excellent weather, best diving. Cool in the highlands and warm/hot on the coasts.
- Morocco: Warm temperatures throughout the country
- Mozambique: Ideal beach weather, whale shark sightings possible
- Rwanda: Short rains may begin
- South Africa: Mild temperatures, wild flower season, great game viewing, whale watching
- Tanzania: Great Migration in Central Serengeti towards end of the month
- Zambia: Excellent game viewing, can be very hot, dry weather
- Zimbabwe: Excellent game viewing, can be very hot, dry weather
November
+
- Botswana: Excellent game viewing, rains may begin, newborn season, very warm to hot temperatures
- Ethiopia: Dry season, landscapes are still green
- Madagascar: Some rains experienced, best diving in Ile St Marie
- Morocco: Mild to cool temperatures throughout the country
- Mozambique: Rains may begin, whale shark sightings possible, whale migration
- Rwanda: Short rains possible
- South Africa: Warm temperatures throughout country, great game viewing, newborn season, whale watching, light rains possible
- Tanzania: Great Migration in Central Serengeti, warm to hot temperatures
- Zambia: Excellent game viewing, rains may begin, newborn season, very warm to hot temperatures
- Zimbabwe: Excellent game viewing, rains may begin, newborn season, very warm to hot temperatures
December
+
- Botswana: Intermittent rains but excellent game viewing, newborn season, warm to hot temperatures
- Ethiopia: Dry season, landscapes are still green
- Rwanda: Dry season begins at the end of the month, good for trekking
- South Africa: Peak season, warm/hot weather
- Tanzania: Great Migration in the Southern Serengeti
- Zambia: Rainy season, many lodges closed, excellent bird viewing
- Zimbabwe: Intermittent rains but excellent game viewing, newborn season, warm to hot temperatures