Seasons & conditions

When to travel

Whether you’re looking to observe the Great Wildebeest Migration in East Africa, embark on a Big 5 safari, or enjoy a romantic honeymoon on the beach, timing is a crucial factor when it comes to your travel plans. The data provided below per month per destination draws from our first-hand experience with the travel seasons of Africa.

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Summer! Warm to hot and sunny with occasional thunderstorms. 

APRIL
Late summer - warm 

MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST
Cool to cold in Cape Town, variant temperatures on safari

SEPTEMBER
Early spring - warm

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Summer! Warm to hot and sunny

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
TOO HOT!

APRIL
Hot

MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST
Best time to travel

SEPTEMBER
Hot

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
TOO HOT

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Rainy and cyclone season

APRIL
Rainy season

MAY THROUGH TO NOVEMBER
Best time to travel

DECEMBER
Rainy season

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Hot and rainy

APRIL
End of rainy season

MAY
Warm - great shoulder season

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Cool to warm - long dry season

OCTOBER
Starts to get very hot and humid

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Hot and rainy

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Hot and rainy - many camps close

APRIL
End of rainy season

MAY
Warm - great shoulder season

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Cool to warm - long dry season

OCTOBER
Starts to get very hot and humid

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Hot and rainy

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Hot and rainy - many camps close

APRIL
End of rainy season

MAY
Warm - great shoulder season

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Cool to warm - long dry season

OCTOBER
Starts to get very hot and humid

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Hot and rainy

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Short dry season – Great Migration calving season in Southern Serengeti

MARCH, APRIL AND MAY
Long rainy season

JUNE
Long dry season – Great Migration in Central/Western Serengeti

JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
Long dry season – Great Migration in Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara

NOVEMBER
Short rainy season

DECEMBER
Short dry season – Great Migration calving season in Southern Serengeti starts in late December

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Short dry season

MARCH, APRIL AND MAY
Long rainy season

JUNE
Long dry season

JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
Long dry season – Great Migration in Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara

NOVEMBER
Short rainy season

DECEMBER
Short dry season

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Short dry season

MARCH, APRIL AND MAY
Long rainy season

JUNE
Long dry season

JUNE THROUGH TO OCTOBER
Long dry season

NOVEMBER
Short rainy season

DECEMBER
Short dry season

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