Best time to visit Africa


South Africa Weather Chart
Our Africa Holidays
Classic South Africa self drive holiday
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
Morocco holiday, Marrakech to the Sahara
Marrakech and Sahara - stay in a Riad, sleep under the stars
Uganda gorilla tracking and wildlife safari holiday
A wonderful gorilla and wild life experience in Uganda
Madagascar in depth, small group tour
Madagascar's unique wildlife and off the beaten track gems
Madagascar North Coast adventure holiday
Action packed expedition through wild north east Madagascar
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
Ivory Coast small group tour
Explore the little known but welcoming Ivory Coast
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
Sao Tome discovery tour
Explore these paradise islands with the Bradt Guide Author
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
Tanzania Selous safari holiday & Zanzibar
Off-the-beaten track safari experiences & paradise beaches
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
Self drive South Africa holiday
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
Morocco cultural tour
Come and see Morocco's kaleidoscope of colours
Ethiopia holidays, tailor made
Discover the natural beauty and culture of Ethiopia
Uganda wildlife and activity holiday
Experience the Pearl of Africa...true African adventure!
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
Small group holidays to Madagascar
Experience the best of this enigmatic island continent
Namibia self drive holiday, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
Swaziland wildife and culture tour
Explore Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa
Luxury trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah du Toubkal and trek in style
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silverback Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
Botswana safari and Victoria Falls
An unforgettable wildlife and scenery experience
Serengeti Trail, Kenya & Tanzania safari
Overland truck safari
Cape Town to Vic Falls holiday in Southern Africa
A spectacular and diverse African journey
Ethiopia holiday, tailormade
Discover the people, places and wildlife of Ethiopia
Botswana family adventure
A true African adventure for all the family!
Family luxury safari & beach holiday, South Africa & Mozambique
Combine a wildlife safari in South Africa with beach time.
When to visit Africa and when not to
Southern Africa
Botswana, Namibia and South Africa: For game viewing, travel in the cool but dry months of July to October – or early November in Namibia - when wildlife clusters around the remaining waterholes. It can get busy, especially in hotspots such as Kruger – so book well ahead and expect higher prices. Animals disperse in the green season, from November to March, making it much harder to see – although there are more young animals present at this time.If you’re heading to Cape Town, the rain pattern is reversed – with the scorching months of November to March being the driest.
Zambia and Malawi are best visited from late May to November – particularly towards the end of this period, as waterholes virtually dry up and the warmer spring temperatures are creeping up. This is also the best time for a walking safari in Zambia. Some accommodation in remoter areas may close in soggy March – May.
Ethiopia
The best time to go to Ethiopia is in the dry months of September to April – and particularly in September to October, when the land is still fresher and greener. Timkat, the biggest Christian celebration here, takes place in January. Mountain regions should be avoided in the long wet season. Cool and damp year round, the long rains from June and July up to October (with rain starting as soon as March in the Bale Mountains) create poor conditions for trekking, and clouds and fog obscure the glorious views. August is the coolest and wettest month – but bring very warm layers whenever you travel. Bale in particular can drop below freezing at night.East Africa
For gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, be prepared if you are going during the rainy seasons of November, and from March to May – especially in Uganda, where treks usually take longer. It doesn’t rain all day every day, but comes in big bursts, and gorilla tracking permits may be heavily discounted – but if you aren’t a fan of rain, think about booking outside the rainy season.
Madagascar
Cyclones hit Madagascar in February, but changing weather patterns mean the cyclones are increasingly less predictable – so avoid January and even March to be on the safe side. October to December is baby lemur season.North Africa
Spring and autumn offer the best weather for walking and cycling holidays in Morocco – though expect dust storms in the desert from February to April. Avoid the Sahara in midsummer; temperatures will be much more pleasant on the coast.Our top Africa Holiday
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
2021: 11 Apr, 23 May, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec
2022: 9 Jan, 13 Feb, 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 22 May, 29 May, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 11 Dec, 25 Dec
Responsible Travel recommends
“For such a large continent, there are a number of different weather patterns and differences across Africa. The main rule of thumb is that across Southern Africa (except the Cape region), the rains start towards the end of November and continue until March. The rest of the year is generally dry. In Cape Town and surrounds, June-September tends to be the wettest months. The rainy, or ‘green season’, is not a bad time of year to go on safari though. Granted, it will be warm and the bush will be greener, so the animals will be harder to spot, but that is where you guide/tracker earns their crust.”
“East Africa has two dry and two wet seasons. The big rains are around March/April whilst the small rains are in December. Southern Africa’s climate is more seasonal with spring, summer, autumn and winter. These are southern hemisphere seasons, however. Winter in South Africa during July/August can be cold and wet, and you may even see some snow in the Drakensberg Mountains. The most important wildlife event to be considered is the Great Migration in East Africa. Doing a loop around the Serengeti and Masai Mara, giant herds of wildebeest can be seen. The best time to see them in the Serengeti is the start of the year, whilst the best time to see them crossing the river into the Masai Mara is August to October, though it can vary from year to year.