Best time to go on safari
As a general rule, the dry seasons are the best for seeing wildlife as animals are forced to cluster around the ever-shrinking waterholes.
Once the rain replenishes the water sources, animals disperse. However, the rainy season may also bring migratory birds and baby antelope and wildebeest – which, in turn, attract predators. You’ll also encounter fewer visitors at this time – and find great deals on lodges, camps and tours, though some accommodation in remote areas may close for the rainy season.
Some parks – such as Tanzania’s self-contained Ngorongoro Crater – enjoy fantastic wildlife year-round, while sights such as the Great Migration and the flooding of the Okavango Delta are highly seasonal. Click on the interactive map below to discover the best time to go on a safari in your chosen destination.
Our Safari Holidays
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
From
£3380 to £3480
21 days
ex flights
Uganda wildlife holiday
This you cannot miss while in Uganda -The wild and beautiful!
From
US $3000
8 days
ex flights
Tanzania Selous safari holiday & Zanzibar
Off-the-beaten track safari experiences & paradise beaches
From
£2150
10 days
ex flights
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
From
£3150 to £3595
12 days
ex flights
Classic South Africa self drive holiday
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
From
£4315
16 days
inc UK flights
Swaziland wildife and culture tour
Explore Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa
From
£2945
12 days
ex flights
Namibia self drive holiday, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
From
£2000 to £4000
14 days
ex flights
Botswana safari and Victoria Falls
An unforgettable wildlife and scenery experience
From
US $3853
11 days
ex flights
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
From
£4049 to £4249
18 days
inc UK flights
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
From
£1535 to £1890
14 days
ex flights
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
From
£2340 to £3300
10 days
ex flights
Serengeti Trail, Kenya & Tanzania safari
Overland truck safari
From
£1143 to £1480
8 days
ex flights
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silverback Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
From
US $3750
10 days
ex flights
Small group Kenya safari and culture holiday
.Great itinerary combining safari & cultural tours
From
US $1637 to US $2238
7 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
From
£2480
21 days
ex flights
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3720
14 days
ex flights
Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday, tailor made
Your tailor-made Tanzania safari & Zanzibar beach holiday
From
£3995 to £6950
13 days
ex flights
Uganda highlights & mountain gorillas tour
Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking, Queen Elizabeth & Lake Mburo
From
US $4569
10 days
ex flights
Complete Uganda holiday, tailor made
Gorillas, Chimpanzees, 6 National Parks and Jinja Adventure
From
US $7132
16 days
ex flights
Bwindi mountain gorilla tracking, Uganda
Fly to Bwindi Forest and Trek Uganda's Mountain Gorillas
From
US $2373
4 days
ex flights
Three Reserve safari in South Africa
Best value, 10 days high quality stunning big game safari
From
£2350
10 days
ex flights
Botswana & Zambia family safari
Family safari in the heart of the Okavango Delta
From
£3480 to £3499
14 days
inc UK flights
Selous safari & Mafia Islands diving holiday
Africa's largest game park
From
£3220
13 days
inc UK flights
Zimbabwe & Botswana self drive holiday
Victoria Falls and incredible wildlife on self drive tour
From
US $4380
16 days
ex flights
Uganda gorilla tracking and wildlife safari holiday
A wonderful gorilla and wild life experience in Uganda
From
£1500
10 days
ex flights
Kenya wildlife camping safari
Game watching morning, afternoon and night
From
£2130
8 days
ex flights
Botswana highlights and Victoria falls
Great value safari adventure covering Botswana & Zimbabwe
From
US $4180
11 days
ex flights
Namibia small group holiday, sand dunes & safari
A hidden gem of contrasting landscapes and amazing wildlife
From
£1685
8 days
ex flights
Botswana family adventure
A true African adventure for all the family!
From
US $4940
11 days
ex flights
1. Botswana
2. Kenya
3. Malawi
4. Namibia
5. South Africa
6. Tanzania
7. Zambia
8. Zimbabwe
2. Kenya
3. Malawi
4. Namibia
5. South Africa
6. Tanzania
7. Zambia
8. Zimbabwe
Botswana
1. Botswana
Botswana’s “green season” falls from November to March. Afternoon storms cool the desert heat and bring migratory birds and baby animals. The peak time for game viewing, however, is September-October, when the country is at its hottest and driest, and water at a premium. Unusually, this is when the Delta is at its highest – a lush counterpoint to the parched Kalahari.
Kenya
2. Kenya
The Great Migration crosses into the Masai Mara from June-Oct, when you’ll need to book in advance, but if possible, avoid the Great Migration of tourists in July and August. The long rains from March-May can cause travel disruption in more remote areas, with some lodges closing. The short rains of Nov-Dec refresh the vegetation, bringing migratory birds and baby animals.
Malawi
3. Malawi
Malawi’s peak season is from May-mid November – the driest and coolest months. Come early in the season for greener landscapes and warmer weather. June-August are chilly at night though wildlife is abundant and visitor numbers at their highest. Come in Sep-Oct if possible, which are cosily warm but still dry, luring wildlife to waterholes.
Namibia
4. Namibia
This desert nation is at its most parched from May-early November, the best time for wildlife viewing in Etosha – but you’ll need to book well in advance. June-August are very cold at night and unpleasantly dry, but wonderfully clear. May is warmer and less dusty – a lovely time to visit. Combine the Big Five with big whales, sighted off the coast from July-Nov.
South Africa
5. South Africa
Kruger’s peak time is July-Sep, which are dry and pleasantly cool – you’ll need extra layers at night. The risk of malaria is also at its lowest. Aug is the busiest – and priciest – month, book well ahead. The park can be visited all year, but Dec-Jan can be unbearably hot, though rain falls in short, sharp storms, meaning you can still explore. For Addo, chilly June-Sep are also the best months.
Tanzania
6. Tanzania
The long rains from March-May cause some lodges in the south and west to close. In the north, however, this can be a good time for deals – and fewer tourists. The Great Migration can be seen virtually year-round in the Serengeti, but the peak months are June-August, for the river crossing (and school holidays!). Jan-Feb are green and gorgeous, with baby wildebeest.
Zambia
7. Zambia
Zambia is known for its walking safaris, and most walking bushcamps are open from June onwards, when the weather is at its driest. Luangwa, Mana Pools and Lower Zambezi are hot with clusters of wildlife in September and October, while the Nov-April rains can cut off areas of South Luangwa, particularly in Feb-March, when accommodation may close.
Zimbabwe
8. Zimbabwe
May to October is the key safari season here, particularly in Hwange National Park where the lack of rain draws wildlife to the waterholes. Nights are cold from June-August, so bring layers. Victoria Falls is easy to access at this time as well, though the flow trickles off from October. Earlier on in the season, the landscape is still pleasantly green.
Our top Safari Holiday
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3720
14 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 1 Sep, 15 Sep, 29 Sep, 13 Oct, 27 Oct, 10 Nov, 24 Nov, 8 Dec, 22 Dec
2019: 1 Sep, 15 Sep, 29 Sep, 13 Oct, 27 Oct, 10 Nov, 24 Nov, 8 Dec, 22 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Safari or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
What happens when on safari
Emma Gregg is an award-winning travel writer. She talks us through her best times to visit Namibia: “The end of the dry season is excellent for wildlife watching in Etosha - it's so dry at this time that giraffes, elephants and zebras converge at the waterholes in impressive numbers. Namibia's landscapes look amazing in May, when the air is very clear, the temperatures are moderate and much of the vegetation is still green.”
Bruce Taylor, founder of our supplier Sunway Safaris, describes his favourite time in Botswana:
"I enjoy the green season, from December to April, because there's no dust. The beauty of the rains in Botswana is that they’re generally late afternoon thunderstorms that come rolling through then pass on, so you can still have gloriously sunny days. The rain cools things down a bit, there are a lot of young animals around and all the migratory birds are in the Okavango – they’re spectacular."
"I enjoy the green season, from December to April, because there's no dust. The beauty of the rains in Botswana is that they’re generally late afternoon thunderstorms that come rolling through then pass on, so you can still have gloriously sunny days. The rain cools things down a bit, there are a lot of young animals around and all the migratory birds are in the Okavango – they’re spectacular."
Rupert Calcott, from our supplier Exodus, tells us about the best time for a safari in his native South Africa: "The colder months of July to September are a fantastic time for game viewing. As the country gets drier the animals are concentrated at waterholes, there’s greater visibility; it’s a really good time for wildlife. April to June are also wonderful because it’s not too hot and there’s less chance of rain, but we get fewer travellers."
Amanda Marks, from our supplier Tribes Travel, explains why the best time to visit Tanzania may not be when you think it is... "Most people think of the migration as from July to October, whereas in actual fact it moves constantly. You have it from December to March in the southern Serengeti – you can find the wildlife there quite easily. They tend to give birth at the beginning of the year, then move north and west, though they are more spread out so it’s not such a spectacle. Then from July to October they are in the very north of the Serengeti."
More about Safari
Our safari travel guide takes a broad overview of safaris in Africa and has been designed to help you, the responsible traveller, learn more about this exciting holiday option.
The best place to go on safari in Africa is as much personal, as geographical, depending on the wildlife you hope to see, the landscapes you enjoy and whether you're travelling with family.
Some of the best safaris in the world are set against the wide-open vistas of Africa.
Not sure how to choose an African safari? With so many safari options out there, and so many countries, too, it can feel bewildering.
Electric safari vehicles are transforming the game drive experience into something quiet, smooth and environmentally responsible.
Safaris with kids are a wonderful way to introduce children of all ages to wildlife in its natural environment, but it's worth doing some research to find the right kind of safari, in the right destination, so that little ones will be engaged and inspired, not bored.
Responsible safari holidays are designed to help you understand what you’re seeing, leave the landscape as you found it and, ideally, benefit both the wildlife and communities you come across while you travel.
Find all of our safari guides in one place, for safari in particular countries such as Tanzania and Botswana or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of safari holidays such as budget, self drive or gorilla safaris.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Wild Frog Photography] [Top box: Harshil Gudka]
[Botswana: Geran de Klerk]
[Kenya: Oliver Cox]
[Malawi: Hansueli Krapf]
[Namibia: Hans Stieglitz]
[South Africa: Vincent van Zalinge]
[Zambia: Ian McGrory]
[Zimbabwe: Christine Donaldson]
[Bruce Taylor quote (Botswana): Athena Lao]
[Amanda Marks (wildebeest migration): Joxean Koret]
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