There isn't a single best time for an African safari, only the best time that suits you. For most trips to Africa any time of the year will be suitable, and every season has an advantage and a disadvantage. The right time depends on your budget, your free time, your preferences and your desires, and on which region you plan to visit.
If you're researching the best time to visit Africa for its wildlife, then you should know that the animals are incredible no matter when you visit, even if the experience differs slightly.
Take the Great Wildebeest Migration, for example. Most people assume it only happens in the middle of the year during peak season, but it's actually a continuous, months-long cycle of breeding, birthing, raising young and migrating across East Africa. Each stage of the cycle happens at a different time of year, offering a unique viewing experience for safari-goers.
When is the best time to go to Africa?
There isn't one. It all, however, depends on the person and their budget, their free time, their preferences and their desires. Each time of the year will have an advantage and a disadvantage, and it's the balance of this that will make clear what the right time is for you.
We know that may be annoying if you want a firm answer. But Africa is a big continent with very different regions, so the question that matters is not when is best, but when is best for the trip that you want to take.
Explorer tip: Base your decision for when to travel to Africa for your safari on what you what to experience while you’re there, rather than picking a time of year to visit and trying to fit everything into it.
Weather vs Seasonality: When is Africa Busiest, and Does it Matter?
When we talk about the weather and the seasonality in Africa, we are talking about two separate things. The weather is the daily temperature, the amount of rainfall and the conditions you'll encounter on your trip. Seasonality refers to the amount of tourism that occurs at any given time of the year. They are often linked, but seasonality doesn't indicate the best and worst time to go, just the busiest and the quietest.
For most trips to Africa, any time of the year will be suitable. If you have special requirements, you may have limited times, which we cover below.
Why Busy Doesn't Mean Better
In a never-ending cycle, the busy period often becomes the time that people choose to go, as they theorise that it must be busy for a reason. Likewise, they avoid the low season as it clearly must be quiet so it can't be as good. This isn't true.
The Animals Don't Take Holidays
African animals don't have an employment contract and therefore never take holidays. They continue with their lives every day of the year, irrespective of whether people are there to view them. Their lives run their own cycles, from breeding and pregnancy to birthing and raising. Each step of their cycle offers a different viewing experience for the safari goer. There isn't one part of it that is better than the other, just different perspectives on the same animal.
East Africa: Wet seasons, Dry seasons and What They Mean For Your Safari
East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda) sits around the equator, so it alternates between dry and wet seasons rather than having four distinct seasons. The wet seasons bring fewer visitors and generally lower prices. The dry season brings less rain and often shorter grass, but higher prices and more people.
East Africa's Weather: The Long Rains and The Short Rains
East Africa sits around the equator meaning that it has a wet/dry weather pattern. This means it alternates between dry seasons and wet seasons, rather than four distinct seasons. It should be noted that the wet season here doesn't mean it rains all day, but rather briefly (and heavily) each day. You can usually see it coming and retreat to enjoy the show.
- April/May: the first wet season, known as the 'long rains'. You will usually encounter tropical rainfall at least once a day and often overnight. This enables the landscape to begin to regrow and the grasslands to flourish.
- November: the second wet season, known as the 'short rains'. As the name suggests, it is shorter but similar.
- All other months: the weather is milder, with occasional rain but mostly dry and sunny days.
Wet Season or Dry Season in East Africa?
Southern Africa: How The Seasons Change From Cape Town to Victoria Falls
Southern Africa is more varied than East Africa, depending on the region. As a loose guideline, the wet season across Southern Africa is tropical and runs around the New Year, from about November to February. Far south in South Africa there are four distinct seasons, and as you head north they soften and become more tropical, until they merge into East Africa's wet/dry pattern around northern Zambia.
An obvious (but important) note is that with Southern Africa being located in the southern hemisphere, you'll find the opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere. The exception to the November to February wet season is the southern half of South Africa (for example Cape Town), which with its distinct seasons sees the most rain in its winter around July.
Compare It To Somewhere You Know
For readers in the Southern Hemisphere (and particularly Australians), it is helpful for weather comparisons to think of:
- Cape Town as Melbourne/Auckland
- Victoria Falls as Darwin
- East Africa's seasons as Singapore
Best Time To Go by Place: Southern Africa's Big Names at a Glance
If you plan on visiting multiple areas in Southern Africa, they often have conflicting seasons. The table below shows how some of the big names behave through the year.
And so it goes on. If it sounds confusing, it is only because you are looking for a definitive time to travel, and when it comes to Africa, there isn't one.
When Timing Matters More: Specialist Trips, School Holidays and The Great Migration
For most travellers, all seasons will be suitable and offer amazing experiences. Timing matters more if your trip has specialist elements, or if there is only one time you can travel.
If Your Trip Has Specialist Elements
If you have special requirements, for example the blooming of flowers or the flooding of salt pans, then you may have limited times to see these. If your trip has specialist elements (whale watching, wildflower blooms etc), then there might be special times.
If You Can Only Travel at One Time
It may just be the only time you can take leave from work or school holidays, or you may need to work around other events. If your window is July to September, remember that it is the busiest season across Africa, and that peak is largely driven by demand, not the conditions on the ground. Our East Africa vs Southern Africa safari guide can help you pick the region that suits that time of year.
What About The Great Migration?
The Great Migration is a continuous loop through the Serengeti and Masai Mara, so timing is never guaranteed. Calving takes place on the southern Serengeti plains from January to March, and the Mara River crossings in the north typically fall between July and October. Recent seasons have shifted by one to two weeks against the historical average because of late or irregular rain, so allow a few buffer days if crossings are your priority.
Read more: The Great Migration Myth
How To Choose The Best Time For Your African safari
Choosing the best time for an African safari comes down to your requirements for your trip. Start from the beginning with the major elements (like the locations) before you get lost in the details. Otherwise, it would be like painting an elephant by starting on the toenails. There isn't the best time, but rather the best time for you.
- Pick the experiences you want first. These are the major elements of your trip, and they decide which seasons matter.
- Check your budget. The busiest months bring higher prices and more people, while the quieter months generally bring lower prices.
- Check your free time. Your leave from work or school holidays may decide it for you, and that's fine.
- Then match the weather to your route. Look at each place you're visiting, because in Southern Africa especially the seasons often conflict.
Explorer tip: Don't feel pressured into going when it doesn't suit you. It is invaluable to get some expert advice before you go, to avoid wasting money and plan out the best trip for you.
The Best Time of Year For An African Safari: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time for an African safari?
There isn't a single best time for an African safari. For most trips to Africa, any time of the year will be suitable, so start with what you want to experience. It depends on your budget, your free time, your preferences and your desires, and each time of the year has an advantage and a disadvantage.
When is the best time to go to Africa?
It depends on the region. East Africa has a wet/dry pattern, with the 'long rains' in April/May and the 'short rains' in November. In Southern Africa the wet season is tropical and runs around the New Year, from about November to February, while southern South Africa has four distinct seasons. Match the season to your route.
What is the best time to travel to Africa for safari if I want fewer crowds?
The quietest seasons across Africa are March/April and November, just before the two peak periods. In East Africa, the wet season also means fewer tourists at animal sightings and lodges, and generally lower prices. The busiest months are July to September, so avoid those if crowds matter most.
When is the busiest time for safari in Africa?
Across Africa, the busiest season is generally July to September, linked to the extended summer holidays in the northern hemisphere. There is also an increase in tourism from mid-December to mid-January, as travellers look to escape the winter. The peak is largely driven by demand, not the conditions on the ground.
What is the best time to visit Africa for wildlife?
African animals never take holidays, so wildlife is there every day of the year. Their lives run their own cycles, from breeding and pregnancy to birthing and raising, and each step offers a different viewing experience. No part of the cycle is better than another, just a different perspective on the same animal.
Is the wet season a bad time for a safari in East Africa?
Not necessarily. Rain usually falls briefly and heavily each day, not all day. The grass might be taller and sightings can be further apart, but the rain brings an explosion of growth and colour and the birth of many animals. You also get fewer tourists and generally lower prices.
When is Victoria Falls at its biggest?
Victoria Falls is at its largest not long after the rainy season, towards February/March, and slowly decreases in size over the year. The Zambian side is best in the first six months of the year, while the Zimbabwean side has continuous water flow, even in the dry season, and can be visited all year around.
Are Southern Africa's seasons the opposite of the northern hemispheres?
Yes. Southern Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so you'll find the opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere. Far south in South Africa there are four distinct seasons, and Cape Town sees the most rain in its winter around July. Further north, the seasons soften and become more tropical.
