When is a good time to travel to Africa? The information below may assist in your holiday travel planning.
MADAGASCAR Generally the dry months are between April and October, but Madagascar encompasses a range of different climatic zones and the best time for a holiday in Madagascar will depend where you intend to go and what you intend to see. There is excellent whale watching off Ile Ste Marie between July and September. Infrastructure is limited, so holidays in Madagascar cannot be rushed, and plenty of time is needed to plan your visit.
BOTSWANA The best time to safari in Botswana is from April to October after the main rains, although for birders the months of December to May are particularly good. For a safari in the Okavango Delta the waters are traditionally at their peak in the middle of the dry season from late July to early August. Game in Botswana tends to be relaxed making extremely good viewing for safari goers.
KENYA The ideal times for Kenya safaris are December to March and July to October. A trip to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda combines well with a safari in Kenya. Palm fringed, powder white beaches on the Indian Ocean are easily accessible, making a beach add on an ideal start or finish to a Kenya safari. Kenya is an excellent family safari destination.
MALAWI Malawi is best visited during the dry months from April to October. Malawi's highlights can be combined in an overland safari to produce a wonderfully varied journey through diverse scenery. The excellent beaches on Lake Malawi combine well with a more traditional safari in Malawi or across the border with a safari in Zambia or Tanzania.
MAURITIUS Mauritius holidays can be taken year-round, with the drier months to visit from April to November, but with the high season in Mauritius' hotter summer months of December to March (also their rainy months) Mauritius doesn't have malaria, dangerous insects, or crime. Mauritius is a perfect place for a relaxing family holiday.
NAMIBIA Namibia never gets much rain and can be visited year-round, though its summer, from November to March, is hot. Self drive trips and family safaris work well in Namibia as it has a good network of (mainly dirt) roads and many of the areas of interest are outside national parks. These can easily be visited without a guide.
SEYCHELLES With constant temperatures, and outside the cyclone belt, Seychelles really is a year-round destination.
TANZANIA The wildebeest migration travels across the Serengeti and parts of the Ngorongoro Crater between November and May. Chimps can be seen year-round in the Mahale Mountains. Tarangire is best visited during its dry season between July and September, while the southern parks of Ruaha, Selous and Katavi are best explored between July and March.
ZANZIBAR The climate on Zanzibar follows that of the mainland with some rain in April, May and November, but warm temperatures throughout the year. There are a wide variety of hotels on Zanzibar and the surrounding islands; from larger 'resort style' hotels with their own dive schools and watersports through to much smaller lodges with thatched cottages along a coral clifftop.
ZAMBIA Most safari camps in Zambia's Luangwa Valley and Kafue National Park only open during the dry months between June and early November. Walking safaris and night drives are Zambian highlights, with leopard often seen.
UGANDA Uganda is a year-round safari destination, with a long dry season from June to September and wet seasons from March to May and October to December.
RWANDA A safari in Rwanda is possible at any time of the year. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda combines well with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. The long dry season in Rwanda runs from June to September, with wet seasons from March to May and October to December. Gorillas tracking in Rwanda is possible all year, although it is easier during the dry months, while chimps are more accessible in wetter weather.
SOUTHERN AFRICA TRAVEL The Oak Suite, Guardian House,
Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AE Tel: 01483 425533 Fax: 01483 860391 The air holiday packages on this website are ATOL protected
by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 4795. Please see our booking
conditions for more information. Click on the ATOL logo above for more information.
Many thanks and credit to the following
photographers whose images have been used in this site: Michael Poliza, Colin
Bell, Dana Allen, David Ross, Nick Melidonas and Wilderness Safaris.
