There is no single best month for an African safari. The right time depends on where you go and what you want to see. Here is how we think about it when we plan safaris from our Moorooka office.
Kenya and Tanzania
The long dry season, from late June to October, is the classic time. Grass is short, animals gather near water, and game viewing is at its most reliable. It is also when the wildebeest migration is usually in the northern Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara, with river crossings most likely between July and October. The herds follow the rain, not the calendar, so no month is guaranteed.
January and February are the other strong window. The herds move to the southern Serengeti to calve, and predators follow. The long rains, roughly April and May, are the quietest time; some camps close, and those that stay open are usually easier to book.
Botswana
The Okavango Delta works differently. Floodwater from the Angolan highlands arrives during the dry winter, so the Delta is at its fullest from about June to August, exactly when the surrounding land is driest and wildlife concentrates. May to October is the main season. November to March is the green season: fewer visitors, newborn animals and dramatic skies.
South Africa and Victoria Falls
In Kruger and the private reserves around it, the dry winter months from May to September make animals easier to find. Victoria Falls is at its most powerful from about March to May, though the spray can hide the view. Later in the year the flow drops and the gorge is clearer to see.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
Treks run all year. The drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, make the forest trails easier underfoot. Permits are limited each day, so they are the first thing we secure.
How far ahead to book
For a safari in the dry season, start planning 9 to 12 months ahead. The best small camps have only a handful of tents, and gorilla permits sell out. From Brisbane, most routes connect through Sydney or Perth to Johannesburg, or through a Middle East hub to Nairobi, so we build flights and camps together.
Before you go
Check vaccination and entry requirements with your GP or a travel clinic early, and read the Smartraveller advice for each country. We arrange travel insurance alongside your booking; read the Product Disclosure Statement before you buy.
If you are thinking about a safari, Tanya leads our safari planning. Call (07) 3107 3109 or visit us in Moorooka to book a consultation.
