Quick answers
| Trip | Best months |
|---|---|
| East Africa safari (Kenya, Tanzania) | June to October, plus January and February |
| Great Migration river crossings | About July to October |
| Migration calving (southern Serengeti) | About January to March |
| Southern Africa safari (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kruger) | May to October |
| Gorilla trekking (Rwanda, Uganda) | June to September and December to February |
| Cape Town and the Winelands | October to April |
| Morocco | March to May and September to November |
| Egypt | October to April |
| Zanzibar and the Kenyan coast | June to October and December to February |
| Madagascar | April to November |
| Mauritius | May to December |
| Seychelles | April, May, October and November |
| West Africa (Ghana, Senegal) | November to March |
The two big patterns
East and Southern Africa have a dry winter (about May to October) that is best for safaris, and a wet summer that brings green landscapes, baby animals and lower prices. East Africa has two rainy seasons: long rains around April and May, short rains around November.
North Africa is best in spring and autumn. Summers in the Sahara and Egypt are extremely hot, and winters in the Atlas can be cold.
Do not overlook the green season
Many camps cut prices outside the peak months. You might get rain in the afternoons, but you also get fewer vehicles, newborn animals and dramatic skies.
