When is the best time to go to Southern Africa?
In Southern Africa, the seasons have a significant influence on wildlife and game-viewing conditions. The dry season generally runs from May to October, through autumn and winter and into spring. As the landscape dries out, wildlife tends to concentrate around remaining water sources, making animals easier to find and game viewing more consistent.
The wet season, from November to April, brings summer rains, fresh growth and the arrival of migratory birds. Wildlife disperses as water and food become more widely available, while the bush becomes thicker and greener. Birding is excellent, although game viewing can be more challenging and insects more prevalent. Rain often falls in short, heavy downpours followed by sunshine, and some remote areas may become difficult to access.
When is the best time to go to East Africa?
East Africa has two main wet seasons: the long rains, generally from April to June, and the short rains, from late November through December. Some properties in wildlife areas close during April and May when heavy rainfall can make roads difficult or inaccessible.
The dry seasons generally offer more consistent game viewing, as wildlife gathers around available water sources. Rainfall also plays an important role in the Great Migration, influencing the growth of fresh grasses and the movement of the herds across the region.
