When Is the Best Time to Go on Safari?

There is no single best time for an African safari, because the continent spans two hemispheres and several rainfall patterns. What there is, for every destination, is a predictable rhythm of dry and wet seasons, and once you know it you can match the month you are able to travel with the place that will be at its best.

Our view: decide what you most want to see first (migration, gorillas, a specific landscape), then pick the month. If your dates are fixed, pick the country.

When is the best time to go on safari overall?

The dry season, roughly June to October, is the best time for most safaris because thinner vegetation and shrinking water sources concentrate wildlife and make it easier to find. This is also peak season, with the highest rates and the earliest sell-outs.

Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa) has one main rainy season from about November to March. East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda) has two: the long rains around March to May and the short rains around November. That is why January and February can be excellent in Tanzania and Kenya while Zambia's bush camps are closed.

Safari season by month: a country-by-country table

The table below rates each month for a luxury wildlife safari. "Best" means peak game viewing; "Good" means strong viewing with some trade-offs; "Green" means wet season with lower rates and lusher scenery; "Wet" means heavy rain with some camps closed.

Ratings are general guides; local weather varies year to year.

When is the best time for a Kenya or Tanzania safari?

July to October is the classic window for both countries, when the Great Migration is in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara and river crossings are most likely. January to March is the second high season in Tanzania, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calve on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu.

In Kenya, the Masai Mara is good almost all year because resident lions, cheetahs and leopards do not migrate. January to March is dry and quieter, and the reserve fee is lower: US$100 per day from January to June versus US$200 from July to December (fees change; confirm at booking with the Kenya Wildlife Service or your camp). April and May bring the long rains, and some camps close.

In Tanzania, April and May are the wettest months and several Serengeti camps close. June often finds the herds in the western corridor near the Grumeti River. For the full calendar, see our Great Migration guide.

When is the best time for a Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe safari?

June to October is peak season across all three, with wildlife concentrated near permanent water. October is the hottest month, often above 100°F, but it delivers some of the most intense game viewing of the year.

In Botswana, the Okavango Delta's floodwaters arrive from Angola and peak around June to August, the reverse of the local rains, which means water-based activities like mokoro trips are at their best in the dry season. Green season from November to March offers lower rates, dramatic skies, newborn impala and tsessebe, and some of the best birding in Africa.

In Zambia, South Luangwa (the birthplace of the walking safari) and the Lower Zambezi are dry from about June to October. Many remote bush camps close from roughly November to April, though some lodges near Mfuwe stay open and run boat safaris when rivers rise.

In Zimbabwe, Mana Pools is at its best late in the dry season when elephants gather on the floodplain. Hwange is strongest July to October around waterholes. Victoria Falls is fullest around March to May, when spray can obscure the view; for clear photographs of the rock face, later in the dry season works better.

When is the best time for a South Africa safari?

South Africa's private reserves are good year-round, which is why they suit fixed school-holiday dates. May to September is dry, cool and easiest for game viewing; November to March is hot, green and full of newborn animals.

In the Sabi Sand and Timbavati, adjoining Kruger National Park, winter mornings can be cold on open vehicles, so pack layers. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms and lusher bush, but the habituated leopards these reserves are famous for remain reliably visible. Malaria-free reserves such as Madikwe, Welgevonden in the Waterberg and the Eastern Cape reserves are excellent for families in any season; see our malaria-free safari guide. For more, read our South Africa safari guide.

When is the best time for a Namibia safari?

May to October is the best time to visit Namibia. Etosha's waterholes draw large concentrations of elephant, rhino and lion as the pans dry out, and temperatures in the desert are more comfortable.

Namibia is dry for most of the year, so even the "wet" months bring limited rain. November to April can be hot, but the desert briefly greens and Etosha's pans can fill with water and flamingos. The Skeleton Coast is often cool and foggy year-round.

When is the best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda?

June to September and December to February are the drier, most popular months for gorilla trekking. Trails in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi are steep and muddy, so drier months make the hike easier, though gorillas can be visited year-round.

Rwanda's permit costs US$1,500 per person and Uganda's US$800 per person; Uganda has announced lower green-season pricing (reported at US$600 for April, May and November). Fees change; confirm current tariffs with the Rwanda Development Board or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Permits for June to September should be booked 3–6+ months ahead. Compare the two in Rwanda vs Uganda gorilla trekking.

Is green season worth it?

Green season is worth it if you value lower rates, fewer vehicles and dramatic landscapes over the easiest possible Big Five sightings. It is less ideal for a first safari with tight dates or for walking and canoeing, which are limited when rivers rise.

Green season pros

• Lower rates: many camps cut prices by roughly 25–40% and offer stay-and-pay deals.
• Newborn animals: impala, wildebeest and zebra give birth, drawing predators.
• Birding: migrant species arrive from Europe and elsewhere in Africa.
• Photography: clear air after storms, green backdrops and moody skies.
• Fewer people: quieter sightings, even in popular areas.

Green season cons

• Thicker vegetation: animals disperse and are harder to spot.
• Closures: some remote camps and roads close, especially in Zambia and parts of Tanzania.
• Heat and humidity: combined with afternoon storms that can interrupt drives.
• Mosquitoes: malaria risk is generally higher in wet months; consult CDC Travelers' Health and a travel-medicine clinic.

What is the best time for a safari and beach trip?

June to October works best for most safari-and-beach combinations, because both the bush and the Indian Ocean coast are generally dry. December to February is a strong alternative for Tanzania with Zanzibar, pairing calving season with hot, sunny beach days.

April and May are the months to avoid on the East African coast, when long rains arrive and some island lodges close. For Southern Africa, Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago is pleasant from about May to November, and Mauritius has a mild, drier winter from roughly May to November. Cape Town is a different case: its Mediterranean climate means dry, warm summers from about November to March, the opposite of the bush's dry season, though it pairs well with South Africa's year-round private reserves. Your planner can match beach dates to your safari region.

How far ahead should you book for peak months?

For July to October in the Mara and Serengeti, or June to October in the Okavango, the best camps often sell out 9–12 months or more ahead. Green-season trips can usually be arranged with 3–6 months' notice. See how far in advance to book a safari and, for budgeting by season, our luxury safari cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to go on safari in Africa?

If you want one month that works across the most destinations, choose August or September: Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania are all in dry season and the Mara River crossings are usually under way. The trade-off is that these are the most expensive and most booked months of the year.

When is the cheapest time to go on safari?

Green season is cheapest: roughly November to March in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and April to May in East Africa. Many luxury camps lower rates by roughly a quarter to a third, and some offer stay-and-pay deals, though a few remote camps close entirely during the heaviest rains.

Is it worth going on safari in the rainy season?

Often, yes. Rain usually falls in short afternoon storms rather than all day, the landscapes are green, many animals give birth and migratory birds arrive. The downsides are thicker bush, some closed roads and camps, and more mosquitoes, so it suits repeat visitors and photographers more than first-timers wanting easy Big Five sightings.

When is the best time for gorilla trekking?

The drier months, June to September and December to February, make Rwanda and Uganda's steep forest trails easier and are the most popular. Gorillas can be trekked year-round, and Uganda has announced lower green-season permit pricing for April, May and November, so confirm the current tariff with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

When is the best time to visit South Africa for a safari?

South Africa's private reserves such as Sabi Sand and Timbavati are good year-round. May to September is dry and cool with the easiest game viewing; November to March is hot and green with newborn animals and lower rates in some lodges.

What is the best time for a safari in Botswana?

June to October is peak, with animals concentrated around permanent water and the Okavango floods at their height around June to August. November to March is green season, with lower rates, dramatic storms and excellent predator action around newborn antelope.

Fees, permits and lodge rates quoted are approximate, in US dollars, and change often. Confirm current prices at booking.