When to travel to Africa
Climates vary, depending on the timing of rainy seasons, but only at altitude and in parts of South Africa do daytime temperatures become cold. Nights can sometimes be chilly but an African campfire is one of life’s great pleasures. The famous herbivore migration proceeds throughout the year with foals born in January and February and spectacular river crossings (through a gauntlet of crocodiles) in June and September. Rainy seasons can cause some travel difficulties but are also times of great beauty.
The equatorial countries get progressively wetter as you move from the dry savannah of Kenya to the permanently humid rainforests of Gabon. Tanzania and Rwanda have stable climates with pleasantly warm daytime temperatures, though extended downpours during the long rains (February to early May) may make travel inadvisable in some places.
Zambia’s dry season runs from May to October, with clear skies and excellent game viewing. Some camps close in the rainy season, from November to April, but lodges in the Luangwa stay open and offer excellent boat safaris for birdwatching. Malawi sees significant regional variation, with warm days by the lakeshore and cooler climes in the highlands. Daytime temperatures in Mozambique vary from 25ºC to 38ºC, depending on latitude. The rainy season runs from December to May in the north, and November to March in the south.
Botswana has wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, and though the rainy season in the Okavango Delta (November to April) can be glorious, flood levels may affect travel plans. Namibia’s dry season (April to October) sees great heat, while the December rains tend to comprise a daily downfall that brings the desert into bloom.
In South Africa, one region may be cold while another bakes. The often stifling midsummer occurs over December and January, when it seems the entire country goes on holiday, and may be best avoided. Conversely, the Cape region can range from pleasantly warm to downright chilly in winter, but with lovely blue skies.