One of the biggest decisions to make when planning an African safari is where to go: Southern Africa or East Africa?
Sure, you can do both, but that’s a big trip with lots of travel – which is why most safari travellers keep it to one region or the other. Plus, understandably, it makes a great deal of sense, as the safari seasons of Southern Africa & East Africa are not aligned, primarily in the sense that peak season in, say, Botswana (mild, dry weather & exceptional wildlife sightings) is very different to that in Kenya or Rwanda, where it may be peak rainy season.
The Southern Africa safari seasons are relatively simple: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia & Zimbabwe spend most of the year under dry sunny skies & have a single, short rainy season. East Africa’s safari destinations – Kenya & Tanzania – on the other hand, have a bimodal system: two rainy seasons a year! And of course, the mountain rainforests of Uganda & Rwanda have something of a permanent wet season, but with marked seasonal differences in rainfall.
With all that being said, it’s officially time to unpack East Africa’s safari seasons: Each of which is quite different to the others & each – like in Southern Africa – has a character of its own. Peak season, for example, is not to everyone’s taste (and certainly not pocket) whereas the wet season is actually preferred by many photographers for its kinder light & vibrant colours.
SUNNY DISPOSITION: JANUARY – MARCH
Warm mostly dry & with lots of sunshine, this is peak safari season in Kenya. Animals are concentrated around water sources; vegetation is low & sparse (making it much easier to spot wildlife) & predators are circling. Plus, at this time of year, the famous wildebeest migration is in Tanzania’s Serengeti, moving southwards following the end of year rains – THIS IS A MAJOR NOT-TO-MISSED WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHT! With that being said – be sure to seize this EXTRAORDINARY opportunity & book a Serengeti safari for the dramatic birthing / calving season – it’s one of the BEST times to watch predator / prey interaction & witness some of the most dramatic game viewing!
As the drier weather extends across the region: it’s also one of the best times to hike Kilimanjaro & if gorilla trekking is on your bucket list, NOW is one of the driest times in the forests of Rwanda & Uganda, making walking easier & gorillas easier to locate.
GREEN MINDED: APRIL – JUNE
It’s green because it’s wet. This is the time of the ‘Long Rains’ & some of the more remote & wild reserves in East Africa are worth avoiding; accommodations may be closed anyway. Gorilla trekking becomes more difficult, and in Kenya and Tanzania’s reserves, wildlife tends to disperse across wider areas, making animals more difficult to see…EXCEPT THE MIGRATING WILDEBEEST! Take advantage of low season prices & visit Tanzania where huge trains of wildebeest are making their way across the Serengeti to what is the most exciting time of the migration. You’ll also have other classic destinations almost to yourself: the Ngorongoro Crater, for example, which is very busy in peak season.
UP FOR ADVENTURE: JULY – SEPTEMBER
As the rains dry up & cool down, BIG things start happening across East Africa! It’s the River Crossing season & herds of wildebeest are braving crocodile-infested rivers in the Serengeti / Masai Mara complex. Away from the migration, increasingly arid conditions are driving larger & larger concentrations of elephants, buffalo & other animals to water sources at Ruaha National Park, Amboseli National Park & the Ngorongoro Crater. THAT’S NOT ALL! Predators follow & drama often unfolds at the water’s edge!
Anyone looking to experience a diverse, adventurous East African safari will find this to be the BEST season! In addition to great conditions for incredible & wildly thrilling wildlife sightings & encounters, it is also the absolute BEST time of the year for trekking Mountain Gorillas & Chimpanzees in Uganda & Rwanda – an extraordinary & down-right exhilarating bucket-list worthy adventure that everyone should get to experience on their trip to Africa! Besides exceptional Mountain Gorilla & Chimpanzee sightings, it is also a great time for game viewing in both Uganda & Rwanda – so, if you’ve ever wondered if it’s worth going to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park or Akagera, NOW is the perfect season to experience ALL the amazing wildlife magic for yourself!
DANCE IN THE RAIN: OCTOBER – DECEMBER
The ‘Short Rains’ end the East African year & into the festive season. Despite the rain, it’s warm & sunny for much of the time, making this a GREAT season for beach holidays & special times in East Africa. Not to mention it’s a popular add-on to any safari in the region!
The rains at this time of year tend not to interfere too much with wildlife watching & several destinations are delivering excellent action: the wildebeest herds are spilling out of the Masai Mara & into the Serengeti at the same time as migrant birds arrive across East Africa – excellent news for birders!
