JANUARY
n East Africa(Kenya, Tanzania): January to March is a hot, dry season. Good game viewing in Kenya, Elsa’s Kopje Lodge is recommended. In Tanzania, the wildebeest and zebra migration starts in the southern Serengeti.
n Southern Africa (Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe): November to the end of March is the rainy season. Hot weather with intermittent thunder storms. Plenty of young animals and few tourists. Excellent value low-season rates, recommend Wilderness Safaris’ Linkwasha Camp in Zimbabwe.
FEBRUARY
n East Africa: wildebeest are calving in Tanzania’s southern Serengeti, Ndutu lodge and Gibbs Farm Safaris recommended.
n Southern Africa: in Zimbabwe, Matusadona National Park offers good game viewing, despite rains. Animals come to Lake Kariba for fresh grass. Matusadona Water lodge recommended.
n Malawi: Liwonde National Park offers excellent birdwatching.
MARCH
n East Africa: good game viewing, despite rainy season from the end of March to May.
n Southern Africa: in Botswana, zebra and wildebeest migration on the Makgadikgadi pans – recommend Jack’s Camp. In Namibia, winter rain in the Sossusvlei area means the desert rivers often flow. Recommend Wilderness Safaris’ Sossusvlei Camp.
APRIL
n East Africa: dramatic skies, brilliant new green vegetation, fewer tourists, cooler temperatures. Excellent value low season rates. Recommend Cheli & Peacock’s Tortilis Camp, Kenya.
n Southern Africa: start of dry season. Warm days and cool nights. Victoria Falls begin to flow at their best, recommend Tongabezi Lodge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
n Namibia: April to September are the coolest months to travel and the best for gameviewing. Recommend Ongava Lodge.
n South Africa: April to August is autumn towinter, warm days and cold nights.
MAY
n Southern Africa: dry winter season from May to August, days are warm and dry with cool nights. Botswana’s Okavango Delta floods between May and September, wider areas accessible by dugout canoe. Recommend Wilderness Safaris Jao Camp.
JUNE
n East Africa: June-October. Dry season. Beginning of high season. Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park has huge herds of elephant, from June to November. Recommend Oliver’s Camp.
n Southern Africa: getting cooler, warm days, chilly nights. Early morning and night game drives are cold. Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is one of the best places for leopard and walking. Recommend Robin Pope safaris.
JULY
n Kenya: wildebeest and zebra migration reaches the Masai Mara. July to early November is best time to visit southern Tanzanian National Parks of Ruaha and Selous.
n Southern Africa: everywhere getting drier. Game beginning to concentrate around water sources. Most birds of prey are breeding.
AUGUST
n Kenya: wildebeest migration starts in the Masai Mara. Recommend Cheili and Peacock’s Mara Camp and Governors Camps.
n Southern Africa: beginning to warm up, but nights still cool and everywhere still getting drier. Good game viewing. Early migrants such as yellow-billed kites start arriving.
SEPTEMBER
n East Africa: warm days, cool nights, trees flowering. Summer migrant birds start arriving.
n Southern Africa: September- October. Dry season. Game viewing excellent. Many trees flowering.
n South Africa: September- November is spring. Flower festival in Namaqualand. September to October is good for whale watching near Cape Town.
OCTOBER
n East Africa: October-mid-December sees short rains. Wildebeest migration leaves Masai Mara, heads towards the Serengeti. October-January is best time for a beach holiday in Kenya. Good diving.
n Southern Africa: end of dry season, hot. Victoria Falls at lowest level. White-water rafting at its best, but Falls at their least dramatic. Good fishing. Game viewing excellent, concentrated around permanent water, recommend Wilderness Safaris’ Giraffe Springs Lodge, Zimbabwe.
n South Africa: beginning of Loggerhead and Leatherback turtle breeding season.
NOVEMBER
n East Africa: wildebeest arrive in the Serengeti.
n Southern Africa: November-April, rainy summer season. Hot interspersed with storms. Still good game viewing. Impala and wildebeest start lambing and calving. Excellent birdwatching, summer migrants return. Recommend Wilderness Safaris’ Chitabe Camp, Botswana.
DECEMBER
n Southern Africa: everything becomes very lush and green. Good bird-watching, recommend Wilderness Safaris’ Ndumo lodge.
n For more information contact Outposts on01647 281665.