When to go

Last updated at 12:44 06 September 2002


Often the best safari prices are to be found right before the high season and in the rainy seasons, offering excellent prices and lots of availability in many places.

African weather can be very fickle, but as a general rule East and Central Africa have long rains through March to May and often early June; and short rains from the end of November to the end of December. June to October is the dry season, with July and August the peak safari tourist months.

Southern Africa has its rainy season from late November to mid-April, with the exception of South Africa and the Cape in particular, which has summer at this time. April to August is the African winter, and May and June are good months for safari in Southern Africa, being slightly cooler and marginally cheaper than the most popular months of July and August.

If you are keen to see spectacular natural phenomenon such as the renowned wildebeest and zebra migration on the Serengeti National Park crossing Kenya and Tanzania then make sure you go in the right season - herds move north and west at the end of the rains, spending the dry season largely in the Maasai Mara.

Safaris can be a magical experience all year round, but dry seasons do generally offer the more reliable experience - road conditions are better, there is excellent visibility, you don't have to worry about getting caught in a downpour, and many animals congregate around watering holes making them easy to find.

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