Southern Africa
Best time to travel
BOTSWANA
The country is a year round destination. May to August is the dry winter season with moderate days and cold nights. June to August is high water season in the Okavango Delta with opportunities for boating and mokoro excursions. This is the best time for great game viewing. May to October sees increasing numbers of animals concentrated along the Chobe River and central Savute region. September and October is hot and dry with good game viewing. November to April is the rainy summer season. The bush changes into a lush green area and birding is excellent as migrant species arrive in the area. There are plenty of young antelope around.
MOZAMBIQUE
April to September offers a sub-tropical climate and is the best time to visit. May to November is winter with cool temperatures and the least chance of rain. December to April is the wet summer season with brief downpours followed by sunshine. January and February is cyclone season in Southern Mozambique. We advise avoiding the Bazaruto Archipelago during this time.
NAMIBIA
The sand dunes of Sossusvlei can be visited at any time of the year however the dry winter climate from March to October is the best time to visit. September and October can get very hot. October to April is summer and the best time for bird watching. May to August is winter and the best time for game viewing in Etosha National Park. June and July can have very cold nights. November and April is the summer rainy season turning the area green and bringing the occasional floods to the desert.
SOUTH AFRICA
The country is a year round destination. Summer is from October to March and winter from May to August. January to April is the best time to visit Cape Town. October to April is warm and dry. December and February sees the occasional South-Easter wind, blanketing Table Mountain in cloud. July to September is the best time for whale watching and seeing wild flowers in bloom. Kruger National Park is a year round destination. May to October is the dry winter season and the best time for game viewing and walking safaris. September and October is dry and hot with animals concentrated around water sources. November to April is rainy season and perfect for photography. Game viewing is good, with young animals around and bird watching is great. May to October is the dry winter season and the best time for game viewing in Madikwe Game Reserve. KwaZulu-Natal is a year round destination. May to August is winter with a mild climate, warm ocean and the best time for game viewing.
ZAMBIA
Zambia has a sub-tropical climate defined by a marked wet and dry season rather than summer and winter. The dry season along with mild daytime temperatures runs from May to October and is the best time to go to Zambia for game viewing in the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Park. September and October however can get extremely hot. The rainy season is from December to April when the bush is beautifully thick and green. This is the best time for bird watching as there are many migrant species in the area. February to May is the best time to visit the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side. The falls are at their fullest from April to May. October and November is dry season with very little water coming over the Zambian side of the falls. White-water rafting is done at this time.
ZIMBABWE
February to May is the best time to visit Victoria Falls. April and May the falls are at their fullest. August to December is low water season and the best time to enjoy water rafting as the volume and speed of the water is reduced and the rapids are more exposed. May to August is dry winter season and the best time for game viewing in Mana Pools, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. September and October are extremely hot and dry months.
