Storm light over green-season grassland
Photo by Ron Dauphin on Unsplash

Plan · When to Go

When to Go on Safari, Month by Month

Dry season, green season and the migration — month by month, country by country.

Southern Africa peak
June – October
East Africa peak
June – October; Jan – Feb
Migration crossings
About July – October
Best value
Green & shoulder seasons

The “best time” for a safari depends on what you want to see, where, and how much you want to pay. Here is how the year works across the six countries we cover. Weather varies from year to year, so treat this as a guide rather than a guarantee.

The basics

In the dry season, vegetation thins and animals gather near water, making them easier to find. Days are clear and warm, nights can be cold, and prices are at their highest. In the green or wet season, landscapes turn lush, many animals give birth, birdlife peaks, prices drop and some camps close. The months in between — the shoulder seasons — often offer the best balance. Read why the “off” months may be the best ones.

Month by month

MonthZambiaBotswanaTanzaniaKenyaNamibiaZimbabwe
JanGreenKalahariCalvingDryRainsGreen
FebGreenKalahariCalvingDryRainsGreen
MarGreenKalahariRains startRains startRainsGreen
AprFalls full; camps closedShoulderLong rainsLong rainsShoulderFalls full
MayOpeningShoulderLong rainsLong rainsDryShoulder
JunDryFlood arrivesDryDryDryDry
JulDryPeak floodCrossingsMigrationDryDry
AugDryPeakCrossingsMigrationDryDry
SepPeakPeakCrossingsMigrationPeakPeak
OctPeak, hotPeak, hotDryMigrationPeak, hotPeak, hot
NovRains startRains startShort rainsShort rainsHotRains start
DecGreenKalahariHerds southShort rainsRainsGreen

Peak Good / shoulder Green / limited

Southern Africa

Zambia and Zimbabwe: June to October is prime time, getting hotter and better for game as the season goes on. Many remote camps close from around November or December to April. Victoria Falls is fullest around March to May; Devil’s Pool and Batoka Gorge rafting are best at low water, roughly August to December.

Botswana: the Okavango floods in the dry season, peaking around June to August. The Kalahari and Makgadikgadi are best in the green season, roughly December to March.

Namibia: May to October is dry and pleasant, with Etosha at its best from about July to October.

East Africa and the great migration

Tanzania and Kenya have two dry seasons, around June to October and January to February, separated by the long rains (around April and May) and short rains (around November). The wildebeest migration moves in an annual loop: calving in the southern Serengeti around January to March, heading north through the western corridor around May and June, crossing the Mara River between about July and October, and returning south around November and December.

Prices and availability

Peak months cost the most and book out earliest — often 6 to 12 months ahead. Shoulder months like May, June and November can offer excellent wildlife and lower rates. See safari costs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month for an African safari?
For most of southern Africa, September is hard to beat: dry, warm and excellent for wildlife. For the Mara River crossings in East Africa, July to October.
When is the cheapest time to go on safari?
The green season — roughly November to April in southern Africa, and April to May in East Africa — when many camps offer lower rates.
When does the great migration cross the Mara River?
Usually between about July and October, though timing depends on rainfall each year.

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