Green season begins; excellent birding; some camps closed.
Botswana
—
Rains start; Delta recedes; great birdlife; lower rates.
Namibia
—
Start of rains; dramatic skies.
South Africa
—
Summer rains; great birding; newborns.
Kenya
—
Short rains; great birding; fewer crowds.
Tanzania
Ndutu (Southern Serengeti)
Region begins to fill for calving.
Uganda
—
Rainy but gorilla trekking year-round.
Gabon
—
Early turtle activity; forest rains increasing.
December
Zambia
—
Green season: lush, birdy; reduced walking.
Botswana
—
Green & hot; lower prices; some lodges closed.
Namibia
—
Foggy coast; summer rains inland.
South Africa
—
Rainy & green; excellent bird photography.
Kenya
—
Short dry window — great safari & coast combination.
Tanzania
Southern Serengeti (Ndutu)
Calving season starting — excellent predators.
Uganda
—
Good gorilla trekking pockets; busy festive season.
Gabon
—
Turtle nesting (Nov–Mar); some dry pockets for forest excursions.
January • Zambia — South Luangwa / Lower Zambezi: Late green season — great birding; newborns; walking safaris still possible in drier pockets. Tip: some remote camps still closed. • Botswana — Okavango Delta (green season areas): Lush flood channels; boat & mokoro access; birds and newborns. • Namibia — Sossusvlei / Damaraland / Etosha: Start of rainy season in far south; Etosha quieter (animals disperse), but dramatic landscapes and migrating birds. • South Africa — Kruger & private reserves: Hot, wet — calving and lots of birdlife; good for photographers who want lush bush and chicks. • Kenya — Southern Serengeti / Ndutu & Maasai Mara (early): Calving season in southern Serengeti / Ndutu — predator action around newborns; Mara still productive. • Tanzania — Southern Serengeti (Ndutu): Peak calving (late Jan–Feb): thousands of newborn wildebeest → intense predator activity. • Uganda — Bwindi & Kibale / Murchison: Dry-ish windows in places — excellent gorilla and chimp trekking; birding strong. • Gabon — Loango & Ivindo: Short dry window in some coastal areas—good for beach elephants and some whale/dolphin sightings starting to appear.
February • Zambia — South Luangwa / Kafue: Very wet; good birds; trails muddy — consider western/south camps that stay open. • Botswana — Okavango fringes / Chobe: Green season; good for birding and lower prices; some camps may close deeper in the Delta. • Namibia — Sossusvlei / Coastal: Surfaced desert colours after rains; dunes dramatic; Etosha wildlife less concentrated. • South Africa — Kruger: Lush bush, many newborns; bird migration continuing. • Kenya — Ndutu & Serengeti south: End of calving — predator spectacle. Mara quieter until migration returns. • Tanzania — Southern Serengeti (Ndutu): Calving continues into Feb — exceptional predator vs prey activity. • Uganda — Bwindi / Mgahinga: One of the best months for gorilla trekking (dry trails). • Gabon — Lopé / Loango: Dry season pockets — good for forest mammals (mandrills in Lopé) and coastal wildlife.
March • Zambia — green→transition; Lower Zambezi still good for canoeing before heavy rains. • Botswana — green season building; Delta water levels still high in many areas. • Namibia — wet season begins in places; birding and newborn plains game in Etosha region. • South Africa — Kruger: Wet season increasing; great for birdwatching and newborns; afternoon thunderstorms start. • Kenya — Mara & Amboseli: Short dry window possible; Amboseli great for elephant & Kilimanjaro views when clear. • Tanzania — Central Serengeti (transition): Herds begin to move from southern plains northwards; good predator action. • Uganda — Bwindi & national parks: Still good for gorillas; expect some rains. • Gabon — coastal & rainforest: Rain increases; late March still good in some dry pockets for forest species.
April • Zambia — start of heavy rains in many areas; birding excellent; walking limited. • Botswana — flooding season begins in the Delta (start of flood pulse): Water channels expand—best time for water safaris emerging (April–May as flood progresses). • Namibia — shoulder season (end of rains in some central regions); quiet and green landscapes. • South Africa — Kruger: Green-up; shorter game-drive visibility but newborns and dramatic landscapes. • Kenya — Mara / Laikipia: Great all-year areas still productive; rains can be patchy. • Tanzania — migration trek north (April–June): Massive movement across central Serengeti — trekking stage begins. • Uganda — Murchison & Queen Elizabeth: Rivers high — boat safaris very productive. • Gabon — Loango beaches: Turtle nesting season starting Nov–Mar ended; April often wet in rainforest.
May • Zambia — start of dry season in some parks; camps re-open; visibility improves. • Botswana — early prime: Okavango flood peaks begin to show; excellent wildlife + water mix (May is often cited as superb). true.travel • Namibia — start of prime Etosha season (May onward): Animals begin to concentrate on waterholes. • South Africa — Kruger: Clear mornings; dry season wildlife viewing improves. • Kenya — Mara build-up for migration; Amboseli good for elephants. • Tanzania — central Serengeti / western corridor: Migration on the move; good predator sightings. • Uganda — drier windows in some regions — gorillas accessible. • Gabon — drier months (May is start of main dry season): Access to parks improves — Loango & Lopé easier to operate in.
June • Zambia — prime safari month (June–Sept): South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, Kafue — excellent predator viewing as animals concentrate. • Botswana — Okavango & Chobe prime begins: Peak dry season & peak game concentration (June–Oct). Great for both water and land safaris. • Namibia — Etosha prime (May–Oct): Waterhole drama day & night. • South Africa — Kruger & private reserves: Dry season prime viewing; cooler nights. • Kenya — Maasai Mara build-up: Migration starts arriving from Serengeti late June/July; Amboseli and Samburu excellent. • Tanzania — Serengeti northern push begins: Herds move through central to northern Serengeti; river crossing possibilities increase later in the season. • Uganda — Bwindi dry season (June–Sept): One of the best windows for gorillas. • Gabon — start of the main dry season (June–Sept): Best accessibility for Loango & Lopé; whale/dolphin season yes in some coastal months.
July • Zambia — excellent visibility; South Luangwa in full swing. • Botswana — peak (July–Sept): Okavango flooded channels at their best; Moremi/Mombo photographic season; Chobe elephants abundant. • Namibia — Etosha & Damaraland prime; Sossusvlei cool & spectacular at sunrise. • South Africa — Kruger peak dry; excellent big-five viewing. • Kenya — Maasai Mara peak migration & river crossings (July–Aug): Best chance to witness dramatic Mara River crossings. • Tanzania — Northern Serengeti (river crossing areas): Iconic migration scenes in northern Serengeti/Mara border. • Uganda — dry season — prime gorilla & general wildlife viewing. • Gabon — dry season excellent for forest expeditions; July–Sept good marine mammal season off coast.
August • Zambia — still prime; heat increases but game concentrated. • Botswana — peak dry & hot (Aug–Sept): Unmatched viewing; delta & Chobe photographic heaven. • Namibia — peak Etosha; best time for desert camping with cool nights. • South Africa — Kruger prime; nesting birds and mammals visible. • Kenya — Maasai Mara peak migration & crossings through Aug; Amboseli still strong. • Tanzania — Northern Serengeti & Mara border: peak crossing months continue; great game. • Uganda — gorilla trekking excellent; wildlife concentrated at water sources in savannah parks. • Gabon — dry season peak (June–Sept): Best access, excellent forest mammal viewing.
September • Zambia — end of dry season; excellent game viewing; heat builds. • Botswana — still prime, but increasingly hot (Sept–Oct can be very hot). • Namibia — Etosha prime; good time for wildlife and clear skies for photography. • South Africa — Kruger: Excellent viewing; spring approaching. • Kenya — Mara still good; some herds start moving back south later in month. • Tanzania — Northern Serengeti still productive; some herds begin return movement later. • Uganda — end of dry season — good overall viewing. • Gabon — tail end of dry season; good access though some rain can start returning toward month end.
October • Zambia — hot pre-rains month — visibility excellent but very hot by end of month. • Botswana — hot final dry month; great for predator sightings but midday heat intense. • Namibia — shoulder season into occasional rains in the south; still good Etosha viewing. • South Africa — Kruger early rains possible; Verdant landscapes start reappearing. • Kenya — short rains may start; Mara quieter than August but still good. • Tanzania — migration moving south; central Serengeti productive; calving not yet begun. • Uganda — short rains begin in parts — gorilla trails muddier but still workable. • Gabon — rains begin to return; accessibility may reduce in some rainforest tracks.
November • Zambia — green season begins; excellent for birding and dramatic landscapes; some camps closed. • Botswana — rains start; Delta water recedes in places but birdlife excellent; lower rates. • Namibia — rainy season starts in parts (Nov–Apr) — spectacular skies and ephemeral pans. • South Africa — start of summer rains — good birding and newborns. • Kenya — short rains → fewer crowds and excellent birding; crater/Amboseli still good. • Tanzania — Ndutu region (southern Serengeti) begins to fill for calving season in Dec. • Uganda — rainy season, but lowland parks can be visited; gorilla trekking possible year-round. • Gabon — late Nov starts some coastal turtle activity; forest rains increase but Loango still possible early in month.
December • Zambia — green season: busy birdlife, lush scenery; walking more limited. • Botswana — green season & heat; lower prices and great for birders; some lodges close seasonally. • Namibia — coastal fog and summer rains inland; Sossusvlei dramatic after rains. • South Africa — rainy & green season; great for birdwatching and photographic landscapes. • Kenya — short dry window in many areas (Dec–Feb) — good all-round safari + coast combos. • Tanzania — southern Serengeti (calving starts Dec–Mar) — Ndutu region excellent for calving & predators. • Uganda — Dec can be a good gorilla window (drier pockets); festive season busier for tourism. • Gabon — nesting sea turtles Nov–Mar on some beaches; late-year forest excursions still possible in drier pockets.
Quick reference — highlights by species / event • Great Migration (wildebeest & zebra): o Calving: Jan–Mar (Southern Serengeti/Ndutu). o Trek & river crossings: Apr–Nov (central → northern Serengeti & Masai Mara peak crossings Jul–Sep). • Okavango Delta peak flood / best wildlife: May–Sept (optimum window often May–Aug). • Etosha (Namibia) best wildlife concentration: May–Oct (dry season waterhole viewing). • Zambia (South Luangwa / Lower Zambezi) prime safari: June–Oct (dry season concentration & walking safaris). • Gabon best accessibility (Loango & Lopé): June–Sept (main dry season) — best for forest mammals and coastal access. • Uganda gorilla trekking sweet spots: Jan–Feb & Jun–Sept (drier trekking conditions, but permits year-round)
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