As another year draws to a close it's the perfect time to start thinking about those bucket list items for your 2024 safari in Africa. Knowing the best times to go to the best places, will give you the edge when booking ahead to find great safari deals and ensure you don’t miss out during peak seasons.
This blog post focuses on the Big 5 safari destinations of Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Kenya, and throws in Zambia as an outlier for those looking for something more remote. When to go, why to go, and the best safari packages on offer, let's take a look at some ideas for planning your 2024 safari in Africa.
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Best times to visit Tanzania: July, August, and September
Top Tanzania safari destination: Serengeti National Park
The main attraction of a Tanzania safari is the Great Wildebeest Migration. While the migration is a year-round event, arguably the best time to visit Tanzania is during the dry season, with the peak safari months being July, August, and September. This is when the wildebeest herds reach the northernmost point of the migration, and the gathering of the herds across the Serengeti plains is punctuated by the Grumeti and Mara River crossings. The Grumeti River crossing happens between June and July, and the Mara River crossing from late July through to September, makes these the best time to visit the Serengeti on safari.
Building your safari itinerary around this epic wildlife event does have a downside. Visiting the Serengeti during the peak safari months is when prices are highest, East African parks are busy, and you need to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. For those wanting to witness a different side of the Great Wildebeest Migration, but are not too concerned with seeing the river crossings, consider travelling to Tanzania in January and February. At the southern end of the Migration, on the Ndutu Plains, wildebeest gather in their thousands for the calving season. The abundance of new life attracts predators, and the result is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife spectacle.
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Best safari months: May, June, July, August, September, and October
Top Namibia safari destination: Etosha National Park
The winter months are the ideal time to visit Namibia. During this period, daytime temperatures are relatively mild, and it's a great time to explore Namibia’s vast open spaces, desert landscapes, and stunning wildlife. Etosha, Namibia’s premier safari destination, is at its brutal best during the winter months when animals congregate around the diminishing watering holes. Elephants, after rolling in mud, take on a ghostly white appearance, adding to the hauntingly beautiful scenery. The cooler weather is ideal for exploring Namibia’s other scenic highlights like the Namib desert, the Skeleton Coast, and the Fish River Canyon.
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Best time to visit: May, June, July, August, September, and October
Top Botswana safari destination: The Okavango Delta
Botswana’s dry winter months from May to October are the best time to visit this iconic safari destination. At this time, the Okavango Delta floods, making an oasis in the desert that attracts wildlife creating a safari wonderland like no other. The scarcity of water is what makes this such an exceptional time to visit Botswana. Moremi Game Reserve is the Delta’s most accessible park, but Chobe and the Khwai River area, are both highly regarded for exceptional wildlife, and river cruises in Chobe have become famous.
If you want to experience the Central Kalahari desert, however, the wet season from November to April, results in the Nxai Pan, and Makgadikgadi erupting into life. Migratory birds arrive, flamingos breed, and large herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest migrate across the nutrient-rich plains.
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Best months for wildlife safaris in South Africa: April, May, June, July, August, and September*
Top South Africa safari destination: Kruger National Park
South Africa remains one of the most affordable African Safari destinations. To see the Big 5, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant, Kruger National Park is one of the finest reserves in the world. During the dry winter months, the vegetation thins and wildlife congregates around the permanent water sources in the park. This means excellent game viewing and fantastic predator action. The Greater Kruger concessions, like Balule, Thornybush, and Sabi Sands offer some special wildlife encounters with exceptional guides.
*While the winter months are the best time for wildlife viewing in Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger concessions, South Africa is an all-year-round destination. The winter months in Kruger are great, Cape Town and the Garden Route are, however, fantastic from October through to March. With a great selection of Big 5 game reserves around Cape Town, as well as Addo Elephant Park at the end of the Garden Route (all of which are malaria-free), South Africa makes an amazing all-year-round safari destination.
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Best months for wildlife safaris in Kenya: July, August & September
Highlight: Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration
Kenya is the home of the African Safari. Seeing the wildebeest crossing the Mara River during the Great Migration is at the top of many people's bucket list. During the dry winter months, from July to September, the Masai Mara National Reserve is East Africa’s hottest destination. With wildebeest crossing the Mara River, thousands of tourists descend on the park to revel in one of nature’s greatest spectacles. For a more intimate Kenya safari experience, consider visiting one of the Masai Mara Conservancies. These community-run concessions are situated on the border of the main reserve and offer easy access to the Mara River crossing on day trips. The Mara Conservancies make it possible to get the both of both worlds, an intimate safari experience, and the adventure and excitement of witnessing the Great Migration.
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Best Months for Zambia safaris: May, June, July, August, September, and October
Top Zambia safari destination: South Luangwa National Park
Zambia is the home of the walking safari. Renowned for pristine wilderness and excellent guides, visiting South Luangwa is an adventure into wildest Africa. With lower tourist numbers, Zambia is considered to be an undiscovered safari gem. The dry winter season that runs from May to October when the bush thins, animals gravitate to permanent watering holes, and walking conditions are at their most comfortable, is the ideal time for walking safaris.
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Planning your African safari is an adventure as you cast the net wide before narrowing in on your top safari highlights that will form the backbone of your safari itinerary. Keep in mind that the peak season, especially the Great Migration months from July to October, tend to be busier and more expensive.
Visiting Africa in the high season will offer excellent game viewing. Visiting in the green season, safari low season will be a completely different experience with verdant landscapes, migratory breeding flocks of birds, newborn animals, and substantially fewer people. The low season and shoulder season are perfect for budget aficionados searching for low-season rates.
Remember that you will be visiting quintessentially wild places, filled with wild animals that do not operate on a schedule. This unpredictability is part of the allure of the African safari and a good reason to sit back and enjoy the experience. In a similar vein, while seeing the Big 5 in Kruger, or witnessing the Mara River crossing are undoubtedly sought-after experiences, Kruger National Park has over 130 other mammal species, and the Masai Mara and Serengeti Parks are huge areas set aside for the conservation of an incredible ecosystem. Aside from an awesome safari experience, you never know exactly what you are going to get.
It is important to weigh your desire for wildlife sightings against your preference for a quieter experience. The specific region within each country may have its own seasonal variations, so talk to one of our consultants for the best advice, and start planning your 2024 African safari.
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