Why you should travel to Africa in the dry season
In many parts of Africa – including some of the top safari destinations – the winter is the dry season. Think lower temperatures all round (deliciously fresh mornings, warm days and mild evenings) and a much lower chance of being rained on. The winter months in the southern hemisphere are typically April – September, and they’re one of the very best times to travel to Africa. Here’s why.
Perfect weather
We’ve already touched on the weather, but it’s worth digging a little deeper. Cooler days mean that animals are more likely to be active for longer, which makes for even better viewing. Another factor in your favor is that the vegetation tends to die back, meaning that smaller creatures are easier to spot and photograph. Animals and birds tend to concentrate around the few remaining waterholes, so your chances of seeing interactions between different species also increase.
Summer temperatures can sometimes become uncomfortable, whereas in winter, the milder weather is ideal for more active pursuits like guided walking safaris. The general absence of clouds ensures that stargazing is spectacular, while drier conditions generally mean fewer insects, so the risks of malaria are even lower than usual.
No rain – but peak flood
In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the annual inundation reaches its peak in the dry season. That might seem like a contradiction in terms, but the water that makes up the annual flood is from the previous summer’s rains in Angola, and takes several months to flow through parts of Namibia and into Botswana. With the floodplains underwater, animals of different species have to exist in closer proximity to each other than they might usually do, again leading to some fascinating encounters.
Herds on the move
Another spectacular event which reaches its peak during the dry season is the Great Wildebeest Migration in Kenya and Tanzania. Driven by the urge to find fresh grazing, millions of wildebeest and other animals trek across the plains, and while exact timings vary year by year, June and July tend to be the months when the huge herds face one of their most daunting obstacles: the river crossings where they must contend with the threat of giant Nile crocodiles, some of which may not have eaten since the previous year’s Migration.
A whale of a time
While South Africa is renowned for its land-based wildlife viewing, opportunities to see marine wildlife should also not be missed. During the dry season (especially around August), migrating whales can be seen from shore (or on special whale-watching boat cruises), with Hermanus, Cape Augurs and the stunning De Hoop Nature Reserve all being particular hotspots.
It’s worth noting that unlike much of the rest of southern Africa, the Western Cape has a more Mediterranean climate which means that it receives winter rainfall and the weather can be very changeable, grey and wet at times. However, with so many indoor activity options (museums, galleries, artisanal coffee shops, wine farms) the weather shouldn’t impact your trip too much.
Get off the beaten track
Some amazing wildlife destinations (such as Liuwa Plain in Zambia) can be very hard to reach during the wetter summer months, but are much more accessible during the dry season. This means that you can reach remote, truly wild locations that are off limits at other times.
Even familiar locations can look quite different during the dry season. Victoria Falls, for example, transforms from a roaring cascade into individual ribbons of water, and, towards the end of the dry season, secret spots like the Devil’s Pool can be visited.
For all these reasons – and many more – we believe that the dry season is an ideal time to travel to Africa. For expert advice on your options and what to expect, contact Journey Beyond today.