Seasonal Wildlife Guide

Best time to visit Africa

Every month in Africa offers something remarkable. Use this guide to find which destinations and regions peak at your preferred travel time.

October — This is dry season across most of Southern Africa — generally the prime time for game viewing as wildlife concentrates around waterholes.

33 destinations shown for October

Sorted by suitability
Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan
Botswana
Excellent · October

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan

"First rains attract zebra — migration begins"

Zebra migrationMeerkatsSalt pansFlamingosStargazing

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Good · October

Okavango Delta

"Short rains possible, transitional, still good game"

Big FiveWild dogsHipposElephantsMokoro safaris

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Khwai & Moremi
Botswana
Good · October

Khwai & Moremi

"Transitional — still great game, early rains possible"

Wild dogsLeopardsHipposNight drivesExclusive concessions

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Linyanti & Kwando
Botswana
Good · October

Linyanti & Kwando

"Good game, transitional towards green season"

Wild dogsRoan & sableElephantsRemote concessionsNight drives

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Chobe
Botswana
Good · October

Chobe

"Good game, early rains bring green flush"

Largest elephant herdsBuffaloLionsHipposBoat safaris

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Central Kalahari
Botswana
Good · October

Central Kalahari

"Green flush begins, migratory birds arrive"

Black-maned lionsCheetahFossils & ancient riverbedsSolitudeRaptors

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Etosha National Park
Namibia
Good · October

Etosha National Park

"Good game, first rains may start to arrive"

LionRhinoCheetahGiraffeFloodlit waterholes

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Ongava Reserve
Namibia
Good · October

Ongava Reserve

"Good walking, some early rain possible"

White rhinoBlack rhinoWalking safarisExclusive accessEtosha border

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Sossusvlei & Namib Desert
Namibia
Good · October

Sossusvlei & Namib Desert

"Pre-rain season, hot but manageable"

Desert-adapted wildlifeOryxPhotographyRed dunesStargazing

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Damaraland & Palmwag
Namibia
Good · October

Damaraland & Palmwag

"Good game, dry season conditions persist"

Desert elephantDesert black rhinoHimba cultureRock engravingsRemote wilderness

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Waterberg Plateau
Namibia
Good · October

Waterberg Plateau

"Good conditions, some rain possible"

Rhino trackingRoan antelopeRock artDinosaur footprintsScenic walks

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Swakopmund & Coast
Namibia
Good · October

Swakopmund & Coast

"Good conditions, warming up"

Quad biking dunesMarine lifeCape fur sealsSandboardingCultural heritage

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Hwange
Zimbabwe
Good · October

Hwange

"Good, early rains may bring green flush"

Painted dogsElephant herdsLionsSable antelopeWalking safaris

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Mana Pools
Zimbabwe
Good · October

Mana Pools

"Good game, park closing as rains approach"

Walking unguidedCanoe safarisElephants standing on hind legsWild dogsPhotography

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe
Good · October

Victoria Falls

"Waters rising slightly as rains approach upstream"

Victoria FallsWhite-water raftingBungee jumpingSundowner cruises

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Lake Kariba
Zimbabwe
Good · October

Lake Kariba

"Good game, rains approaching, still excellent"

Houseboat safarisTiger fishingElephantsSunset viewsBirding

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
South Luangwa
Zambia
Good · October

South Luangwa

"Good game, rains may start, some camps close"

Walking safarisNight drivesLeopardsHipposWild dogs

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
North Luangwa
Zambia
Good · October

North Luangwa

"Good game, season closing down"

Walking onlyBuffalo herdsLionsHyenaTrue wilderness

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Lower Zambezi
Zambia
Good · October

Lower Zambezi

"Good game, some camps begin closing as rains approach"

Canoe safarisTiger fishingElephantsBuffaloEscarpment views

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Kafue National Park
Zambia
Good · October

Kafue National Park

"Good game, Busanga closing down for season"

CheetahWild dogsSitatungaVast wildernessBusanga Plains

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Greater Kruger Private Reserves
South Africa
Good · October

Greater Kruger Private Reserves

"Rains return, green flush attracts grazers"

Big FivePrivate concessionsWalking safarisNight drivesExclusive access

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Eastern Cape Reserves
South Africa
Good · October

Eastern Cape Reserves

"Rains return, green and lush"

Malaria-free Big FiveAmakhalaFamily-friendlyYear-roundEasy access

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Masai Mara
Kenya
Good · October

Masai Mara

"Migration moving south — resident game excellent"

Great MigrationRiver crossingsBig catsHot air balloonsMaasai culture

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Amboseli
Kenya
Good · October

Amboseli

"Short rains may begin but game still excellent"

Kilimanjaro viewsElephant herdsLionsPhotographyMaasai

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Laikipia
Kenya
Good · October

Laikipia

"Good game, short rains beginning"

Black rhinoGrevy's zebraCamel safarisCommunity conservanciesWild dogs

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Tsavo
Kenya
Good · October

Tsavo

"Good game, short rains approaching"

Red elephantsTsavo lionsVast wildernessLava flowsMzima Springs

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Serengeti
Tanzania
Good · October

Serengeti

"Migration on southern plains, short rains may begin"

Great MigrationWildebeest calvingBig CatsHot air balloonsYear-round wildlife

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Ngorongoro Crater
Tanzania
Good · October

Ngorongoro Crater

"Short rains — crater can be dramatic and atmospheric"

Black rhinoLion pridesFlamingosBig FiveVolcanic views

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Tarangire National Park
Tanzania
Good · October

Tarangire National Park

"Short rains possible, good game"

Huge elephant herdsAncient baobabsWild dogsBirdingDry season migrations

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Ruaha National Park
Tanzania
Good · October

Ruaha National Park

"Good game, short rains may start"

Wild dogsGreater kuduLionsRemote wildernessWalking safaris

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Nyerere National Park
Tanzania
Good · October

Nyerere National Park

"Good game, short rains approach"

Boat safarisWild dogsWalking safarisRufiji RiverHippos

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda
Good · October

Volcanoes National Park

"Short rains begin — treks continue, lush scenery"

Mountain gorillasGolden monkeysDian Fossey trailBisoke hikeVolcano views

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Uganda
Good · October

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

"Short rains begin — lush, fewer crowds"

Mountain gorillasChimpanzee trekkingForest birdsCommunity walksRainforest hiking

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair

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