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.

September — 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 September

Sorted by suitability
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Excellent · September

Okavango Delta

"Still excellent, rains may begin late in month"

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
Excellent · September

Khwai & Moremi

"Still superb, rains may begin at month end"

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
Excellent · September

Linyanti & Kwando

"Still superb, some early rains possible"

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
Excellent · September

Chobe

"Still outstanding, herds at peak size"

Largest elephant herdsBuffaloLionsHipposBoat safaris

Year-round conditions

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

Etosha National Park

"Still outstanding, some early clouds"

LionRhinoCheetahGiraffeFloodlit waterholes

Year-round conditions

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

Ongava Reserve

"Still excellent, reserve very active"

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
Excellent · September

Sossusvlei & Namib Desert

"Warm and clear — best conditions of the year"

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
Excellent · September

Damaraland & Palmwag

"Excellent conditions, clear and warm"

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
Excellent · September

Waterberg Plateau

"Still superb, warm and clear"

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
Excellent · September

Swakopmund & Coast

"Warming, still excellent conditions"

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
Excellent · September

Hwange

"Exceptional game viewing, hot springs of activity"

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
Excellent · September

Mana Pools

"Still exceptional, Zimbabwe's finest season"

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
Excellent · September

Victoria Falls

"Excellent views, rafting in full swing"

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
Excellent · September

Lake Kariba

"Outstanding — all activities firing on all cylinders"

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
Excellent · September

South Luangwa

"Outstanding leopard and predator activity"

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
Excellent · September

North Luangwa

"Outstanding — Africa at its most raw and remote"

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
Excellent · September

Lower Zambezi

"Exceptional game, tiger fishing at its best"

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
Excellent · September

Kafue National Park

"Still superb, rains may begin late in month"

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
Excellent · September

Greater Kruger Private Reserves

"Spring warming, still excellent game density"

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
Excellent · September

Eastern Cape Reserves

"Warming up, still excellent conditions"

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
Excellent · September

Masai Mara

"Migration continues — excellent big cat and predator action"

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
Excellent · September

Amboseli

"Outstanding conditions, herds around the swamps"

Kilimanjaro viewsElephant herdsLionsPhotographyMaasai

Year-round conditions

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

Laikipia

"Superb conditions, all activities operating"

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
Excellent · September

Tsavo

"Excellent conditions — diverse and plentiful wildlife"

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
Excellent · September

Serengeti

"Herds crossing back south — excellent action"

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
Excellent · September

Ngorongoro Crater

"Superb conditions, crater rim misty at dawn"

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
Excellent · September

Tarangire National Park

"Still superb, huge herds in baobab landscapes"

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
Excellent · September

Ruaha National Park

"Superb game, remote and wild atmosphere"

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
Excellent · September

Nyerere National Park

"Superb conditions, dry and productive"

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
Excellent · September

Volcanoes National Park

"Still excellent, dry conditions hold"

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
Excellent · September

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

"Still excellent, dry conditions hold"

Mountain gorillasChimpanzee trekkingForest birdsCommunity walksRainforest hiking

Year-round conditions

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan
Botswana
Good · September

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan

"Rains approaching — flamingos begin arriving"

Zebra migrationMeerkatsSalt pansFlamingosStargazing

Year-round conditions

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

Central Kalahari

"Still excellent, rains may begin"

Black-maned lionsCheetahFossils & ancient riverbedsSolitudeRaptors

Year-round conditions

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

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