The Ultimate Timing Guide for Your African Overland Safari

There is no travel experience quite like an African overland safari. It’s a journey of dusty roads, campfire stews, vast horizons, and the rhythmic thrum of a diesel engine pushing through the wilderness.

But here is the golden question: When should you go?

Africa is a massive continent. When it’s snowing in the Drakensberg, it might be scorching in Morocco. When the Victoria Falls are thundering, the Okavango Delta might be dry.

To help you navigate the seasons, I’ve broken down the best times to visit your bucket-list destinations, from the tip of the Cape to the souks of Marrakech.

1. South Africa: A World in One Country

South Africa is tricky because it has distinct climate zones.

• The Garden Route (Cape Coast): This area has a Mediterranean climate.
  • Best Time: November to March (Summer). This is beach weather! It’s warm, sunny, and vibrant.
  • Shoulder Season: March-April and September-October offer milder temperatures and fewer crowds.
• KwaZulu-Natal (KZN): A subtropical paradise.
  • Best Time: May to August (Winter). Summers here are incredibly humid and stormy. Winter is warm, dry, and perfect for beach days and game viewing in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
• The Drakensberg: The mountains.
  • Best Time: April/May (Autumn) or September/October (Spring). Hiking is best when it isn’t freezing (Winter brings snow) or storming (Summer brings lightning).
• Johannesburg (JHB): The transit hub.
  • Best Time: It’s a year-round destination, but September to April brings warm days and afternoon thundershowers. Winters are dry but chilly at night.

2. Namibia: The Desert Kingdom

Namibia is a land of contrasts, vast skies, and ancient dunes.

• Best Time: May to October (Dry Season).
• Why? This is winter in Namibia. The days are pleasant (20-25°C), but the nights are cold. Because it is dry, animals congregate around the few remaining waterholes in Etosha National Park, making game viewing spectacular.
• Pro Tip: Avoid December to February if you can. It can get unbearably hot (40°C+), and flash floods can wash out roads.

3. Botswana: The Water Wonderland

Botswana offers arguably the best wildlife viewing on the planet.

• Best Time: May to September (Dry Season).
• The Paradox: Paradoxically, the Okavango Delta floods during the dry season (the water comes from rain in Angola months prior). So, visiting in July/August gives you clear blue skies and high water levels for mokoro (canoe) trips.
• Green Season: November to March is rainy and muddy, but excellent for bird watching and seeing baby animals (calving season).

4. Zimbabwe: The Adventure Capital

Home to Mana Pools, Hwange, and the mighty Vic Falls.

• Best Time for Safari: May to October. Just like its neighbors, the dry winter thins out the vegetation, making it easier to spot leopards and elephants.
• Victoria Falls Specifics:
  • High Water (Feb–May): The falls are thundering. You will get soaked, but visibility is low due to the spray.
  • Low Water (Oct–Dec): The Zambian side may dry up, but you can swim in the Devil’s Pool.
  • Sweet Spot: July to September. Great visibility, plenty of water, and great safari weather.

5. Zambia: The Walking Safari

Zambia is wild, raw, and the birthplace of the walking safari.

• Best Time: June to October.
• Why? Many remote camps in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi actually close during the “Emerald Season” (November to April) because the roads become impassable mud baths.
• Pro Tip: If you want to see the famous bat migration in Kasanka National Park, aim for late October to November.

6. Mozambique: The Tropical Extension

After the dust of the bush, you need the Indian Ocean.

• Best Time: May to November.
• Why? This is the cooler, dry season. It is perfect for diving, snorkeling with whale sharks (Tofo), and island hopping.
• Avoid: January and February are peak cyclone season. It is very hot, humid, and stormy.

7. Tanzania: The Great Migration

Tanzania is the stage for the Serengeti.

• Best Time: June to October.
• Why? This is the long dry season.
  • The Migration: If you want to see the Wildebeest crossing the Mara River, go in July or August.
  • Calving Season: If you want to see baby wildebeest on the southern Serengeti plains (and the predators hunting them), go in January/February.

8. Kenya: The Maasai Mara

The northern counterpart to Tanzania.

• Best Time: July to October.
• Why? This coincides with the “Long Dry” season. The Great Migration usually arrives in the Maasai Mara from Tanzania around late July and stays until October. The grass is shorter, making it easier to spot cheetahs.
• Shoulder Season: January and February are also great dry months with fewer tourists than the migration season.

9. Uganda: The Pearl of Africa

You are likely here for one thing: Mountain Gorillas.

• Best Time: June to August or December to February.
• Why? Uganda is a rainforest; it can rain anytime. However, these two windows are the “dry seasons.” Trekking to find gorillas involves hiking steep, muddy slopes. You want the ground to be as dry as possible to make the hike manageable.

10. Morocco: The Northern Jewel

Note: Morocco is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite to the countries listed above!

• Best Time: March to May (Spring) or September to November (Autumn).
• Why?
  • Summer (July/Aug): The Sahara desert and cities like Marrakech can hit 45°C+. It is grueling.
  • Winter (Dec/Feb): It can be surprisingly cold, and the Atlas Mountains will be snowy.
  • Spring/Autumn: Perfect temperatures for exploring the Medinas, hiking the Atlas mountains, and camping in the desert.

Summary: How to Link Them Up

If you are doing a massive Cape to Kenya overland trip, you have to compromise somewhere.

The “Perfect” Overland Window:
Depart South Africa in April or May.

• You hit South Africa in Autumn (lovely).
• You get to Namibia and Botswana as the rains stop and the land dries out (June).
• You reach Vic Falls (Zim/Zambia) in July/August (perfect water levels).
• You arrive in East Africa (Tanzania/Kenya) in August/September—just in time for the Migration river crossings.

For Morocco: This is usually a separate trip due to the Sahara Desert disconnect, but if you fly up after your East Africa safari, arriving in October puts you right in the sweet spot for Moroccan Autumn.

Pack your binoculars and your sense of adventure—Africa is waiting!