When to go to South Africa for a Safari

The rainy season, the dry season, and when to see the Great Migration

South Africa is a vast country with a varied climate, and as a result of this the best time to visit for a safari does vary between the different regions.

Kruger National Park

Around the Kruger National Park, the summer months (so November / December through to March / April) are extremely hot and humid. Temperatures can soar over 40°C and this is also the rainy season.

However, many animals give birth during the height of summer, so it is an excellent time to visit if you want to see lion cubs at play or wobbly zebra foals following closely behind their mothers.

The winter months are substantially cooler and dryer, and generally better for game viewing. The bush dries back, making it easier to spot game, plus the animals are more dependent on the waterholes - so game viewing is particularly good around these areas.

However, in terms of combining a Kruger safari with a visit to Cape Town or the Garden Route, the winter months around these areas is generally the wet season - so although the climate in Cape Town is very Mediterranean you are more likely to have rain, especially during June and July. On the plus side, however, this would be the whale watching season so you will certainly be able to enjoy seeing these magnificent creatures close to - another unforgettable holiday highlight.

The Eastern Cape

November is the start of summer in the Eastern Cape, with hot days and pleasant, warm evenings.

The summer months of January to March are the hottest months, with average temperatures around 30 degrees C - but short thunderstorms in the late afternoon help to cool off the heat of the day.

Autumn (April and May) is pleasant, with average daily temperatures of about 20 degrees C up to 25 degrees C, but the evenings can be quite cool.

During the winter months of June, July and August, temperatures can get down to as low as zero at night and in the early mornings, but during the day they average between 15 degrees C and 20 degrees C.

In September and October, things start to warm up again, but the evenings are still cool.

The Madikwe Game Reserve

Spring (September to November) is the height of the dry season in Madikwe, with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees C to 30 degrees C during the day and from 5 degrees C to 10 degrees C during the night. In October there may be thunderstorms, and by November the chance of afternoon showers becomes greater, which means the bush begins to turn green.

The summer months (December to March) are hot, and days are often interrupted by spectacular afternoon thunderstorms that are as brief as they are intense. During December and January many of the antelope species give birth to their young, and the bush is now many shades of green. February is the hottest month of the year, but towards the end of March the heat is less intense and the chance of rain lessens. Temperatures during this period range from 15 degrees C to high 30's degrees C during the day and from 15 degree C to 20 degree C during the night.

In autumn (April to May) the bush begins to get dryer, the vegetation becoming less dense and the grasses begin turning brown under the sun. The temperatures start dropping at night but the daytime is still warm (10 degrees C to 30 degrees C during the day and from 5 degrees C to 10 degrees C during the night). Scattered thunderstorms are still occasionally experienced in the afternoon.
June, July and August are the mid-winter months, and are the coldest time of the year, with temperatures ranging from 5 degrees C to 25 degrees C during the day and from below -2 degrees C to 10 degrees C during the night.

The Waterberg and Pilanesberg

Summer is the rainy season in the Waterberg and Pilanesberg - it rains from October to the end of March, with the highest rainfall expected in February and March, accompanied with spectacular thunder and lightening showers. Daytime temperatures are hot and humid with an average temperature of 31 degrees C. The winter months of April to September are dry, with bright ,clear and warm days and cooler evenings, but the mid-winter months of June to August are particularly cold, with evening temperatures as low 2 degrees C and only 22 degrees C in the daytime.

KwaZulu-Natal

The game reserves and National Parks of KwaZulu-Natal have a subtropical climate with hot, humid, wet summers (September to April) and warm to cool, dry winters (May to August).

Daytime summer temperatures may rise above 35 degrees C, and winter nights rarely drop below 10 degrees C. Rainfall occurs predominantly in the summer months from September to April in the form of magnificent late afternoon / evening thundershowers

Low Season Rates

Most lodges have a 'Low Winter Season' rate which runs from 1 May to the end of September or end October, and also many run special offers over this period, such as Stay for 3 Nights, Only Pay for 2, or Stay 3 nights and receive free nights in Cape Town – so the overall holiday package price can reduce quite dramatically if you can travel over this period.

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