When you consider it, it’s all the time time of 12 months to journey to East Africa – it simply is determined by what you wish to see, do and expertise.
Travelling between March and Could (the primary wet season of the 12 months) means you’ll should look a bit tougher for wildlife; the bushland is dense, so it’s a lot simpler for the animals to cover – however the landscapes can be a vibrant inexperienced. For those who can deal with just a few showers every day (and the occasional drenching downpour), it is a lovely time to go to.
April to September is when the Nice Migration northwards occurs, when tens of hundreds of wildebeest crash their means throughout East Africa, from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, searching for meals and water (learn extra concerning the Nice Migration right here).
June to October is mostly dry and cooler – and the busiest time of 12 months – whereas the second moist season rolls by way of in late-October and lasts till December. By January, the rains have stopped and the world enters its first yearly dry spell.
So when’s our favorite time of 12 months to go to? February. Right here’s why.
1. It’s the driest time of the 12 months
Photograph by Damien Raggatt.
So it’s probably the greatest occasions of 12 months for seeing wildlife. The undergrowth is sparser, making it tougher for the animals to camouflage themselves, they usually have additional to journey for water. On a safari throughout the savanna, you’ll be rewarded with giraffes, elephants and gazelles on parade, whereas a jungle trek makes for an unforgettable mountain gorilla expertise.
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2. It’s shoulder season
Photograph by David Nagle.
Flights are cheaper, and also you gained’t be paying a premium for lodging and actions (and college holidays are over in most components of the world, so it’ll be much less crowded too). It’s a lot nicer having front-row seats to animal escapades on the Serengeti or visiting an elephant sanctuary in Kenya or tenting out with a clan of Maasai warriors with out all of the crowds.
3. It’s scorching in the course of the day…
Photograph by Afonso Martins, Shutterstock.
With temperatures across the 30 diploma Celsius mark, the climate’s excellent for taking advantage of lodge and guesthouse swimming swimming pools, to not point out the wonderful seashores. Splash about within the shallows of the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar or cool off with a dip after a day of exploring in Djibouti. Oh, and when you stay within the Northern Hemisphere, coming again to winter with a tan isn’t dangerous both.
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4. … and balmy within the evenings
Many East African cities have an superior outdoorsy nightlife; suppose rooftop bars, beer gardens and out of doors eating places. Order a Tusker beer and a few mandazi (a candy and semi-spicy deep-fried ‘donut’) and settle in for a night of journey tales together with your fellow adventurers.
5. You’ll be able to spot a distinct Nice Migration
Whereas April marks the beginning of the most effective time to see the ‘official’ Nice Migration – when herds of wildebeest and zebras make their means throughout the Serengeti – February is while you’ll spot migrating whale sharks alongside the coast of Tanzania and Kenya (in Djibouti, you may even go snorkelling with them!).
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6. And it’s a good time for chook watching
Photograph by Damien Raggatt.
It’s ALWAYS time of 12 months for chook watching in East Africa, however from September to April migratory birds from North Africa and Europe make their means south to nest, and reap the benefits of the nice and cozy (and dry) climate. Together with seeing spectacular native birds like lilac-breasted rollers, white-headed vultures, flamingos and ostriches, anticipate to see willow warblers, northern wheatears and barn swallows.
7. Calving season begins
Photograph by Damien Raggatt.
A go to to the Serengeti throughout calving season is a fairly unimaginable expertise. In February every year, hundreds of pregnant wildebeest give start – it’s estimated round 8000 child wildebeest are born every day all through the month – in addition to tens of hundreds of zebras and gazelles. When you’ll get to see plenty of cute infants, you’ll additionally witness the circle of life in motion, as hungry predators – similar to lions, cheetahs and hyenas – bounce in for straightforward meals.
RELATED: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EAST AFRICA’S WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
8. Into mountaineering? Climb Mt Kilimanjaro (minus the crowds)
Photograph by Lucy Piper.
At 5985 metres, Mt Kilimanjaro is the very best mountain in Africa, and it’s a preferred trek for avid hikers. Making the climb in February means the slopes are dry, and it’s a lot much less busy than the height June to October season. It’s additionally cooler than in the course of the summer season months; you’re extra more likely to encounter snow the upper you get.
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Journey to East Africa is all the time a good suggestion. Discover our vary of adventures to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Djibouti now.Â
Characteristic picture by Damien Raggatt.Â