 | The southern winter runs from around May to early August - by
northern standards it's not much of a winter, by African standards
it's the best! |
| Our seasons in Africa aren't as well defined by comparison with
what you'll find in North America or Europe. They become less
defined as you move north from Cape Town towards Nairobi. |
| Migrant birds join us during our southern summer months from
mid-October to around mid-March |
| Game movements are generally determined by the availability of
fresh grazing and browsing sources. Rains will generally
disperse browsers and their attendant predators, dry seasons
inevitably lead to larger concentrations around remaining water
sources. |
| So as a rule, game is best at the end of the dry season when
temperatures are high. (Unless it's on the move as you'll find
with our African migrations in the Serengeti, western Zambia and
Kalahari.) |
... summer rains and dry winters...
The wet and dry seasons have a significant effect on game conditions.
The dry season generally runs from May to October through the southern
fall, winter and into spring. Game conditions generally improve as the
season gets drier and wildlife tends to concentrate near remaining water
sources.
The summer wet season itself, also referred to as the "green
season", generally starting with fresh rains in November heralds
the arrival of migrant birds as mammals disperse in search of fresh
growth - the bush gets thick, insects flourish, birding improves, game
viewing deteriorates. The summer rains are generally characterized by
torrential downpours followed by sunshine during the day. Deep
rains and flood conditions, if they occur, hammer us in January and
February. The wet season generally makes the remoter areas inaccessible.
... moderate winters, hot summers...
Temperatures during the southern winter in Zimbabwe, Zambia and
Botswana are moderate and generally very comfortable by comparison with
those experienced in the northern climes…as an example, a mid-winter
lower Zambezi canoe safari can be tackled in shorts, rafters and T-shirt
with a fleece and joggers to ward off the evening chill - temperatures
at the time will rarely drop below 13 degrees Celsius. (At higher
altitudes in Hwange or the Nyika Plateau, night time temperatures would
approach freezing.)
On the other hand the Zambezi and Luangwa valleys experience
extremely high temperatures just before the rains - we regard October
and November as our "suicide months" with day time
temperatures exceeding 40 degrees and not dropping below 30 degrees for
nights on end. This time of year is exceptionally good for game, but you
have to be quite dedicated to handle the heat! (Some of us get
excused from safari duties and go marketing in the northern
hemisphere...religiously.)
In mid November our rains usually start. It's a release from
about six weeks of hell for local residents and insects alike! (We
always arrange to gather bucket loads of flying ants and prepare for the
tiger fishing season between December and March.)
Best safari seasons....
Zambia's game viewing is best during the dry season from May
through to October.
