The single biggest decision in planning a safari. Here is what each season really gives you, and what it costs you.
Plan Your Safari TimingThe dry season, roughly May to October, is the easier time to safari: thin vegetation pushes animals to water, so game viewing is at its best, with cooler weather and lower malaria risk, but higher prices and more crowds. The green season, November to April, is cheaper and quieter, with newborns and superb birding.
Neither season is wrong. The dry season suits a first safari and anyone who wants to see as much game as possible. The green season rewards travellers after value, dramatic light and birdlife. Our full safari calendar sets out the month-by-month detail by region.
| Dry Season | Green Season | |
|---|---|---|
| Months (Southern Africa) | May to October | November to April |
| Game viewing | Easier, animals at water | Harder, game dispersed |
| Vegetation | Thin and brown | Lush and green |
| Wildlife highlight | Predators at waterholes | Newborns and calving |
| Birding | Quieter | Peak, migrants present |
| Weather | Cool, dry, little rain | Hot, humid, afternoon storms |
| Malaria & mosquitoes | Lower risk | Higher risk |
| Crowds | Busier, peak season | Quieter |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Best for | First safari, maximum game | Value, birding, photography |
African safari areas run on a wet and dry cycle rather than four even seasons. In Southern Africa the dry season is the cool winter of May to October, and the green season is the hot summer of November to April. In East Africa the pattern is split by two rainy spells, so the dry months are roughly June to October and again January to February. The principle is the same everywhere: water drives where the animals are.
For sheer numbers of sightings, the dry season is better. As seasonal water dries up, animals concentrate around the remaining rivers and waterholes, and the thinning bush makes them far easier to see. Predators follow the prey to the water, so the action concentrates too. If this is your first safari and you want to see as much as possible, the dry season is the safer bet.
The green season has real advantages of its own. It is calving and lambing time, so the plains fill with newborns and the predator action that follows them. Migrant birds arrive and the birding is at its peak. The light is dramatic, with green backdrops and towering storm clouds that photographers travel for. Rates are lower and the camps are quieter. The trade-off is that lush vegetation and scattered water make general game viewing harder.
The dry season is cool and comfortable, with cold early mornings on game drives and almost no rain. It is also the low point for mosquitoes, so malaria risk in affected areas is at its lowest. The green season is hot and humid, with short, heavy afternoon thunderstorms and more mosquitoes, which raises malaria risk where it is present. The dry season is the peak tourist season, so it is busier and dearer; the green season is quieter and cheaper.
In Southern Africa, the dry winter is prime for the Greater Kruger and the Okavango Delta, which is in flood from around June to September. In East Africa, the dry months bring the Mara River crossings of the Great Migration from July to October, while the green-season calving on the southern Serengeti runs from late January to March. For a malaria-free option that is good year-round, several South African reserves are completely malaria-free.
Choose the dry season for a first safari, the easiest game viewing and the lowest malaria risk, and accept the higher prices and crowds. Choose the green season for better value, fewer vehicles, newborn animals, top birding and dramatic photography, and accept that the bush is thicker and the game harder to find. The shoulder months either side often give the best of both.
The dry season is better for game viewing, as animals gather at water and the thin bush makes them easy to see. The green season is better for value, birding and photography. For a first safari, choose the dry season.
The green season is the wet summer, roughly November to April in Southern Africa. The bush is lush, animals are dispersed and rates are lower. It is calving time, with newborns, top birding and dramatic storm light.
In Southern Africa the dry season runs from about May to October. In East Africa it is roughly June to October, with a second dry spell in January and February. The exact timing shifts a little year to year.
Yes. As water dries up, animals concentrate around rivers and waterholes, and the thinning vegetation makes them far easier to spot. Predators follow the prey, so the dry season offers the most reliable sightings.
Usually, yes. The green season is the low season, so lodge rates are lower and camps are quieter. It is a strong choice for travellers who want better value and fewer vehicles at sightings.
In malaria areas, yes. The warm, wet green season brings more mosquitoes and a higher malaria risk, while the dry season is the lowest-risk time. Malaria-free reserves avoid the concern in either season.
The green season. In the Serengeti, wildebeest calving peaks from late January to March. In Southern Africa, impala and other antelope drop their young around November to December, drawing intense predator activity.
The green season, from November to April. Migrant birds arrive, resident species come into breeding plumage and the wetlands fill, making it the peak time for birdwatching across most of the continent.
Tell us roughly when you would like to travel and what you most want to see. Every enquiry is answered personally by Jarryd, a former Sabi Sands guide and Head Ranger at andBeyond Phinda, usually within 24 hours. No set packages, no booking fees.
