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Where to go · January

Where to go in Africa in January

The short answer

In January, the main safari areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are in the dry season. Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are in the rainy or green season there. Places at their best include Makgadikgadi Pans, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Cape Town.

By RepBudUpdated

Table Mountain rising behind the harbour at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

What is the season in each country in January?

In the dry season

  • EthiopiaBega (dry season)Mostly dry across most of the country; Timkat (Epiphany) is celebrated in January
  • KenyaShort dry seasonGood game viewing, green landscapes, busy at the coast
  • RwandaShort dry seasonDrier spell between the rains; gorilla and chimpanzee trekking run all year
  • TanzaniaDrier spell between the rainsCalving season on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti
  • UgandaMain dry seasonDrier across most of the country, though showers are still possible

In the green season

  • BotswanaGreen seasonRain, newborn animals, migrant birds, the zebra migration in the Makgadikgadi, the Kalahari at its greenest; lower rates
  • MalawiRainy seasonMostly short storms and green landscapes, with some of the best birdwatching; floods can make roads difficult
  • MozambiqueRainy seasonHot and humid; cyclones and floods can occur, and low-lying roads can become impassable
  • NamibiaMain rainy seasonShort afternoon storms inland and green landscapes; the coast stays largely dry; gravel roads can deteriorate
  • South AfricaSummerKruger and the north-east: hot, green summer with afternoon storms. Cape Town and the Western Cape: dry, warm summer; peak season in Cape Town
  • ZambiaRainy seasonRain starts in November and is heaviest from December to February; green landscapes and migrant birds. Confirm with each camp whether it is open
  • ZimbabweRainy seasonMost of the year's rain, often in afternoon storms, with a dry spell common around late December and early January; green landscapes and migrant birds

General pattern from each country’s guide; it varies by region and from year to year. Compare all twelve months.

Which places are at their best in January?

Palm trees silhouetted against a pink dawn sky on the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans, BotswanaDesert

Makgadikgadi Pans

Central and North-West districts, Botswana

One of the largest salt-pan systems in the world, partly protected by the Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan national parks. In the green season zebra and wildebeest migrate to its grasslands; in the dry season the open pans are the attraction.

Best months
November to April for the zebra migration
Getting there
By road from Maun or Nata, or light aircraft
Open in Google Maps ↗

Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An oryx running through golden grass in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, BotswanaGame reserve

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Ghanzi and Central districts, Botswana

One of the largest protected areas in Africa, covering Kalahari grassland and fossil river valleys such as Deception Valley. Game viewing is best after the rains, when antelope such as oryx and springbok gather on the green pans.

Best months
December to April
Getting there
Light aircraft from Maun, or 4x4 self-drive
Open in Google Maps ↗

Photo: Benjamin Hollis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Table Mountain rising behind the harbour at the V&A Waterfront, Cape TownCity

Cape Town

Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa's legislative capital, with Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, boat trips to Robben Island and an international airport. It is the urban and food-and-wine part of most South Africa itineraries.

Best months
December to March
Getting there
Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Open in Google Maps ↗

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

Questions travel agents ask about January

Is January a good time for a safari in Africa?

For dry-season game viewing, yes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, which are in their dry season in January. Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are in the rainy or green season, with greener landscapes and, in some areas, lower rates or closed camps.

Where is it rainy in Africa in January?

The countries in this guide with rain in January: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Patterns vary by region and year.

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Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash