Weather

Botswana’s climate is generally sub-tropical with light rainfall. Droughts are frequent. Summer (October-March) can be very hot, and the evenings also remain warm. Temperatures in winter (April-September) can drop quite dramatically at night and in the early mornings, but daytime temperatures are pleasantly warm.

As the central point of the country, Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta, is a good indicator of weather patterns throughout Botswana.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Maun

66/89

66/87

64/87

57/87

48/82

43/77

42/77

48/82

55/91

64/95

66/93

66/89

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maun	4.1	3.7	3.2	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.7	3.2

Kenya’s diverse geography means that temperature, rainfall, and humidity vary widely. Apart from the humid coast and the scorching and arid desert regions of the north, much of Kenya is enjoys warm days and cool nights year-round.

Nairobi and the Maasai Mara are good guides for climate throughout the parts of Kenya that you will be visiting. (Temperatures along the coast average 5-10ºF hotter, and humidity is much higher.)

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

NBO

57/80

57/83

59/82

60/79

58/77

55/75

53/74

54/75

55/79

58/80

59/77

58/78

MM

54/82

54/82

54/81

55/79

55/77

54/77

52/77

52/77

54/81

54/82

54/81

54/81

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
NBO	1.6	2.0	2.8	6.1	4.3	1.0	0.5	0.6	1.0	1.8	4.7	3.1
MM	3.7	3.9	5.7	8.3	6.1	3.7	2.4	3.1	3.7	3.9	6.1	4.5

NBO = Nairobi
MM = Maasai Mara

Mozambique has two main seasons. The wet season (November-March) has an average monthly temperature of 79-84°F with cooler temperatures in the interior uplands. The dry season (April-October) is somewhat cooler. Rainfall is greatest (approximately 56 inches) over the western hills and the central areas.

We primarily operate on the Mozambican coast out of Vilanculos (VNX).

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

VNX

74/87

74/88

73/87

69/85

64/82

60/78

59/77

62/78

66/80

69/82

73/85

74/86

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
VNX	5.9	6.3	3.1	1.6	1.4	1.0	0.8	1.0	0.4	1.6	2.4	5.5

Namibia’s climate is typically semi-desert with hot days and cool nights. During the winter months (May-September), it can get very cold at night and in the early morning. Average annual rainfall is less than two inches along the coast, about fourteen inches in the central interior, and 27 inches in the Caprivi. Mid-summer temperatures may rise to over 104°F. Along the coast, fog prevails from late afternoon until mid-morning.

As guidelines for the Namibia weather, three locations are listed below. The capital city of Windhoek is in the central highlands, the scenic town of Swakopmund is on the Skeleton Coast, and Sossusvlei is in the heart of the Namib Desert.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

WDH

63/90

63/88

61/86

56/82

51/78

46/74

45/73

49/78

56/85

60/89

61/90

63/91

SWP

63/89

63/88

61/85

56/82

51/78

46/74

45/73

49/78

56/85

61/89

62/90

63/91

SOS

65/94

67/92

64/89

62/88

57/85

51/81

49/81

54/88

60/95

64/99

65/96

66/94

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
WDH	3.1	3.1	3.1	1.6	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.5	1.0	1.6
SWP	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.1
SOS	0.6	0.6	1.6	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	2.8

WDH = Windhoek
SWP = Swakopmund
SOS = Sossusvlei

The Republic of Congo lies on the equator, so temperatures vary little year-round. The weather is governed by the annual cycle of wet and dry seasons…though it would be more accurate to call the seasons wet and “less wet.” For most of the country, it is rainy from October through May, with the most rain coming on the shoulders of this. June to September is less rainy.

Rainfall means that the air is clearer and the humidity is higher. Daytime temperatures during the rains are also typically higher. From June to September the air can be relatively hazy, with a white film of clouds covering the sky most days. Daytime temperatures are also a bit cooler, and humidity tends to be lower as well.

The capital city of Brazzaville is in far south of the country on the banks of the mighty Congo River. Odzala National Park is the low-lying jungles of the northeast.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

BZV

73/88

72/89

73/91

73/91

73/89

69/84

67/83

69/84

71/88

72/88

72/88

72/87

ODZ

66/84

66/86

66/88

66/88

66/86

64/82

64/81

64/81

66/84

66/84

64/84

64/84

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
BZV	6.3	5.4	7.4	6.7	5.2	0.4	0.1	0.4	1.7	6.5	10.4	8.5
ODZ	3.5	4.9	6.8	6.8	6.8	3.5	1.6	2.4	7.8	9.8	4.3	4.3

BZV = Brazzaville
ODZ = Odzala

Rwanda has a “temperate tropical highland climate,” with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation. Altitude has the largest impact on local temperatures, with the mountainous west and north generally cooler than the lower-lying east.

The country has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. The rainy seasons tend to be from March to April and October to November, but this varies somewhat across the country, and it can rain any time of year. Travel can be slower—and gorilla tracking muddier!—in the rainy seasons, but the views are often better.

The capital city of Kigali is in the center of the country, and Volcanoes National Park is at higher elevations in the northwest.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

KGL

60/80

60/81

60/80

61/79

61/79

60/80

59/81

61/82

61/83

61/81

60/79

60/80

VNP

60/79

59/79

61/79

61/76

62/76

59/77

59/79

60/80

61/78

60/78

60/76

60/78

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
KGL	3.0	3.6	4.5	6.1	3.5	0.7	0.5	1.2	2.7	4.2	4.4	3.0
VNP	4.5	4.1	6.5	7.5	5.5	2.2	1.8	2.8	4.7	7.2	7.5	5.1

KGL = Kigali
VNP = Volcanoes National Park

The island nation of Seychelles enjoys a pleasant tropical climate year-round, and, since it is situated outside the cyclone belt, there are no weather extremes. The temperature seldom drops below 75ºF or rises above 90ºF.

From October to March, the islands are affected by the northwest trade winds, producing calmer and warmer seas. From May to September, the islands are affected by the southeast trade winds, and weather is generally drier and cooler but with choppier seas, especially on southeastern coastlines. The wettest months are December and January.

Mahe is the capital city and a good indication of weather throughout the islands.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mahe

76/85

76/86

77/87

78/88

78/86

77/84

75/83

76/83

76/84

76/85

76/86

76/86

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mahe	15.5	10.7	6.8	7.3	5.1	2.6	3.3	4.0	5.0	8.4	8.8	11.5

The weather in South Africa has two main biomes, the Cape and the rest of the country. The Cape is rainy and cool in the winter months (April-September) and dry and warm in the summer (October-March). The remainder of the country is dry and cool during the winter months, but wet and warm during the summer months!

Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, is in the central northeastern highlands (at about a mile in elevation!), while Cape Town is on the southwest tip of the country and is a good indication of weather of along the whole Cape. Kruger National Park is in the extreme northeast of the country and at somewhat lower elevation than Johannesburg.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

JNB

52/86

51/84

47/82

41/78

35/73

29/69

29/70

31/76

35/83

41/85

45/85

49/86

CPT

60/82

60/84

57/80

53/77

49/71

45/67

43/65

46/67

47/69

51/74

55/76

59/80

KNP

68/90

68/89

65/88

59/84

50/81

45/77

45/77

48/81

54/86

61/89

64/90

67/91

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
JNB	5.1	3.9	3.7	2.2	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.2	1.1	0.3	0.5	4.2
CPT	0.6	0.7	0.9	1.7	2.8	3.8	3.4	3.2	1.7	0.1	0.0	0.7
KNP	4.0	3.9	2.6	1.3	0.6	0.2	0.4	0.3	0.7	1.5	2.9	3.6

JNB = Johannesburg
CPT = Cape Town
KNP = Kruger National Park

Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. Across the country it is hottest from October to February and coolest from June to August. There are two rainy seasons: the “long rains” are from mid-March to May, and the “short rains” are from November to January.

Coastal areas like Dar es Salaam along with the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba are generally hotter and more humid than inland regions. Sea breezes make the coastal climate relatively pleasant from June to September.

Arusha is in northeastern Tanzania, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. The famous Serengeti National Park is a large region in the north central part of the country. Zanzibar is a popular tropical island off the central coast.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

ARU

50/84

51/84

53/81

57/77

52/72

48/70

49/69

48/72

47/76

51/80

51/81

50/81

SNP

59/81

59/81

61/81

61/79

61/77

57/77

55/75

55/77

57/81

59/82

59/81

61/82

ZNZ

73/90

73/91

73/90

75/86

73/84

72/84

70/84

68/84

68/86

70/88

72/88

73/88

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
ARU	2.3	3.3	7.0	14.5	8.3	1.3	0.6	0.8	0.8	1.4	4.4	4.0
SNP	3.6	3.8	5.2	5.0	2.4	1.1	0.5	1.0	1.1	1.5	3.5	4.1
ZNZ	3.3	2.2	5.9	15.2	10.0	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0	3.7	8.5	7.3

ARU = Arusha
SNP = Serengeti National Park
ZNZ = Zanzibar

While rain is possible year-round in Uganda, the most optimal conditions for trekking mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are during the drier seasons of December to February and June to August. These seasons hold true for most of the country except for Kidepo Valley National Park in the northeast which has one wet season running from April to August.

Entebbe is on the shores of Lake Victoria in the center of the country, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is is the far southwest, and Kidepo Valley National Park is in the far northeast.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

EBB

67/79

68/80

68/80

68/78

68/77

67/77

66/77

65/77

66/78

66/78

67/78

67/78

BWI

60/79

59/79

61/79

61/76

62/76

59/77

59/79

60/80

61/78

60/78

60/76

60/78

KNP

62/87

63/89

65/88

65/85

65/83

64/82

63/80

63/81

64/83

64/84

63/84

61/86

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
EBB	3.0	3.2	6.6	9.4	6.5	2.2	1.8	3.1	4.0	5.8	6.4	4.6
BWI	4.4	5.4	7.7	6.1	3.5	2.0	1.1	2.3	4.4	7.3	7.3	6.0
KNP	0.8	0.7	3.1	7.1	7.2	7.3	7.9	6.8	4.5	5.7	3.6	1.5

EBB = Entebbe
BWI = Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
KNP = Kidepo Valley National Park

Zambia’s seasons are similar to the other countries in southern Africa. Winter lasts from May to September with dry and sunny days with cool to cold nights. Summer begins later in September, and October and November can be exceptionally hot until the first rains break. The rains generally last from November to March.

Safari areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park and South Luangwa National Park share a similar weather and climate. These areas tend to be a few degrees warmer than Livingstone, where you can see the mighty Victoria Falls.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

LVI

64/81

63/81

61/82

57/81

52/79

46/75

45/75

48/81

55/86

61/90

63/86

64/82

LUA

64/91

64/91

64/91

63/90

59/86

54/82

55/79

59/82

66/90

70/93

70/93

66/90

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
LVI	9.6	7.3	3.7	1.4	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	3.5	8.2
LUA	9.1	8.1	5.4	1.8	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	3.5	7.6

LVI = Livingstone
LUA = South Luangwa National Park

Zimbabwe’s seasons are similar to the other countries in southern Africa. Generally, days are bright and sunny and the nights clear and cool. October to April are the summer months, with the rains usually arriving in November and continuing through March. Winter is from May to August which means drier weather, with beautiful days but potentially very cold nights. Late September through early November is often very hot.

Victoria Falls is in the far northwest of the country. Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park are the two prime safari areas in the country. Hwange is south of Victoria Falls in the country’s far west and experiences much colder temperatures in the winter. Mana Pools is about 500 miles farther down the Zambezi River from Victoria Falls in the country’s extreme north and is known for particularly hot and humid summers.

Average Low/High Temperatures (ºF)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

VFA

66/84

65/85

64/86

58/85

50/82

45/78

44/76

49/82

57/90

64/93

67/91

66/86

HWA

65/85

65/86

63/86

56/85

48/82

43/77

42/76

47/82

56/89

62/92

65/90

65/86

MAN

72/89

72/90

71/89

66/88

59/85

54/82

54/81

59/86

67/93

75/97

76/96

73/91

Average Rainfall (inches)

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
VFA	6.9	5.5	3.1	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.0	2.8	6.7
HWA	5.9	5.3	2.8	1.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.0	2.4	5.7
MAN	7.5	6.3	4.5	1.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	3.0	6.9

VFA = Victoria Falls
HWA = Hwange National Park
MAN = Mana Pools National Park