The best time to go on your African safari

You picture yourself watching the sun set over the open African plains, a drink in hand, while a trio of cheetahs is getting ready to go on the hunt.  Overhead an African Fish Eagle soars high in the sky.  A group of impala stands on guard with their noses in the wind, watching the cheetah's every move. 

This is where you have wanted to be all your life, this is where you belong.

But for now you are still in the planning stages, you wonder when the best time is to go on safari and make this dream come true.

If this is your first safari, pick the dry season, when water is scarce and animals congregate around the little water that is available.  The later in the dry season you go, the less water there is and the more concentrated the groups of animals you will see. 

In broad strokes, the dry season in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Northern Tanzania) runs from June through October and from Christmas through February.  South from there, in Southern Africa, the dry season runs from April through October.

Advantages of going on safari in the dry season are:
•    animals can easily be spotted
•    there are few mosquitoes around
•    golden-yellow vegetation makes for nice sunset photos
•    traveling is easier as roads are dry

Does that mean one should not travel in the green season?  I have seen some phenomenal wildlife encounters during the rains - witness the photo below which I shot in the Masai Mara in April, when I was able to track these magnificent animals for an hour.

Benefits of going on safari in the green season are:
•    fewer people about
•    lower prices
•    water based safaris (such as river cruises), not always available in the dry season, can add to your experience
•    waterfalls such as Victoria Falls are at their most impressive
•    great time for bird-watching, adding a dimension to your safari
•    lush landscapes and flowers abound
•    skies with towering clouds make for dramatic photography
•    animals get their babies, which makes for endearing photos and great predator activity

•    the south and central Serengeti in Tanzania hosts the wildebeest migration from December through March

•    the best time to visit Cape Town and the Garden Route is October through April

Broken down by the month, here are the safari areas you should go:
•    January - East Africa
•    February - Kenya, Uganda and Northern Tanzania
•    March - Kenya, Northern Tanzania
•    April - a good time to look for discounted safaris
•    May - Southern Africa
•    June - Southern Africa
•    July - East and Southern Africa
•    August - East and Southern Africa
•    September - East and Southern Africa
•    October - East and Southern Africa
•    November - Kenya, Northern Tanzania
•    December - East Africa

First time visitors will likely want to travel during the dry season and spot the Big Five.  But if you are looking for a more all-round safari, definitely consider the green season.

Related posts:

What to bring on your African safari
Highlights of Kenya
Wildebeest Migration
Feedback from South Africa and Botswana
Serengeti & Zanzibar feedback
Feedback from Africa
Feedback from South Africa

What makes a good travel consultant?

You may wonder what the role is of a travel consultant in this day and age when information is at everyone's fingertips.

Well, it's simple.

There is too much information out there and, quite frankly, it drives me crazy.   How do you know the information you read is truthful and relevant?

This is where an experienced travel consultant comes in.

Experience comes in many ways:

• foremost, there is travel experience.  A good travel consultant has "been there, done that", knows what makes a destination special.  He (and I am using "he" here as that is what I am) knows what you can experience in your country of choice, can give you a good tip on a restaurant, hotel or special site.
• a good travel consultant knows his stuff - when is a good time to do an African safari, an Antarctic cruise, or a hike in Nepal.  Is one hotel on the beach in Zanzibar better than another?
• a good travel consultant knows when to shut up and listen.  Are you interested in seeing the wildebeest migration?  What comfort level do you want on your trip?  Is this your honeymoon?  What makes you tick?
• a good travel agent asks questions.  If you have not already told him what makes you tick, he should be asking you.  He then matches your interests up with places he knows about and where you can get just the experience you want.
• a good travel consultant knows how to get you there.  Sometimes that means getting you the best deal, often it means getting you the best flight connections, to get you to your destination quicker and get you home rested.
• a good travel agent gets you engaged and enthusiastic about your trip.  Between booking and traveling, he will send you articles about the destination, tips on what books to read to prepare, personal tips about your trip or weather reports.
• a good travel consultant has a network of reliable travel suppliers who all deliver awesome experiences.  After all, this is your holiday, your time away from every day - it should be an unforgettable time. 
• a good travel agent consistently gets great feedback from his clients. 
• a good travel agent goes to bat for this clients should travel arrangements not work out.  This may include real-time intervention or post-trip liaison with airlines and tour operators.
• and of course a good travel agent answers your questions and concerns in a timely and professional manner.

So next time you book your holiday, and feel confused after pouring over millions of web sites, give an experienced travel consultant a try.