Africa: when and where to go
Africa covers 16 countries in this guide, from the Sahara in the north to the savannas and mountains further south. Timing varies a lot by subregion: Egypt and Morocco suit a visit from November to March, while Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are best from May to August. Plan around these dry-season windows rather than a single Africa-wide season.
Right now
Best in Africa in November
Ranked by our month score: temperature, rain, sunshine and sea.
Climate heatmap
Best time to visit Africa
Month score out of 10 for each country. Tap a country for its month-by-month weather.
| Country | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 7.7 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Angola | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Cape Verde | 10.0 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 9.9 |
| Egypt | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 8.1 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 7.4 | 9.8 | 9.7 |
| Ethiopia | 9.2 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 9.1 |
| Gambia | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 7.2 |
| Ghana | 8.4 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.9 |
| Kenya | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 6.0 |
| Lesotho | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Madagascar | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 8.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Mauritania | 10.0 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Morocco | 7.3 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 9.6 | 8.0 |
| Zambia | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 7.1 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 5.1 |
| Zimbabwe | 6.3 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.6 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.1 |
Best Good OK Tough weather
Country guides
Countries in Africa
- Algeria Best: Nov, Dec, Oct, Feb
- Angola Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, May
- Cape Verde Best: Jan, Mar, Apr, May
- Egypt Best: Nov, Feb, Mar, Dec
- Ethiopia Best: Jan, Dec, Nov, Feb
- Gambia Best: Apr, May, Mar
- Ghana Best: Jan, Jul, Sep, Feb
- Kenya Best: Dec, Jul
- Lesotho Best: Sep, Oct, Nov
- Madagascar Best: Sep, Jul, Aug, May
- Mauritania Best: Jan, Dec, Feb, Nov
- Morocco Best: Nov, Apr, Oct, Mar
- Zambia Best: Jun, Jul, May, Aug
- Zimbabwe Best: Aug, May, Jun, Jul
FAQ
Travelling in Africa
Where is good to visit in Africa in August?
Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde top the list for August. This is dry-season winter in Southern and Eastern Africa, which suits wildlife viewing in Zimbabwe, lemur-watching in Madagascar, and steady sun in Cape Verde year-round.
Is Egypt good to visit in November?
Yes, November is one of Egypt's best months, along with December, February and March. These months avoid the summer heat, making it easier to visit sites like the pyramids and take Nile trips in comfortable temperatures.
What is the best time to visit Southern Africa?
Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe all list May to August as their best months. This is the dry winter season across Southern Africa, which brings clear skies and concentrates wildlife around waterholes and rivers, good for safaris.
Where should I go in Africa in January?
Mauritania, Cape Verde and Egypt rank highest for January. Mauritania and Egypt are cooler and drier in Northern Africa's winter, while Cape Verde off West Africa stays warm and dry nearly all year, including January.