Africa: when and where to go
We have best-month data for 10 African countries, from Egypt in the north to Zimbabwe in the south. Egypt, Ethiopia and Mauritania are best between November and March, while Angola, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe peak between May and September. Ghana is best in July and August, and Kenya in July and December.
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Best in Africa in September
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 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 7.0 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 7.0 | 9.9 | 9.9 |
| Angola | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 9.3 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 8.0 | 6.9 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 6.9 |
| Cape Verde | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 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 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.8 |
| Gambia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ghana | 3.9 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.0 |
| 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 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 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: Jan, Nov, Dec, Feb
- Angola Best: Jun, Jul, May, Aug
- Cape Verde
- Egypt Best: Nov, Feb, Mar, Dec
- Ethiopia Best: Jan, Dec, Feb, Nov
- Gambia
- Ghana Best: Jul, Aug
- Kenya Best: Dec, Jul
- Lesotho Best: Sep, Oct, Nov
- Madagascar Best: Sep, Jul, Aug, May
- Mauritania Best: Jan, Dec, Feb, Nov
- Morocco
- Zambia Best: Jun, Jul, May, Aug
- Zimbabwe Best: Aug, May, Jun, Jul
FAQ
Travelling in Africa
When is the best time to visit Africa?
It depends on where you go. Our data covers 10 countries and shows 2 main windows. May to August is best for Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Angola. Madagascar is best in May, July, August and September. November to February suits Ethiopia and Mauritania. Egypt is best in November, December, February and March. Kenya peaks in July and December, and Ghana in July and August.
Where should I go in Africa in December?
Mauritania, Egypt and Ethiopia are the top 3 picks for December. December is one of the best months for all 3 countries. Kenya is also a good choice, because December is one of its 2 best months.
Is Africa good in August?
Yes, August is one of the strongest months for Africa. Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Zambia rank highest. Angola, Tanzania and Ghana also count August among their best months. August is not among the best months for Egypt, Ethiopia or Mauritania. Their best months fall between November and March.
Where should I go in Africa in April or October?
These are harder months. None of the 10 countries in our data lists April or October as a best month. In April the top-ranked are Zimbabwe, Zambia and Madagascar. In October they are Madagascar, Egypt and Ethiopia. If you can, move your trip by a month. May suits Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. November suits Egypt and Ethiopia.