The best locations for safari in Africa in February

February is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Tanzania.

The weather in most parts of the country is usually very good, a significant lull between the short rains of November and the long rains of Mar-May.

Daytime temperatures should reach 30-35C/86-95F in most areas.

Down on the coast rain is likely to remain a more or less daily occurrence, it should largely take the form of light showers. Further inland showers should be more occasional.

The overriding conditions should be hot and sunny, with clean and clear air and great light for photography.

On safari, the short rains should have passed, freshening the landscapes and causing many mammal species to start to have their young. If rains have been heavy then many of the animals will have dispersed into the hinterlands, making wildlife viewing generally less intense. So a pleasant and pretty time to be out in the bush, but without the hardcore intensity of the late Aug-Oct dry season.

The one major exception to this is the calving of the wildebeest on the southern plains of Serengeti, an all action spectacle which draws well-informed travellers from around the world. Almost all trips at this time are shaped around this event.

Conditions on Kilimanjaro should be superb, this probably the best month of the year to be on the mountain.

Visitor traffic in February is medium. This is a reasonably popular period and traffic in the core areas of Serengeti Southwest and Zanzibar does need to be considered. Getting availability in the best lodges can be a real issue and booking at least six to eight months ahead is advised, especially for groups of four or more guests and especially in that Serengeti Southwest area.

Despite February being the middle of the green season in southern Africa, Botswana experiences much lower rainfall than in surrounding countries, safari remains very much operational.

The wildlife viewing remains relatively strong in the core Okavango Delta areas and the bush is verdant, with lots of wildflowers and baby animals.

On the open grasslands of the Makgadikgadi area, large herds of wildebeest and zebras should be congregating to have their young.

The temperatures can still be a little warm and sticky, with some chance of showers, but still with plenty of sunshine.

The normally very high prices are substantially reduced, making this a relatively smart time to visit.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) has a converse seasonality to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. It is summer at this time, making it the perfect complement to a Botswana safari.

Februry is generally considered to be a pretty good month to visit Kenya.

Although the more southerly reserves are continuing to experience the short rains, the north of the country and the tropical coast are both much drier.

In the Maasai Mara, February is the fourth month of the green season. Temperatures should be a pleasant 28C/82F, but rainfall increases to around 100mm/4″ for the month. The main migration herds have long since departed for the south. However, there should also be strong general wildlife viewing, with plenty of predator action. Most people choose to head to the Serengeti (in Tanzania) at this time, where the migration calving is underway.

In the northern areas of Laikipia, Samburu and Mathews Range, conditions are likely to be considerably better. Temperatures should still be comfortable, but rainfall should drop further to around 15mm (0.5”) for the month. Wildlife is likely to remain dispersed, but increasingly accessible thanks to the drier backtracks.

Conditions are now good down on the tropical coast, where temperatures are still up at a potentially uncomfortable 34C/93F, but with rainfall right down at 15mm/0.5″ for the month.

Visitor numbers in February are usually relatively low, which goes a long way to offset the other disadvantages and makes this a potentially attractive time to explore usually more busy areas.

February is generally considered to be a pretty good month to visit Uganda.

In the Bwindi Forest area, the temperatures are stable at around 22C (70F), but rainfall is stable around 75mm (3”) through the month.

This rainfall is slightly lower than the annual average and conditions for gorilla tracking should be reasonably good.

In the savanna safari areas at this time, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls share similar conditions to the above and the dry season should be having a significant positive effect on wildlife viewing.

Kidepo Valley is in the sixth and final month of its dry season, with conditions now at their best.

Visitor traffic tends to be medium in February (boosted by guests combining with the migration calving event in the Serengeti area of Tanzania). It is always good to book permits as early as possible, to get on the best gorilla families.

February is generally considered to be a good time to visit Chad.

The Ennedi Plateau area to the northwest experiences a relatively constant arid desert climate, with temperatures rising to around 36C (97F), but with rainfall down at 1mm (0”).

The Zakouma area to the southeast experiences a tropical climate, with temperatures up at a potentially uncomfortable 39C (102F), but with rainfall down at 1mm (0”).

Visitor numbers are always low.

February is a good time of year in South Africa if you are prioritising weather conditions in the Cape, rather than in the safari areas.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) is in high summer at this time, which is a lovely time to explore.

The safari areas of South Africa (Kruger, Madikwe, Tswalu, Waterberg) are in the middle of their hot rainy season, which is far from ideal, but could be okay if this is a less important part of your trip.

If you want to travel in February and safari is important to you, then it might be worth exploring options in Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.

Visitor traffic in February can be relatively low in the safari areas, but the Cape areas remain popular throughout.

February is generally considered to be a very good time of year to visit Ethiopia.

Most areas have a similar climate to the capital, Addis Ababa, with temperatures around 25C (77F) and rainfall down at 25mm (1”) for the month.

The Tissisat Falls on the Blue Nile at Bahir Dar are at their best during the high water period of Jul-Dec and can be running rather low by February.

The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on earth, so conditions are never easy down there. November is one of the better months, when daytime temperatures usually ceiling around the 40C/104F mark.

The remote Gambella area is accessible at this time, where the kob migration should be arriving from South Sudan.

February is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Egypt.

At this time of year, the temperatures are at a comfortable 25C (77F), with rainfall down at 0mm (0”) and sunshine hours up at 10 hours per day, despite the shorter day length.

Temperatures at night can drop as low as 7C (44F).

Visitor numbers are relatively high through the month, creating an urgent need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

February is generally considered to be a relatively good time to visit the Congo.

In the key Odzala-Kokoua gorilla areas, temperatures are stable year-round at an elevated 34C (93F), dropping to only 18C (64F) at night, which can be a little bit challenging, especially in lodges with fans and no air-conditioning.

This is the second month of the short dry season, albeit with rainfall still up around 150mm (6”) for the month. However, this does mean that the tracks should be slightly easier to navigate when out gorilla tracking.

February is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Sudan.

At this time of year, the temperatures are down at a relatively comfortable 26C (79F), with rainfall down at 0mm (0”) and sunshine hours up at 11 hours per day, despite the shorter day length.

The festival of Mawlid an-Nabi, which celebrates the day the Prophet Mohammed was born, takes place in the streets and can be very colourful and energetic.

Visitor numbers are always low.