Part of Africa
Quick answer
Reviewed · 3 min read
February is calving season. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born on Tanzania’s southern Serengeti plains, mostly within a few weeks, and lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow. Kenya stays mostly dry and warm, gorilla trekking remains in a drier window, and Southern Africa’s green season brings lush scenery and lower rates. Book calving camps 9–12 months ahead.
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- Top pick
- Ndutu & southern Serengeti, Tanzania (peak calving)
- Also great
- Ngorongoro Crater; Kenya’s Mara and Samburu; Botswana’s pans
- Weather pattern
- East Africa warm and mostly dry; Southern Africa hot with afternoon storms
- Wildlife highlight
- Newborn wildebeest and intense predator action
- Crowds & rates
- Ndutu busy and priced high; green-season deals in Southern Africa
Where to go on safari in February
Ndutu & southern Serengeti
Tanzania · peak calving
Newborn calves, cheetah and lion hunts, and vast herds on open plains.
ExploreNgorongoro Crater
Tanzania
Dense wildlife and black rhino, an easy add-on from Ndutu.
ExploreSamburu
Kenya · dry season
Northern species such as Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe along the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
ExploreBwindi
Uganda · drier window
Gorilla treks with Kibale’s chimps on a primate-focused loop.
ExploreBotswana
Green season
Lower delta rates, superb birdlife and zebra on the Makgadikgadi grasslands.
ExploreCape Town & Winelands
South Africa · summer
High summer for Table Mountain and beaches as the wine harvest gets under way.
Explore
Why is February the month for calving season?
Wildebeest time their births to the rains, and after the short rains the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area offer mineral-rich short grass. Calving typically peaks in February, when huge numbers of calves are born within a few weeks. Calves can stand and run within minutes, but predators are everywhere, so hunts are frequent and dramatic.
Seasonal mobile camps set up close to the herds for these weeks, putting you near the action at dawn. Our Great Migration guide explains how the herds move through the year.
Where else is good for safari in February?
Calving steals the headlines, but several other regions are on form this month.
- Ngorongoro Crater: a short drive from Ndutu, with green grass, lions, elephants and black rhino on the crater floor.
- Kenya: the Mara conservancies, Amboseli and Samburu are dry and warm, with resident wildlife easy to find in short grass.
- Rwanda and Uganda: still a drier window for gorilla trekking, and less busy than the holiday weeks.
- Botswana’s pans: zebra can gather on the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan grasslands, while Okavango camps offer green-season rates.
- South Africa: lush Sabi Sand and Kruger reserves with excellent birding, plus Cape Town in high summer.
What should you avoid in February?
Skip Zambia’s Lower Zambezi and the remote bush camps of South Luangwa, which are mostly closed for the rains. Victoria Falls is rising but not yet at its April–May peak, and Mauritius is in its cyclone peak, so choose a different island.
In Tanzania, don’t base yourself in the northern Serengeti: the migration is far to the south in February, and most travelers chasing the herds stay in the southern plains and Ndutu.
Which beach suits a February safari?
Zanzibar is hot, humid and mostly dry in February, with calm seas on many coasts, and it’s a short light-aircraft hop from the Serengeti. The Seychelles are warm but in their wetter season, with showers more likely than in the calm transition months. For a city finale, Cape Town is sunny and dry.
How far ahead should you book a February safari?
Book 9 to 12 months ahead for calving season. The best camps near Ndutu are small and fill with photographers and repeat visitors, and Presidents’ Day week adds US demand. Plan at least three nights in the southern Serengeti, plus one or two on the crater rim.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly is calving season in the Serengeti?
Is February a good time for a Kenya safari?
Is February too hot for safari?
Can you see predators hunting during calving season?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.