Safari in January: Where to Go in Africa

Head to East Africa. After the short rains of November and December, January is typically warm and mostly dry, with green grass and clear air. In Tanzania, the wildebeest and zebra herds settle on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ndutu area, and calving usually begins in late January, building to a February peak.

Kenya’s short dry season makes January excellent in the Maasai Mara conservancies for resident lions, cheetahs and leopards, even without the migration. Amboseli often has clear mornings with Kilimanjaro on the horizon, and Samburu’s wildlife gathers along the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

Yes. December to February is one of the two drier windows in Rwanda and Uganda, so trails in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi are usually less muddy than in the rainy months. Holiday and post-holiday permits are in demand, so secure them early; our gorilla trekking guide explains how.

It’s midsummer and the rainy season, with hot days and dramatic afternoon storms. That doesn’t rule it out: South Africa’s Sabi Sand and Kruger are lush, with young impala, migrant birds and fewer vehicles, and malaria-free Madikwe is a strong choice for families. Many lodges offer green-season rates outside the holiday weeks.

Botswana is in its green season too. The Okavango’s water is low and some areas are harder to reach, but zebra may gather on the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan grasslands, and many delta camps lower their rates.

A few regions and dates are best skipped this month.

Zanzibar is ideal in January: hot, mostly dry and a short flight from the Serengeti. Kenya’s coast, from Diani to Lamu, is also in its dry season, and Cape Town is at its summer best if you’re combining a city with a South African safari.

Book southern Serengeti calving camps 9 to 12 months ahead, since they’re seasonal and small, and secure January gorilla permits months in advance.