The Best Times to Go Overlanding in Africa for Wildlife Enthusiasts
Overlanding in Africa is an unparalleled adventure, offering the chance to witness breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife in their natural habitats. However, choosing the right time for your journey is crucial. The continent’s diverse climates and ecosystems mean that wildlife sightings, road conditions, and overall experience can vary greatly depending on the season.
For wildlife enthusiasts, timing can make the difference between spotting a rare predator in action and driving through empty plains. This guide breaks down the best times to go overlanding in Africa, ensuring you make the most of your journey.
But first: Understanding Africa’s Seasons
Africa’s climate is shaped by its location across the equator, resulting in varied weather patterns. Generally, most of the continent experiences three primary seasons:
Dry Season (June – October): Characterized by little to no rainfall, sparse vegetation, and receding water sources. This is prime time for wildlife viewing, as animals congregate around remaining waterholes, and open plains make them easier to spot.
Green (Wet) Season (November – April): Brings lush landscapes, newborn wildlife, and migratory birds. However, some areas become inaccessible due to heavy rains and muddy roads.
Shoulder Seasons (May, November): The transitional periods between dry and wet seasons. These months offer fewer crowds, moderate temperatures, and good wildlife sightings.
Since Africa is vast and ecologically diverse, the ideal time for overlanding depends on the region you plan to explore.
1. East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda)
Best Time to Visit: June – October (Dry Season) & January – February
East Africa is home to some of the continent’s most iconic safari destinations, including the Serengeti, Maasai Mara, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The dry season offers prime game-viewing conditions as animals gather around limited water sources, making them easier to spot.
Highlights:
The Great Migration (July – October): Over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras move through Tanzania’s Serengeti into Kenya’s Maasai Mara, attracting predators like lions and crocodiles.
Gorilla Trekking (June – September, January – February): The drier months make it easier to hike the dense forests of Uganda and Rwanda to see mountain gorillas.
Predator Action: The open landscapes of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater offer incredible chances to witness lions, cheetahs, and leopards hunting prey.
Wet Season Perks (November – May):
Calving Season (January – March): Large numbers of wildebeest give birth in the Southern Serengeti, attracting predators.
Fewer Tourists: The wet season sees fewer visitors, leading to a more exclusive experience.
Birdwatching: Migratory birds arrive in large numbers, making it a paradise for bird lovers.
Challenges: Heavy rains can make some roads impassable, especially in remote parks.
2. Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
Best Time to Visit: May – October (Dry Season)
Southern Africa is a prime region for overlanding, with vast national parks, diverse wildlife, and incredible landscapes. The dry season offers the best visibility, as animals cluster around water sources, and bushveld thins out.
Highlights:
Okavango Delta (Botswana, June – August): High water levels allow for exceptional game viewing by boat or mokoro canoe.
Etosha National Park (Namibia, June – October): Waterhole gatherings make for exceptional wildlife spotting, including rhinos and elephants.
Kruger National Park (South Africa, May – September): Cooler temperatures, fewer mosquitoes, and active predators make this an ideal safari season.
Green Season Perks (November – April):
Lush Scenery: During the wet season, Africa’s landscapes transform into a vibrant paradise. Dry, golden plains turn into lush, green expanses teeming with life. Rivers and waterholes fill up, creating reflective surfaces that enhance the beauty of the scenery. The abundance of water encourages the growth of wildflowers, making certain regions like the Serengeti, Okavango Delta, and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park particularly breathtaking.
Newborn Animals: The wet season coincides with the birthing season for many animals, particularly herbivores such as wildebeests, zebras, and impalas. This influx of newborns draws predators, leading to thrilling wildlife interactions.
Fewer Crowds: With fewer tourists visiting during the wet season, major national parks and game reserves feel more intimate. Safari vehicles are less likely to crowd around animal sightings, allowing for more peaceful and private wildlife encounters.
Challenges: The wet season can make travel difficult in some remote regions due to flooded roads.
3. Central Africa (Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic)
Best Time to Visit: June – September & December – February
This lesser-explored region is home to some of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world. Timing is essential, as excessive rain can make overlanding challenging.
Highlights:
Lopé National Park (Gabon): Offers a mix of savanna and forest, home to elephants, mandrills, and leopards.
Odzala-Kokoua National Park (Congo): One of the best places to see lowland gorillas and rare forest-dwelling species.
Dzanga-Sangha Reserve (Central African Republic): A haven for forest elephants, bongo antelopes, and western lowland gorillas.
Challenges:
Heavy rainfall outside of these months can make travel difficult.
Some parks require long hikes through dense forests, demanding good fitness levels.
4. West Africa (Ghana, Senegal, Benin, Sierra Leone)
Best Time to Visit: November – April (Dry Season)
West Africa offers a more off-the-beaten-path overlanding experience, with unique wildlife, coastal scenery, and rich culture.
Highlights:
Pendjari National Park (Benin): One of the best places in West Africa for spotting lions, elephants, and hippos.
Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal): Features a variety of antelope species, baboons, and crocodiles.
Tiwai Island (Sierra Leone): A biodiversity hotspot for primates, including the rare Diana monkey.
Challenges:
Wildlife density is lower compared to East and Southern Africa.
Limited infrastructure in some parks can make access difficult.
Special Considerations for Overlanders
Road Conditions & Vehicle Preparation
Dry Season: Best for off-road travel, with fewer muddy tracks.
Wet Season: Some remote routes may become impassable; a 4×4 vehicle is essential.
Health & Safety
Malaria: Common in many regions, so prophylactics and insect repellent are recommended.
Water & Food: Carry sufficient supplies, especially in remote areas.
Permits & Border Crossings: Some parks and regions require permits, which should be arranged in advance.
Final Thoughts
Africa’s incredible biodiversity and landscapes make it a dream destination for overlanders. The best time to visit depends on the wildlife experience you seek, road conditions, and personal travel preferences.
By choosing the right season, you maximize your chances of witnessing Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife moments.
Have you experienced overlanding in Africa? Do you have any questions about planning your journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
