Deciding When to Go

Seasons in places south of the Equator—which cuts across the lower half of Africa—are opposite from those in North America. Southern Africa gets cool in winter (40° to 50° F [4° to 10° C]), especially in higher elevations. Closer to the Equator, the climate ranges from temperate in higher elevations to hot. Most travelers will want to avoid visiting during the rainy season (for example, from April to May in Kenya and Tanzania; December to March in Botswana; and November to June in Zimbabwe and Namibia). If you're on a tight budget, however, traveling during rainy season often means deep discounts on hotel rooms, tours, and airfare.

Related Web Resources:

The Weather Channel
Weather reports for major cities throughout Africa, including a ten-day outlook and current temperatures.

Weather Underground: Africa
Weather reports for cities throughout Africa—plus, "real time" reports.