Africa: Climate & Best Time to Visit
Africa includes Mediterranean coasts, deserts, savannahs, rainforests, highlands and a temperate southern tip. The best time depends on country, region and activity. This guide is for orientation; local rainy seasons, cyclones and microclimates can differ.
Quick selection
Algeria | Angola | Benin | Botswana | Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cabo Verde | Cameroon | Central African Republic | Chad | Comoros | Republic of the Congo | DR Congo | Côte d’Ivoire | Djibouti | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Eswatini | Ethiopia | Gabon | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Kenya | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Madagascar | Malawi | Mali | Mauritania | Mauritius | Morocco | Mozambique | Namibia | Niger | Nigeria | Rwanda | São Tomé and Príncipe | Senegal | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Somalia | South Africa | South Sudan | Sudan | Tanzania | Togo | Tunisia | Uganda | Zambia | Zimbabwe
Climate overview
North Africa is generally hottest in summer, so spring and autumn suit desert and Mediterranean travel. West Africa is often drier from November to February. East Africa commonly has two rainy seasons, while the cool dry period from about May to October is often ideal for southern-African safaris.
Algeria
Desert and Mediterranean climate. Best: March–May and October–November; Sahara summers are extremely hot.
Angola
Tropical, becoming drier southward; rains mainly November–April. Best: May–October, generally drier and cooler.
Benin
Hot tropical climate with rainy seasons. Best: November–February for drier, less humid conditions.
Botswana
Semi-arid, hot summers and cool dry winters. Best: May–September for safaris and wildlife viewing.
Burkina Faso
Hot Sahel climate; rains about June–October. Best: November–February, before peak heat.
Burundi
Tropical highland climate with two rainy seasons. Best: June–September and December–January.
Cabo Verde
Dry, sunny island climate with trade winds. Best: November–June; September/October can be warmer and wetter.
Cameroon
Humid tropical south to Sahelian north. Best: November–February for many areas; the coast stays very wet.
Central African Republic
Tropical with rains roughly May–October. Best: December–March, usually drier and better for roads.
Chad
Extremely hot desert and Sahel climate. Best: November–February, before heat and dust increase.
Comoros
Tropical island climate; hot, wet season around November–April. Best: May–October.
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial, hot and humid with drier spells. Best: June–September for relatively less rain.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mostly equatorial-tropical; north and south have different rainy seasons. Best: often June–September, region dependent.
Côte d’Ivoire
Humid tropical south, drier north. Best: November–February for touring; rains mainly May–October.
Djibouti
Very hot, dry desert climate. Best: November–February; summer is extremely hot.
Egypt
Desert climate, milder on the Mediterranean. Best: October–April for Nile, culture and desert trips.
Equatorial Guinea
Hot and humid year-round with heavy rainy seasons. Best: December–February or June–August, region dependent.
Eritrea
Hot coast and cooler highlands. Best: October–March for many areas; highlands can be mild in summer.
Eswatini
Subtropical; summers warm and rainy, winters dry and mild. Best: May–September for hiking and wildlife.
Ethiopia
Temperate highlands and hot lowlands; main rains usually June–September. Best: October–February for highland touring.
Gabon
Equatorial, hot and very humid, with two rainy seasons. Best: June–September for less rain and wildlife.
Gambia
Tropical savannah climate; rains mainly June–October. Best: November–May, dry and sunny.
Ghana
Tropical with rainy seasons, drier in the north. Best: November–February for lower humidity and less rain.
Guinea
Hot tropical climate with very wet monsoon season. Best: December–April, much drier than May–November.
Guinea-Bissau
Hot tropical climate with pronounced rainy season. Best: November–April for drier roads and travel.
Kenya
Tropical to dry, cooler at altitude; long rains around March–May, short rains around November. Best: January–March and June–October.
Lesotho
Highland climate with warm summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters. Best: October–April for milder outdoor conditions.
Liberia
Very humid tropical coast; rains mainly May–October. Best: November–March for drier conditions.
Libya
Mostly desert, Mediterranean coast. Best: March–May and October–November, milder than summer.
Madagascar
Tropical, humid north and drier south; cyclone season usually January–March. Best: April–November.
Malawi
Subtropical with rains around November–April. Best: May–October for cooler, drier weather and safaris.
Mali
Hot Sahel and desert climate; rains mostly June–October. Best: November–February.
Mauritania
Very dry, hot desert climate. Best: November–February for more comfortable temperatures.
Mauritius
Tropical island climate; summer is hot, humid and cyclone-prone. Best: May–December for drier, milder weather.
Morocco
Mediterranean, Atlas and desert climates. Best: March–May and September–November; inland summers are very hot.
Mozambique
Tropical coast; rainy and cyclone season roughly November–April. Best: April–October for beach, safari and drier conditions.
Namibia
Dry desert and semi-desert climate, hot days and cool nights. Best: May–October for safaris and dry weather.
Niger
Extremely hot desert and Sahel climate. Best: November–February; heat rises sharply from March.
Nigeria
Tropical south and drier north; rains generally April/May–October. Best: November–February for drier conditions.
Rwanda
Tropical highland climate, mild due to altitude, with two rainy seasons. Best: June–September and December–February for trekking and nature.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Hot, humid tropical climate with regional dry spells. Best: June–September or December–February, depending on island and activity.
Senegal
Tropical to Sahelian; rains mainly June–October. Best: November–February for dry, relatively mild conditions.
Seychelles
Tropical islands, warm year-round; trade winds shape conditions. Best: April/May and October/November for calmer seas and diving.
Sierra Leone
Hot tropical climate with very wet monsoon season. Best: November–April for drier conditions.
Somalia
Hot and mostly dry, with two rainy seasons by region. Best: December–February or June–September, depending on area.
South Africa
Highly regional: Mediterranean Cape, subtropical east and dry interior. Best: May–September for safaris; Cape Town often October–April.
South Sudan
Hot tropical climate with long rains around April–October. Best: December–February for drier conditions, though often very hot.
Sudan
Desert and Sahel climate, extremely hot in summer; southern rains around June–September. Best: November–February.
Tanzania
Tropical, hot humid coast and milder highlands; long rains around March–May, short rains around November. Best: June–October and January/February.
Togo
Tropical south and drier north, with in places two rainy seasons. Best: November–February for drier conditions.
Tunisia
Mediterranean coast, hot dry interior and Sahara. Best: March–May and September–November.
Uganda
Tropical highland climate, mild in many areas, with two rainy seasons. Best: June–September and December–February for trekking and safari.
Zambia
Tropical savannah with rains about November–April. Best: May–October, especially June–August for comfortable temperatures.
Zimbabwe
Subtropical, with warm wet summers and drier winters. Best: May–October for safari and Victoria Falls; November–March is hotter and wetter.