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Where to go in Africa in September

September is the heart of the dry season, the best time of year for big game viewing.

Our Recommendation for September

This is the heart of the dry season, the best time of year for big game viewing. Visitors to the continent will find that traveling anywhere in ‘Safari Africa’ is outstanding for the sheer concentration of game to be found in any of the parks. Virtually everywhere offers very high quality safaris, and it starts to become rather difficult to choose where to travel! The long dry season ends around mid-September in Rwanda. The Indian Ocean will see temperatures rising as you move out of winter.

Tanzania

Tanzania spoils you for choice. The Serengeti National Park is a huge attraction at this time of year, with the Great Migration the main focus as river crossings take place daily in the Lamai/Kogatende northern part of the park. Also, Tarangire is the center of the region’s elephant migration. Combining these two migrations is a popular and very good itinerary. Nyerere (formerly Selous), Ruaha and Katavi are the focal point of the region’s game and fabulous options for a less commercial safari than the northern parks can offer.

South Africa

September is an equally superb time of year to be in South Africa. The north of the country, especially, guarantees very good weather as well as excellent safaris in Kruger National Park. The further south you go, the less good the weather becomes, but Cape Town has its own appeal at any time of year, and this period also sees the start of the whale migration down on the Garden Route. Overall, this is a great time of year to travel.

Botswana

Botswana’s most famous parks are in their peak seasons for game viewing. The Okavango, Moremi, Chobe and the Linyanti area are absolutely world class at this time of year. The concentration of elephant around the Chobe and Linyanti region is matched nowhere else in Africa at any time of year. The Okavango is in flood and the entire Delta looks exceptional. As this northern part of the country is at its peak, the game has pretty much left the Pans and the Kalahari entirely – traveling to these areas starts to become inadvisable if you are searching for good game viewing.

Zambia

Zambia is also in its peak season for travel. Africa’s finest walking destination, the Luangwa, is at its peak, with exceptional walking safari and standard game driving on offer in the south park, and just walking in North Luangwa. The Lower Zambezi is an exceptional park at this time of year, a real favourite in the Yellow Zebra office. And Kafue is an extra park to consider for September vacations.

Kenya

Kenya in September is one of the best months for seeing the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara. The quieter north of the country (Matthews Range, Laikipia, Lewa and Samburu) are also absolutely superb for game viewing at this time of year.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has perfect conditions during September and with the main vacation season over visitor numbers are much lower. As water has become more scarce during the dry season it is a lot easier to find wildlife around the more permanent water sources.

Mauritius

September is a great time to visit Mauritius with warmer weather than July and August. Mauritius moves into its summer next month and starts to get extremely hot and humid towards the end of the year.

Seychelles

The Seychelles are in their final month of the dry season with little rain and breezier weather than the hot months at the end of the year.

Namibia

Namibia is superb in September. The game viewing on offer in Etosha is at its peak, making the country’s finest safari destination a great addition to any itinerary here. Trips out to the desert and up the Skeleton Coast are thoroughly rewarding, with beautiful temperatures and clear skies.

Mozambique

Mozambique is in its peak season with temperatures starting to rise during the day, although staying cool at night. With visitor numbers lower due to the end of most summer vacations this is a fantastic time to visit the country.

Rwanda

While September is still considered dry season in Rwanda, there is a steady increase in precipitation, compared with July and August particularly. However, gorilla trekking is still nothing short of excellent. Despite this, the irregular weather patterns around Volcanoes National Park make it hard to predict whether or not rain will fall.

Great Destinations in September

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Great Trips in September

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