Equatorial Africa’s climate is dominated by an enormous band of weather called the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone which migrates southwards from equatorial regions reaching Southern Africa in November and departing in February. It also delivers two periods of rainfall in East Africa, commonly known as the “long” rains (from March to May) and the “short” rains (from October to December). Winters occur from May to July in Southern Africa and can be quite cold though nearly always sunny. Lowland Kenya and Tanzania remain at a comfortably warm temperature all the year round.

The ITCZ weather system and the rain it brings is almost solely responsible for all the breeding and behavioural patterns of Africa’s wildlife and birds and the annual rejuvenation of vegetation in sub-Saharan Africa. This in turn may affect when and indeed where one chooses to safari.

Prime game viewing in Southern Africa is prior to the rains when game concentrates around diminishing water sources. In East Africa rainfall drives the famous Wildebeests migration, in March the herds are in the southern Serengeti and by November they are in the Masai Mara. Whilst most herbivores have some form of migratory pattern most predators are territorial and remain in a given location regardless of rainfall. Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is best without rain, similar to tracking chimpanzees. Most people prefer to safari when there is little chance of rain but experiencing tremendous tropical thunderstorms can make safaris more impressive!

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