8 reasons why February is an awesome time to travel to East Africa
East Africa is a year round destination making it good to visit any time of the year, depending on what you want to see, do and experience.
Traveling between March and May which is the first rainy season of the year means you will have to look a bit harder for wildlife, as the bushland is dense, so it is much easier for the animals to hide. But the landscapes will be vibrant green. If you can handle a few showers each day and occasional drenching downpour, this is a beautiful time to visit.
April to September is when the Great Migration northwards happens, when tens of thousands of wildebeests crash their way across East Africa, from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara National Reserve in search of food and water.
Generally, June to October is dry and cooler, and the busiest time of the year, while the second wet season rolls through the late-October and lasts until December. By January, the rains have stopped and the area enters its first yearly dry spell.
So is February our favorite time of year to visit? Here is why
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It is the driest of the year
So, February is one of the best times of year for seeing wildlife. The vegetation cover is sparser, making it more difficult for the animals to camouflage themselves, and they have further to travel for water.
On safari across the savannah, you will be rewarded with giraffes, elephants and gazelles on parade, while on a jungle trek for an unforgettable mountain gorilla experience in Uganda and Rwanda.
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It is a shoulder season
February is a shoulder season, so the flights are cheaper and you won’t be paying a premium for accommodation as well as activities. Also, the school holidays are over in most parts of the world, so it will be less crowded too. It is much nicer having front-row seats to animal escapades on the Serengeti or visiting an elephant sanctuary in Kenya or camping out with a clan of Maasai warriors without all the crowds.
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It’s hot during the day
With temperatures hovering around the 30 degree Celsius, the weather’s perfect for making the most of your lodge or camp’s swimming pools, not to mention the excellent beaches of Diani and Zanzibar. Splash about in the shallows of the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar or cool off with a dip after a day of exploring in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
And if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, coming back to winter with a tan is great.
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The evenings are balmy
Most of the East African cities have an awesome outdoorsy nightlife, think rooftop bars, beer gardens and outdoor restaurants. Oder a Tusker or Nile beer and some mandazi (a sweet and semi-spicy deep-fried “donut”) and settle in for an evening of travel stories with your fellow travelers.
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It’s a great time for bird watching
It is a good time of year for bird watching in East Africa, but from September to April migratory birds from North Africa and Europe make their way south to nest, and take advantage of the warm and dry weather. Along with seeing spectacular local birds like lilac-breasted rollers, white-headed vultures, flamingoes and ostriches, expect to see willow warblers, northern wheatears and barn swallows.
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Calving season starts
A Tanzania safari visit to Serengeti’s Ndutu Plains during calving season is an incredible experience. In February each year, thousands of pregnant wildebeests give birth with an estimate of around 8000 baby wildebeests born each day throughout the month, as well as ten of thousands of zebras and gazelles. While you will get to see lots of cute babies, you will also witness the circle of life in action, as hungry predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas jump in for easy meals.
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Are you into hiking? Climb Mt Kilimanjaro with few crowds
At 5985 metres, Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the tallest fee standing mountain in the world and is a popular trek for avid treks. Climb climbs in February means the slopes are dry, and its much less busy than the peak June to October season. Also, it is cooler than during the summer months and you are more likely to encounter snow the higher you go.
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You can spot a different Great Migration
While April marks the start of the best time to see the Great Migration – when herds of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles make their way across the Serengeti. February is when you will spot migrating whale sharks along the coast of Tanzania and Kenya. In Zanzibar and Diani you can go snorkeling with dolphins and other marine creatures.
In conclusion, the blog – 8 reasons why February is an awesome time to travel to East Africa gives you all to expect on an East Africa Safari.
