January is generally a great month to go on safari in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda as these countries experience relatively dry weather in that month. Tanzania’s Northern circuit is a good option too. Animals are less spread out during the dry months and spotting them tends to be easier. The wildebeest calving in Tanzania and the zebra migration in Botswana are special events in January worth planning a trip around.
See below for an overview of the best parks to visit in Africa by country. Please note that the listings focus on the most popular parks only and are not comprehensive.
Nature doesn’t follow a script. Every day on safari is filled with special moments and unexpected sightings. However, some travel highlights are tied to the seasons. Read on if you want some inspiration on where to go on safari in January.
Wildebeest Calving Season in the Serengeti, Tanzania
During January and February more than a million wildebeest take a break from their perpetual migration to have their young. They settle in the Ndutu area of the Southern Serengeti to calve and nurture their newborns until they are strong enough to start their journey north. Within a three-week period about half a million wildebeest are born. Thousands of zebras and gazelles follow the same script, and the abundance of babies attracts an all-time high of predators to the area.
The Okavango–Makgadikgadi Zebra Migration in Botswana
Much less known than the wildebeest migration in East Africa is the annual zebra migration between the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans NP in Botswana. Triggered by rain, about 20,000 zebras travel the 500km return route to spend January to March at the pans. As most animal migrations in southern Africa have been eradicated due to fences and human habitation blocking the ancient routes, witnessing this great trek is extremely special.
January is a prime time for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Although Uganda has a very wet climate, January is one of the drier months. Gorilla trekking is offered throughout the year, but continuous rain in the Wet season can make forest paths very slippery and this can make the tracking more challenging. And, as you’ll get just one precious hour to spend with these gentle giants, the dry conditions in January are perfect to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience to the fullest.
You might see Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day while on safari in Kenya or Tanzania. For most of us that it enough. However, if you want to climb Africa’s highest mountain (and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain) you might want to consider what is the best time to take on this great challenge. January is an ideal month as it is relatively dry, not too busy, and there is a good chance of plenty of snow on the summit.
