You can’t go wrong with a safari in July, it’s an excellent time for wildlife viewing in East and southern Africa. Although wet throughout the year, Uganda and Rwanda see less rain in July and conditions are perfect for gorilla trekking. Note though that it is winter in South Africa; the warmer summer months are usually more pleasant for visiting the beaches, Cape Town and several other attractions.
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.
The best thing about a safari is its unpredictability. Nature doesn’t follow a script. However, there is a strong seasonality to wildlife viewing and proper planning will ensure a successful trip. Read on if you’d like some tips on where to go on an African safari in July.
South Luangwa’s Walking Safari Season Starts in Zambia
Zambia’s tourist season only really gets going properly around July. By then, the bush has thinned out sufficiently to make the most of the walking safaris for which South Luangwa NP is famous. Some of Africa’s best guides work here, and you’ll be in good hands when going out on foot in Big Five territory. Seeing Africa’s iconic animals, such as buffalo, elephant and even lion, on foot is a thrilling experience. But a walking safari is also an opportunity to look at small creatures, footprints and flora often overlooked on game drives.
Every year southern right whales migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the southern Cape to breed and calve. They stay in the area from July to October. You can see these gentle giants from Cape Town all the way to Durban, but Hermanus is known as South Africa’s whale-watching hub. Whales can be seen by boat or from the air by scenic flight. But in Hermanus, whales regularly come as close as 5m/16ft from the shore and a 12km/7.5mi cliff path offers the best land-based whale watching in the world.
Animals Gather Around the Waterholes in Etosha, Namibia
From July to October, the middle and end of the Dry season, the waterholes south of Etosha Pan become a magnet for wildlife. Sit at one of the waterholes to see a constant stream of thirsty animals approaching; some of them bold and others apprehensive. It’s not unusual to see eight to 10 different species in one scene with opportunistic predators lurking around on the sidelines. Check out one of the floodlit waterholes at night for a chance to see a black rhino, one of the frequent nocturnal visitors.
The Okavango Delta, Moremi GR, Chobe NP and the Linyanti region are at their best in July. Big herds of elephants gather on the Chobe waterfront. Take a boat trip to see them drinking and splashing. They might even put on a show by crossing the river. Thousands of zebras and other grazers have migrated to the floodplains to spend the Dry season here. Meanwhile the Okavango Delta is fully flooded and the rivers have spilled over to form a vast wetland best explored by mokoro (dugout canoe). The wildlife viewing in the whole region is exceptional at this time.
