It is often considered that the best time to visit "the whole of South Africa" is around February/March to May/June each year... being (late) summer, going into autumn/winter, as the weather is favourable throughout the whole region, especially in the Cape (summer and early autumn) while best game viewing is still available in late autumn and early winter. The weather in the Cape is unpredictable in the winter (usually cold, windy and rainy from June to September), but from a game viewing point of view, it is often considered to be the best time to go on safari, being the drier, colder winter months from late April/early May through to late September.



However, it is certainly possible to go on safari in Southern and East Africa in most of the gaming destinations, throughout the year and to still see good game. The better regions for travelling in the height of summer, from October through to March, include the Cape, Mpumalanga, Natal, the Northern Province and the North West Province although the heat and humidity can be a factor, particularly while on safari especially in Botswana and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. These regions too, usually experience their rainy season in the hot, summer months, while the Cape experiences its rainy season in the colder, winter months.

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