African Safaris in February – Where to Go & Why

Quick snapshot:

• Best for: Cape Town & the Cape provinces, East Africa safari (Serengeti / Mara highlights), and green-season value in selected Southern Africa regions
• Weather: Southern Africa is in high summer — hot, with afternoon storms in some areas; the Cape is much drier with its Mediterranean climate
• Watch-out: Cyclone season for Mauritius, Madagascar (especially the east coast), and sometimes Mozambique (with heavy rain occasionally reaching the Kruger National Park)

Top destination picks:

• South Africa – Cape Town / Winelands / Garden Route for scenic touring; Eastern Cape for reliable safari; northern KwaZulu-Natal for the turtle tracking season (early Feb)
• Kenya – excellent in many regions with short grass in many areas and good visibility; warm days and cooler evenings; consider northern areas like Samburu or Laikipia where dry conditions can concentrate game at water sources
• Tanzania (southern Serengeti / Ndutu) – herds gather ahead of calving, often with superb predator activity
• Uganda – Murchison Falls and Kidepo (dry season in the north); gorilla/chimp tracking in the south can be marginally less rainy than other wet-season months
• Botswana – a brilliant green-season option, especially late Feb into March as zebra/wildebeest movements build in the Makgadikgadi pans; strong seasonal specials can offer excellent value

What’s happening in February:

February is peak summer in the Cape — a lovely time for Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route, with long sunny days and typically low rainfall in the Western Cape’s Mediterranean climate.

If you’re set on safari within South Africa, the Eastern Cape is often the safest bet at this time of year (less summer rainfall than many other safari regions), followed by the Welgevonden, Madikwe  and northern KwaZulu-Natal. In KwaZulu Natal, the turtle season comes to an end in coastal Maputaland as the last of the fragile hatchlings cuts through its egg and runs for the safety of the sea.

Across the rest of Southern Africa the rainy season continues – but that doesn’t mean “no safari”, just the right expectations. In Botswana, February into March can be superb in the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Pans  with seasonal migration of zebra and wildebeest from late February to March. Take advantage of the excellent green season specials.

In East Africa, February is often a strong month: northern Kenya (Samburu Game Reserve or Laikipia) can be particularly rewarding, as the dry, hot weather concentrates the game at water sources.

Tanzania’s southern Serengeti / Ndutu can be outstanding as the herds gather ahead of calving, drawing plenty of opportunistic predators.

A more left-field choice – Summer water safari in the South Luangwa of Zambia is a great summer-only option, for birders, keen photographers and safari aficionados.

Victoria Falls is accessible and flow levels over the Falls are on the rise.