Africa in January is a beautiful sight and many places look their best getting prepared for the season. In several cases, the beach destinations in the African continent are at their best in the month of January, and some countries offer some of the most exciting safari trips in January. You get to see an abundance of wildlife as the animal migration is at its highest around this time, beaches are hot and summery, plus you’ll be happy to be offered comparatively lower accommodation rates in most African safari destinations.
With experiences of a lifetime ranging from gorilla trekking to scuba diving and eventful wine tasting, here is an all-in-one guide to where to go in Africa this January:
- South Africa
In South Africa, one can enjoy a cooler and mild climate, with temperatures reaching their highest between December and March. Cape Town comes into life with the active beaches that are buzzing with activity, joyful nightlife, and festive cheer, making it one of the best and the most visited African beach destinations in January.
As it gets hotter in summer, Cape Town, along with the surrounding Cape Wine lands and the beautiful Garden Route make great destinations where you can get drenched in the summer sun – and are some of the best places to visit in South Africa in the month of January. It is really easy to hire a car, thanks to the country’s brilliant tourism structuring and development, and this makes it convenient for families and gangs of tourists to explore as they like.
- Tanzania
January is the perfect time to visit Tanzania, especially the Serengeti that comes in the Northern sector of Tanzania. Although the place is quite hot and humid, this is the starting of the calving season for the wildebeest, and it is a great event that one would be grateful to not have missed. Interactions between preys and predators are quite high and due to less number of visitors and cheaper prices, it is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed at all.
- Serengeti National Park
It’s the birthing season of the migration and all eyes are on the Southern Serengeti, where over eight thousand wildebeest calves are born every day. If the short rainy season, which is from November to December, was focused on producing good grazing, the animals feed to carry them through the successive stages of the Great Migration. The eventful days involving wildlife makes the Serengeti the place to go on safari in January.
- Zanzibar
Zanzibar is one of the most special areas in Tanzania. It offers the finest climax to your Tanzania safari. You are free to wander through the twisting alleys and vibrant markets of historical Stone Town and enjoy some time on the beaches that are around Zanzibar. A beach vacation in Zanzibar and a Tanzania safari is an incredible combination that is highly recommended for one of the best African trips in January.
- Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
January in Africa is the most highly suggested time to travel around and experience what most people consider one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences on the planet: a real-time encounter with wild gorillas who are just chilling in their natural habitat. The dry seasons mostly from June to September in places like Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda offer by far the least tiresome hiking conditions and less chance of getting infected with malaria.
Odzala-Kokoua national park in Congo is famous for its successful protection and conservation of western lowland gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is an area for monkeys and forest birds, which are protected very well. It also provides you with Africa’s most easily accessible gorilla trekking safaris. Although the humidity is a bit on a higher level than the June to September period, Rwanda gives the tourist some amazing memories of some of the best African gorilla trekking trips in January because of the lesser number of tourists who visit more than in the longer dry season.
Talking about Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a name that should not be left out as it has an equatorial location and has average temperatures in the mid-twenties Celsius. Since the days are drier in January, which makes moving through the forest much easier, the place looks exquisite with the sunlight guiding your way forward. Uganda offers the cheapest options for gorilla trekking permits on the African continent and is one of the best places to visit in Africa in January if you are somebody who is enthralled to encounter primates.
- Kenya
Masai Mara is Kenya’s best safari destination. The mesmerizing location delivers astounding game viewing any time of year. Thanks to its diverse landscapes and wildlife, and the ideal temperate climate, Masai Mara always has the best stuff in store for you, especially in the month of January because of the massive wildlife area.
The Masai Mara National Reserve acts as a sanctuary for a huge number of animals like elephants, buffalo, giraffe and the big majestic cats like lion, leopard and cheetahs. Mara is the best place in Africa that families visit during special occasions, or just on the weekends to get away from the stress of daily life.
- Botswana
It is the most suitable time to visit Botswana as elephant herds will have started to move around. In the Kalahari, the rains are likely to have changed the deserted area into a land of wonder that everyone wishes to spend their vacations in, with the big cats like lions moving around.
Kalahari should not be missed at this time! You can get wet in the rain due to the humid conditions, and for the bird watchers, it will be the time of their lives as they will marvel at the birds in the Kalahari.
- Zambia
Many camping parks in Zambia will be closed because the place will be in the middle of the rainy season in the month of January. Heavenly birds and mind soothing vegetation awaits the tourists who are ready to go into the open camps. Even though the parks are quite silent at this time, you will not fail to notice that they are in abundance.
