Safari in August

August is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Tanzania, albeit a rather busy time.

The Tanzania weather in August should be excellent in virtually all areas. The dry season should be well underway, which means there should be lots of sunshine and very little rainfall, although skies can become hazy and temperatures can be slightly lower than usual. On the coast any tropical showers and onshore winds should be relatively light.

Temperatures should reach 25-30C/77-86F during the day, with low humidities inland, high humidities along the coast. Nights in Ngorongoro can still be cold, but not as low as preceding months. The summit of Kilimanjaro should also not be quite so cold and snow showers should be less frequent.

Safari in Tanzania in August should be excellent. Wildlife viewing in virtually all areas should be reaching its best as the long grasses die back and animals settle in around the permanent water sources.

It’s difficult to list all the safari highlights at this time of year, but in the Serengeti region alone one should look out for huge herds of elephant in Tarangire, the highest density of lions and cheetahs in Africa in Central Serengeti and migration river crossings in the Serengeti Mara area.

Conditions on Kilimanjaro should be very good. We are now well into the main trekking season and conditions are continuing to improve, with low temperatures starting to become less of an issue.

Visitor traffic in August is very high, mainly due to the school holidays and summer shut-downs in Europe. Core areas such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti Central and Zanzibar will be busy and strategic planning is essential to avoid the worst of the crowds. Getting availability in the best lodges can be a real issue and booking at least eight months ahead is advised, especially for groups of four or more guests.

Our general recommendation is to avoid August if you can, but not to worry if you can’t, we will come up with a great solution.

The Jun-Oct period covers the main winter dry season, the most popular time for visiting Namibia.

As the seasonal waterholes out in the surrounding hinterlands dry out, the animals become obliged to migrate in towards the permanent waterholes of the Etosha area, clustering together in the densities for which the reserve is renowned. This effect is also true of other wildlife areas like Damaraland North and Twyfelfontein.

Temperatures in Etosha during the early part of this season, Jun-Aug, can be relatively cool, the day time average being around 25C/77F, dropping at night to around 8C/46F. It can get a great deal cooler at night out in the western deserts.

Visitor traffic is often heavy through this period, with the main peak for international visitors Jul-Sep. The tonality definitely changes in August, with a surge in travellers from Italy and Spain. Traffic avoidance techniques (like staying on private reserves and visiting more remote areas) should definitely be deployed.

By August, the dry season is starting to reach its peak in Zambia, with temperatures still pleasant but starting to turn upwards and with sunshine levels increasing to around 10 hours per day.

All of the key reserves are fully open and all the little backtracks are passable.

The bush has now turned yellow and the long grasses have dropped, providing better visibility. As the seasonal waterholes are now fully dried out, the animals will mostly be congregated within walking distance of permanent water, making for productive and reasonably predictable wildlife viewing.

Visitor numbers are at their year-round peak due to school holidays in the northern hemisphere, making lodges in more remote areas or quiet private concessions all the more attractive.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) has a converse seasonality to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. It is winter at this time, which is not perfect, but still pleasant. There are also options to combine with tropical beaches.

August is generally considered to be a very good month to visit Brazil.

In the key wildlife area of Pantanal, August is the third month of the dry season, with temperatures rising to a stifling 35C/95F, but with rainfall remaining down at 25mm (1”) over the month. Visitor numbers are peaking, making it necessary to book early and deploy traffic avoidance measures.

In Rio de Janeiro, August is the fourth month of the dry season, with temperatures remaining at 26C/78F and rainfall holding at 50mm (2”) over the month. The city attractions are likely to be busy.

In the Manaus Amazon area, August is the third month of the dry season, with temperatures stable year-round at 31C/88F and rainfall dropping to a relatively modest 50mm (2”) over the month. This is generally considered to be a good time to visit.

In Salvador and the northeast coast areas of Fernando De Noronha, Fortaleza, Jericoacoara and Sao Luis, August is the second month of the dry season, with temperatures steady year-round at an uncomfortable 31C/88F, but with rainfall continuing to fall to just 15mm (0.5”) over the month. This is the last month for visiting the unique sand dune lagoons of Lencois Maranhenses.

Down in the south of the country, the Iguacu Falls area is significantly less hot. The water volumes on the falls may now be getting a little low, detracting from the spectacle. Temperatures start to increase to around 26C (78F), whilst rainfall remains at a relatively low 100mm (4”) for the month.

Visitor traffic will be very high, necessitating the need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

August is the third month of the cool dry season in Botswana, the prime period for wildlife viewing.

By now, the landscapes will have dried out, with the vegetation having long since died back and the wildlife now settled around permanent water, making for strong and reliable wildlife viewing.

By now, the flood should have arrived into most of the wetland areas, although perhaps not as far as the southern part of the Okavango Delta.

The night time temperatures are likely to remain quite low, meaning hot water bottles in bed and ponchos on morning drives.

Unfortunately, the prices in almost all lodges are now at their highest. The lodges are likely to be fully booked, but that’s not a particular problem.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) has a converse seasonality to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. It is winter at this time, which is not perfect, but still pleasant. There are also options to combine with tropical beaches.

August is considered to be an excellent time to visit Madagascar.

In the Andasibe area of the Central Highlands, August is the third month of the cool dry season. Temperatures have dropped to a pleasant 15C (60F). Rainfall is still up at 75mm (3”) for the month, but that is considered low by local standards.

Up in Nosy Be, in the tropical northwest, the always high temperatures are up around 31C (88F), with rainfall around 25mm (1”) for the month.

Down in Tulear, in the arid southwest, temperatures are down around 29C (84F), with rainfall at 5mm (0.25”) for the month. Much lower humidities make these temperatures feel much more comfortable.

August is the middle month of the whale season, with humpbacks and southern rights migrating through the channels.

Visitor traffic in August is the highest of the year, so traffic avoidance measures should be deployed (mainly choosing more remote lodges and avoiding renowned hotspots).

August is generally considered to be a very strong month to visit Kenya.

At this time, the whole of the country is enjoying dry and sunny conditions, with comfortable temperatures.

In the Maasai Mara, temperatures should be around 25C/77F, with rainfall down around 25mm/1.5″ for the month. The main migration herds should have arrived from the Serengeti, so river crossings are a major feature, with plenty of crocodile action. There should also be strong general wildlife viewing, with plenty of predator action.

In the northern areas of Laikipia, Samburu and Mathews Range, where conditions are generally more arid, temperatures should be comfortable, with very low chances of rain. Wildlife viewing should be very strong.

Conditions are also good down on the tropical coast, where temperatures should be around 29C/84F, with rainfall at a relatively low 50mm/2″ for the month.

Visitor numbers in August are extremely high in August, so traffic avoidance techniques should be applied, including the use of private concessions in the Maasai Mara and more remote lodges in other areas.

August is the fifth month of the dry season and is generally considered to be a very good month to visit most parts of Peru.

High up in the Andes around Cusco, temperatures are steady year-round at 20C (68F), but rainfall remains down at 10mm (0.5”) over the month.

Down in the Tambopata Amazon to the east, temperatures rise slightly to 32C (90F), but rainfall remains down at just 50mm (2”) over the month.

Down on the coastal plateau to the west, temperatures level out at 21C (68F), whilst rainfall is virtually zero year round.

Visitor traffic will now be very high, necessitating the need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

By August, the dry season is starting to reach its peak in Zimbabwe, with temperatures still pleasant but starting to turn upwards and with sunshine levels increasing to around 10 hours per day.

All of the key reserves are fully open and all the little backtracks are passable.

The bush has now turned yellow and the long grasses have dropped, providing better visibility. As the seasonal waterholes are now fully dried out, the animals will mostly be congregated within walking distance of permanent water, making for productive and reasonably predictable wildlife viewing.

Visitor numbers are at their year-round peak due to school holidays in the northern hemisphere, making lodges in more remote areas or quiet private concessions all the more attractive.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) has a converse seasonality to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. It is winter at this time, which is not perfect, but still pleasant. There are also options to combine with tropical beaches.

August is a good time of year in South Africa if you are looking to prioritise weather conditions in the safari areas, rather than the Cape.

The Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands) is approaching the end of winter at this time, still with generally pleasant conditions, but with occasional prolonged storms.

The safari areas of South Africa (Kruger, Madikwe, Tswalu, Waterberg) are in the fourth month of the cool dry season, with good weather, receded foliage and wildlife spending a lot of time around the permanent waterholes.

Visitor traffic in August is moderate in the Cape, but is very high in the safari areas, making it necessary to deploy traffic avoidance techniques (such as sticking to private concession areas).

August is generally considered to be a slightly mixed time of year to visit Uganda, stronger in the gorilla areas than for savanna safari.

In the Bwindi Forest area, the temperatures are stable at around 22C (70F), but rainfall is now rising to around 75mm (3”) through the month.

This rainfall is relatively modest and, given that the preceding two months are the driest of the year, the conditions for gorilla tracking should remain reasonable.

Temperatures can get relatively cold at night, dropping to around 7C (45F). Early morning activities can therefore be quite chilly so travellers should bring appropriate clothing.

In the savanna safari areas at this time, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls share similar conditions to the above, which means that the wildlife is likely to start dispersing slightly. Kidepo Valley is in the last month of its rainy season and is really not good.

Visitor traffic tends to be high in August, so it’s best to book well in advance in order to ensure rooms at the best lodges and permits for the best gorilla families.

August is the third month of the short dry season and is generally considered to be a really good month to visit Ecuador and Galapagos.

High up in the Andes around Quito, temperatures are steady year-round at 20C (68F), but rainfall remains down at just 25mm (1”) over the month.

Down in the Yasuni Amazon to the east, temperatures rise slightly to 32C (90F), but rainfall remains down at just 50mm (2”) over the month.

Out in the Galapagos, temperatures are continuing to drop slightly to 25C (76F). Rainfall also stays down at just 5mm (1”) over the month.

Visitor traffic will now be very high, necessitating the need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.