Safari in July

By July, the dry season is fully underway in Zimbabwe, still with pleasantly cool temperatures, but with sunshine levels remaining down at around 8 hours per day.

All of the key reserves remain 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 should now have 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 climbing from medium to high through the month, 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.

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

By now, the landscapes should be almost dried out, with the long grasses having yellowed and toppled and the wildlife significantly migrated back towards permanent water, making for strong and reliable wildlife viewing.

This is the second month when the floods typically fully arrive into the west and northcentral parts of the Okavango and Linyanti wetlands, which can be fun to witness and can create a clustering of wildlife.

The night time temperatures remain 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.

July is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Tanzania.

The weather in Tanzania during July should have improved to 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 nighttime temperatures can be slightly lower than usual. On the coast the tropical showers and onshore winds should have diminished considerably.

Temperatures in most areas should reach 25-30C/77-86F during the day, with low humidities inland, high humidities along the coast. Nights in Ngorongoro can still drop well below 10C/50F. The summit of Kilimanjaro can drop to -30C/-22F and snow may be heavy.

Safari in Tanzania in July ranges from very good to excellent. As the dry season starts to take full effect, so the animals start to move back in towards the permanent sources of water, improving sightings in virtually all the main safari areas.

Towards the middle of the month the wildebeest migration should be reaching the prime Serengeti Mara area, with the increasing prospect of major river crossings.

Conditions on Kilimanjaro are good. We are now well into the main trekking season and conditions are continuing to improve, although temperatures remain relatively low and heavy snow can be experienced on the summit approaches.

Visitor traffic in June ranges from high to very high, climbing through the month, heading towards an August peak. Core areas such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti Central and Zanzibar will be busy and serious strategic planning will be needed to avoid the crowds. Getting availability in the best lodges can be a real issue and booking at least six months ahead is adv

July is the second 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 drops to just 20mm (1”) over the month.

Down in the Yasuni Amazon to the east, temperatures are steady year-round at 30C (86F) and rainfall stays down at just 50mm (2”) over the month.

Out in the Galapagos, temperatures are continuing to drop slightly to 26C (78F). Rainfall also stays down at just 5mm (1”) over the month.

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

July 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 in midwinter 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 third month of the cool dry season, with good weather, receded foliage and wildlife spending more time around the permanent waterholes.

Visitor traffic in July can be relatively low in the Cape, but is high in the safari areas, making it necessary to deploy traffic avoidance techniques (such as sticking to private concession areas).

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

In the Andasibe area of the Central Highlands, July is the second 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 27C (81F), with rainfall at 5mm (0.25”) for the month. Much lower humidities make these temperatures feel much more comfortable.

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

Visitor traffic in July is climbing fast, reaching its year-round peak towards the end of the month, so traffic avoidance measures should be deployed (mainly choosing more remote lodges and avoiding renowned hotspots).

July is the fourth 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 has dropped to 10mm (0.5”) over the month.

Down in the Tambopata Amazon to the east, temperatures are steady year-round at 30C (86F) and rainfall stays 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 high, necessitating the need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

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

By 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″ for the month. The main migration herds should be arriving from the Serengeti, so river crossings start to become 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 July are very high in July, so traffic avoidance techniques should be applied, including the use of private concessions in the Maasai Mara and more remote lodges in other areas.

By July, the dry season is fully underway in Zambia, still with pleasantly cool temperatures, but with sunshine levels remaining down at around 8 hours per day.

All of the key reserves remain 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 should now have 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 climbing from medium to high through the month, 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.

July is generally considered to be a very good time of year to visit Uganda, with lower rainfall in some key areas.

In the Bwindi Forest area, the temperatures are stable at around 22C (70F), but rainfall has now dropped to around 38mm (1.5”) through the month.

This rainfall is about as low as it gets in this part of the world, leading to good conditions for gorilla tracking.

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, but Kidepo Valley continues to experience considerable rain and is really not good.

Visitor traffic tends to be high in July, 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.

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

In the key wildlife area of Pantanal, July is the second month of the dry season, with temperatures slightly lower at 31C/88F and rainfall remaining down at 25mm (1”) over the month. Visitor numbers are now higher, making it necessary to book early and deploy traffic avoidance measures.

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

In the Manaus Amazon area, July is the second month of the dry season, with temperatures stable year-round at 31C/88F and rainfall dropping to a relatively modest 75mm (3”) 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, July is the first month of the dry season, with temperatures steady year-round at an uncomfortable 31C/88F, but with rainfall continuing to fall to 100mm (4”) over the month. This is the best 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 should have subsided to allow better access and views. Temperatures remain down at around 24C (74F) and rainfall drops further to a relatively low 100mm (4”) for the month.

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

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. Traffic avoidance techniques (like staying on private reserves and visiting more remote areas) should definitely be deployed.