Early Dry Season (Apr-May)

This is a very temperate time of the year, characterized by lovely warm days, clear blue skies, and cool nights. Dry season effects are starting to take hold: grass is dying back and trees are losing their leaves, temporary water sources are starting to dry up. But there is still enough greenery in the bush to enhance photography.

This timeframe is sometimes referred to as 'shoulder season', with demand fairly high but availability still pretty good, even as close as six months out. Some camps in the luxury tented safari destinations offer discounts of up to 20% off peak season rates.

There is a good chance in this timeframe of coordinating sunny weather in both Cape Town (and other coastal areas) as well as the safari areas. Victoria Falls is at its most spectacular and the Okavango Delta is in full flood.

All told, this is one of the most mellow and pleasant times of the year in southern Africa and, if your focus is safari and "bang for your buck" is a priority, April and May are strong candidates for the best months of the year.

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