Safari Photography: A Month-by-Month Guide to Africa’s Best Seasons
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “When’s the best time to go on safari?” I could probably fund a few new camera bodies.
The truth is, there is no single “best” month to photograph African wildlife. It all depends on what you want to shoot, where, and what kind of experience you’re after.
Over the years, I’ve explored some of Africa’s most iconic parks at every time of year—from the flooded riverbanks of the Chobe in May to the dusty pans of the Kalahari in October. I’ve been rained on in Zambia, roasted in Namibia, and stuck in Botswana mud so deep I thought we’d have to dig the Hilux out with a spoon.
But those trips taught me one thing: each month offers something unique. You have to know where to go.
So here’s my honest, month-by-month breakdown of the African safari calendar—built from personal experience, hours of image sorting, and more mosquito bites than I care to count.
January – Green Season Magic
January is lush, wet, and alive—especially in southern Africa. In Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), the dry golden dust is replaced by emerald grass, scattered storms, and dramatic skies. It’s not the easiest time for big cat sightings, but if you like moody backdrops, young antelopes, and the kind of photos that scream “wild,” this is the season.
I photographed a herd of oryx under a towering thunderhead here once. The image didn’t make sense in colour, but the black-and-white version? One of my favourites ever.
👉 Planning your own wild Kalahari experience? Keep an eye on my May 2026 Kalahari workshop—check dates here.
February – Birding Bonanza
If birds are your thing, February in places like Zambia’s South Luangwa or northern Namibia is incredible. The migrants are still around, and the light is soft after the rain.
There’s a common myth that “rainy season” means no photography. Not true. You have to work between the showers—and when the sun breaks through, the scenes are unreal. I’ve shot bee-eaters mid-hover, malachite kingfishers bursting with colour, and elephants bathing in flooded channels this time of year.
Pro tip: bring a rain sleeve for your camera and be ready to shoot wide. You’ll thank me later.
March – Light, Storms, and Solitude
By March, the crowds haven’t arrived yet, and many parks feel empty and intimate. I once spent 2 hours with a pride of lions in Namibia’s Etosha without another car in sight—something almost unthinkable in peak season.
Photographically, you get the best of both worlds: stormy skies and growing animal activity. It’s an underrated time to visit southern Africa.
I often use March to scout future locations or host small private safaris with return clients. The creative freedom of having landscapes (and lions) to yourself? Unmatched.
April – Water, Green, and Morning Mist
April can be tricky for some parks (some roads still muddy), but it’s incredible for atmosphere.
In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, this is when the water starts trickling in from Angola. It hasn’t flooded yet, so game drives are still possible, but you start seeing reflections, misty mornings, and golden backlight like nowhere else.
Elephants walking through light fog on the floodplains—that’s the kind of stuff you dream about.
Plains of the CKGR
May – Perfect Balance
May is one of my personal favourites. It’s when things start to dry out, but the landscapes are still green, the light is soft, and the temperatures are just right.
In Chobe and Khwai, the game viewing picks up dramatically. You still get birds, but now the cats start showing up in more open areas.
This is when I schedule my most adventurous workshops—like my self-drive safari in the Kalahari and my Iconic Namibia trip. The roads are passable, the light is gorgeous, and the parks are still relatively quiet.
June – Peak Predator Season Begins
In Zambia, this is the beginning of big cat heaven. South Luangwa dries up fast, and by June, you’re starting to see consistent leopard activity near the river. Lions begin to congregate in open spaces. And if you’re lucky? Wild dogs.
I’m writing this from a tented camp in Luangwa right now—28 game drives over two weeks, and some of the best light I’ve ever had.
I love this time because the bush still has texture. It’s not bare, but open enough for clean shots. And with long dry days, you can stay out longer and make the most of every golden hour.
Leopard in South Luangw
July – Clear Skies and Classic Safari
This is when most people picture a safari: dusty tracks, blue skies, and large herds.
In the Kalahari, this means crisp sunrises and lion tracks in the frost. In Chobe, it’s elephants—hundreds of them—crossing the river at sunset.
I usually head into Botswana or Zambia this time, focusing on storytelling content and quieter moments. The mid-year months are fantastic for reliable weather, and you can photograph all day if you’re willing to embrace the harsh light.
(Hot tip: July is also great for astrophotography in dry areas like Namibia.)
Astrophotography in the quiver tree forest
August – Dry, Harsh, and Wild
August is a double-edged sword. The game is phenomenal—cats hunting in the open, large herds moving between waterholes—but the light is intense. Think contrasty, high-noon kind of light.
This is when I really lean into backlighting, black-and-white edits, and silhouette work.
The good news? With the latest AI denoising in Lightroom and Capture One (see this post for a comprehensive breakdown), I can now push shadows without hesitation. The flexibility in post is insane now.
August is for those who don’t mind getting dusty and working hard for their shots. You’ll come home tired—but with cards full of drama.
September – The Big Show
If I could only pick one month for general safari photography, it would be September.
Why?
Because everything aligns. The animals are concentrated. The light is golden. The mornings are cold, the afternoons dry, and the predators are everywhere. From Etosha to Luangwa to the Kalahari, September delivers.
This is the month I reserve for my flagship workshops—no compromises, just premium locations, peak conditions, and complete creative immersion.
📸 Ready to master wildlife photography in the field?
If you’re serious about upping your wildlife photography game, join me on the September Luangwa trip or my late-September Wild Namibia adventure.
October – Brutal Beauty
By October, things get intense.
In Etosha and the Kalahari, it’s hot, dry, and extreme. You’ll photograph lion prides clustered around dusty waterholes, oryx backlit in shimmering heat, and elephants covered in mud.
This is not the trip for luxury. It’s for those who want raw Africa.
But it’s also when I’ve created some of my most powerful images—photos that feel like Africa: harsh, beautiful, honest.
👉 I’m back in the Kalahari and Namibia in October 2025—if you’re into rugged camping and wild storytelling, this one’s for you. Workshop details here.
An elephant herd in the Etosha National Park
November – Green Shoots and New Life
November brings the first rain—and with it, life explodes.
If you’re in the Kgalagadi or CKGR, this is when the young antelopes are born, when birds return, and when the bush smells alive again. It’s magical, but also unpredictable.
Last year, I got caught in the first thunderstorm of the season while camped out in the middle of nowhere. Gear survived (barely), and I got one of my favourite elephant shots walking through the rain.
It’s also an excellent month for experimental shooting—slow shutter panning, rainy silhouettes, wide environmental frames.
December – Stillness and Stormlight
December might sound like downtime, but for photographers chasing moody skies, dramatic light, and green-on-green contrast, it’s brilliant.
I love shooting low-angle compositions during this time. The grass is high, but with some elevation or clever angles, you can create photos that feel wild, messy, and intimate.
And because it’s the low season, most parks are quiet. You can spend 20 minutes lining up a single frame—no pressure, no rush.
Final Thoughts: Plan with Purpose, Not Just Season
What I’ve learned after a decade of travelling and photographing across Africa is this: there’s no perfect month, only perfect intent.
Start by asking what you want:
Predators? Look at June to September.
Drama and storms? January–March.
Birds? Try February or November.
Empty parks and creative freedom? April, early May, or late November.
Then pick the place. Then build the gear list. Then book your flights.
Check out this safari gear guide to help you get started.
And if you want someone who’s been there, made the mistakes, and figured out how to get the shot anyway? I’d love to help you get there.
See you in the bush.
