Where to go in January
The best places to explore at this time of year
The best places to explore at this time of year
Tell people you’re going on safari in January, and they might say things like ‘It will be very wet and hot, and the wildlife will be spread out.’ Ignore them all. Africa in January is glorious, with many of the safari destinations wearing their lush, green season colours. If you want to avoid the rain completely, East Africa is a great option, but if you don’t mind a splash of rain here and there, Southern Africa is magnificent, with young babies dotting the plains and the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see.
January and February are some of the best months for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The weather is warm and mostly dry making for excellent hiking conditions, and not as many people are visiting which, in our eyes, is always a bonus. Rainforests do, however, attract rain by nature and there’s never a guarantee of a completely dry trip, but this shouldn’t put you off. After your gorilla fix, consider heading to some of Uganda’s national parks, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth in particular are worth a visit. Wildlife viewing is good and there’s less vegetation to obstruct your view.
Ah, summer in Cape Town. The weather is near perfect with endless blue skies and days filled with sunshine, and there’s plenty of treats in store from concerts in Kirstenbosch Gardens and sunset drinks on top of Table Mountain. It’s also a brilliant time to visit the Cape Winelands (similar weather conditions, with the addition of beautiful wines) and drive the epic Garden Route. By contrast, it’s a little wetter in the north of the country (Kruger and KwaZulu-Natal), but safari-goers can enjoy emerald landscapes and great birding.
Tanzania has a short dry season in January and February and the game viewing, especially on the infamous Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire), is fantastic. Head to the southern Serengeti to catch the wildebeest of the Great Migration giving birth to their young on the grassy plains, and then pop up to the northern region for a few days; you’ll have the wildlife all to yourself and there are some good deals to be had. In southern Tanzania, it’s getting hot but game viewing is good and you’ll avoid the crowds there too.
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11 nights from $23,479 per person
12 nights from $29,578 per person
13 nights from $21,287 per person
13 nights from $13,657 per person
10 nights from $14,982 per person
9 nights from $13,689 per person
Namibrand, Namibia
