Africa in July: When/Where to Go, Things to Do & Weather
Encircled by a jovial fire, July’s safari participants deliberate on the day’s observations. The winter night sky, replete with stars, casts a bright glow over the landscape, while the distant calls of hyenas herald an eventful game drive before dawn. Visit Africa in July to experience the benefits of the continent’s mid-winter season. The summer rains are a remnant of the past, together with their accompanying insects and dense foliage. The days are arid, temperate, and luminous; the nights are frigid and transparent. In Southern Africa, fauna are congregating along rivers and waterholes. The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa is at its zenith.
Exercise caution when contemplating the amalgamation of destinations. Cape Town is an alluring complement to an African safari; yet, it has rainy weather in July. The southern coast of South Africa, referred to as the Garden Route, exemplifies the reason mariners designated it as the Cape of Storms. From KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa to Kenya, the tropical Indian Ocean coastline has ample winter sunshine, making July an optimal period for a combination of safari and beach experiences, as numerous safari spots are in prime condition. Determining a destination for July is challenging, as numerous locations are appealing. However, if you seek premier game watching under optimal conditions, complemented by a tropical beach holiday to enhance your safari experience, consider our top options.
Africa in July: Things to Do & Destinations
1. Serengeti, Tanzania – The Great Migration
The Great Migration – Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, Crossing Mara River
By July, the substantial mass of the Wildebeest Migration often reaches the western and northern Serengeti, contingent upon the annual rainfall cycle. Their ranks interspersed with clusters of bar-coded zebras, the wildebeest persist in their journey to the Masai Mara, halting at the rivers that obstruct their path. The riverbanks are eroded and muddy following previous crossings, and the ensuing wildebeest grapple for safety: some fall back into the water, while others are unable to escape.
This is positive news for Crocodylus niloticus, the Nile crocodile. They have been awaiting the arrival of quadrupedal prey for some time and they launch themselves at the quarry with all the bone-crushing elegance that a prehistoric reptile can exhibit. It is not aesthetically pleasing, yet it is extraordinarily dramatic.
The optimal locations to observe the activity are within private concessions. The exclusive Grumeti Reserves guarantee reduced tourist density compared to the primary Serengeti National Park, and accommodations consist of luxurious lodges or tented camps offering vistas of the wildlife-rich plains adorned with characteristic acacia trees.
Migration Safari Planning Tips:
- Reserve in advance – a minimum of one year prior. Lodges and camps quickly reach capacity, as July coincides with the peak of the safari season.
- Transition to private ownership. The national parks can get exceedingly crowded during the peak safari season from June to October. For exclusivity combined with accessibility to the herds, contemplate residing in a private reserve or conservancy.
2. Masai Mara & Seychelles – Bush & Beach
We Found PARADISE in AFRICA! (Seychelles)
One might randomly select any two of Africa’s premier safari and beach sites and ensure an amazing holiday in July. If you are intrigued by our preferred combo, you cannot surpass the pairing of the Masai Mara with the Seychelles.
Kenya’s Masai Mara is renowned for its significance in the Wildebeest Migration. At this time of year, the initial herds begin to enter the reserve, contingent upon the annual rainfall, before the influx of hundreds of thousands in August and September. My recommendation for the Mara at this time of year is not due to the Migration, but rather the absence of the mega-herds that enhances its allure.
The Masai Mara is stunning in July, free from peak-season visitors. It is the driest month of the year, with an average temperature of 25°C / 77°F, allowing for warm, bright weather and unobstructed game viewing, which is, in the context of the Masai Mara, exceptionally remarkable. This is the period when cheetahs return to the plains to hunt wildebeest calves, while elephants migrate into the acacia trees in search of fresh grazing grounds.
Regarding favourable weather, July is the driest month in the Seychelles. Temperatures in this unequivocally gorgeous vacation average 26°C / 79°F annually, with humidity moderated by refreshing seaside breezes. Pristine beaches, vibrant reefs, hammocks suspended between palm trees, and merely a two-hour flight from Nairobi, the gateway to East Africa and an international hub for accessing the Masai Mara.
3. Uganda & Rwanda – Gorilla Trekking
Ultimate Guide to Gorilla Safaris in Uganda vs. Rwanda.
For optimal climatic comfort during a rainforest visit, consider Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park around July.
Accompanied by a guide and a tracker, trekkers traverse newly established trails, travelling for one to three hours to observe habituated gorilla families. With fortune on your side, the gorillas may choose to disregard the whirring of your camera while they indulge in the succulent fruits of July. Similar to humans, they favour the sweeter varieties.
4. Okavango Delta, Botswana – Land & Water Safaris
Is An Okavango Delta Safari in Moremi, Botswana Worth It
Exiting your tent before daybreak, your breath creates clouds of condensation, resembling the vapours rising from the lagoon before you. The Okavango Delta, situated in the Kalahari, experiences early morning temperatures that remain somewhat cool during this season.
However, the frigid, invigorating air of winter creates ideal shooting settings, while July in the Delta radiates with bright visuals. The yearly inundations have replenished the Delta’s intricate network of rivers, overflowing to create vast floodplains that harbour red lechwe, a grazing antelope frequently hunted in a chaotic pursuit by wild dogs. Cheetahs majestically position themselves on termite mounds to survey for food, while lions in the Duba Plains target the most vulnerable buffalo that emerge from the parched hinterland.
The enthusiastic safari enthusiast will find ample enjoyment: malachite kingfishers dart before you as your mokoro – the Delta’s archetypal ‘safari vehicle‘ – glides by expanses of water lilies, their lotus-like blooms unfurling as the day heats to T-shirt temperatures. Elephants are frequently observed traversing rivers, grazing contentedly in this verdant paradise, while July marks the peak of the rutting season for male impalas, whose throat-clearing roars of defiance are quickly succeeded by the resonant clash of their horns.