We really rate the month of June for travel in Africa, especially if you’re looking for cooler days, dry conditions, and outstanding wildlife experiences. It’s a time of change across the continent — from lush green landscapes in East Africa drying out after the rains, to prime safari conditions setting in across Southern Africa. The crowds haven’t quite arrived, the weather is largely fantastic, and wildlife sightings just get better and better.
East Africa
KENYA
The long rains are over, and June marks the beginning of the dry season. This is when the safari circuit kicks into gear. National parks and conservancies are far more accessible, and their landscapes remain beautifully green. Towards the end of the month, some of the wildebeest herds begin to arrive in the Masai Mara from the Serengeti – but the dramatic river crossings are still to come.
TANZANIA
June is a fantastic time to be in the Serengeti. The Great Migration is generally moving through the Western Corridor, and you might catch the action around the Grumeti River, where crocodile-filled crossings can begin. The weather is cool and dry – ideal for game drives – and the skies are often crystal clear. Elsewhere in the country, parks like Tarangire and Ngorongoro become easier to navigate as the muddy roads of April and May dry out.
UGANDA & RWANDA
June is one of the best months for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. The trails are drier and more manageable underfoot, forest visibility improves, and trekking conditions are comfortable with cooler temperatures. This is also a brilliant month for combining rainforest adventures with classic savannah safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Southern Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
June is winter in South Africa – and while that might sound chilly, it’s one of the best times for game viewing in the Kruger and surrounding Greater Kruger reserves. The bush thins out, animals are easier to spot, and wildlife gathers at permanent water sources. Expect cold mornings and evenings (pack those layers!), but clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures.
In contrast, the Cape region (including Cape Town and the Garden Route) is wetter now, not the ideal time to visit the Cape.
BOTSWANA
June is one of the very best months to visit Botswana. The Okavango Delta is in full flood—not from local rains, but from water that has journeyed down from Angola. It’s a time of striking contrasts: dry weather and blue skies above, with a water-filled wilderness below. Expect exceptional wildlife sightings and peaceful mokoro or boat excursions among the reeds. The Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi are also dry and cool, with unique desert species and excellent birding. June does now fall into peak season, so pricing reflects this.
ZAMBIA
The bush camps in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi are now fully operational, and June is a wonderful time to visit before peak season sets in. Cool, dry weather creates ideal conditions for walking safaris, and the wildlife is active and increasingly visible as the vegetation thins.
Photographers and safari purists will especially appreciate this quieter time of year.
ZIMBABWE
Victoria Falls is still flowing powerfully, but the spray begins to lessen, offering clearer views and great photo opportunities. National parks such as Hwange and Mana Pools are at their best in June, with dry conditions, mild temperatures, and steadily improving game sightings. Still considered shoulder season, June is an excellent time for great value and fewer crowds.
NAMIBIA
Namibia is a joy to travel through in June. With no rain, cool desert air, and wide, cloudless skies, it’s perfect for those wanting to explore on the road or join a guided tour. Wildlife starts to congregate around waterholes in Etosha National Park, while the dunes of Sossusvlei and the rugged beauty of Damaraland are at their most photogenic. It’s a calm, quiet month across the country – ideal for adventurers, photographers and stargazers alike.
