Winter holiday in Africa

Are you having a winter holiday in January or February?

Then the African continent is a clear option for magnificent experiences.

Savannah, safari animals, big cities and sandy beaches give fantastic experiences and a lovely break from the cold winter months back home.

Get inspiration for your winter holiday here

Tanzania in January and February

A tour to Tanzania in January or February offers excellent experiences. If you would like to see fascinating animals, impressive nature, or to unwind at the water’s edge, then Tanzania is one of the best winter tour destinations.

On your tour to Tanzania visiting the Serengeti National Park is a must. In January and February, the national park sees the year’s hottest temperatures with average daily temperatures of up to 28 degrees. As January follows closely after the short rainy season in November, the nature is fresh and it is less barren in this period.

One of the month’s absolute highlights on the endless plains of the Serengeti is when the gnus and zebras calve. February is particularly good for this fascinating experience. The new-borns must quickly get on their feet, as they are easy targets for the big predators often hiding nearby.

If your winter tour is also to include sun and beaches, then a concluding beach holiday is the obvious choice. The paradise island of Zanzibar offers a dry season in these months, and the daily temperature reaches up to a beach-inviting 28 degrees on average. Take a stroll at the water’s edge on the chalk-white sandy beaches and hear the slow crashing of the waves. Or, jump in the azure sea and experience the colourful world below the water’s surface.

If you get tired of relaxation, water and sunbathing – which may seem practically unthinkable – you can take a trip to Stone Town. Here, you can take a walk in the city’s winding, labyrinthine streets. The town houses unique history concerning cultures and lost ages that continue to leave their mark on Stone Town.

Kilimanjaro in January and February

Want to climb Kilimanjaro? January and February are perfect months for this.

During these months, Kilimanjaro has its dry season and the climate in this period is characterised by mild temperatures, clearer weather and less rain than in the rainy season. And so, that is precisely why these winter months are preferred for heading to the free-standing mountain’s peak.

Kilimanjaro is an acquaintance that offers both tough times and euphoria.

We have 5 different routes to Kilimanjaro’s peak with different difficulty levels and accommodation options. For example, you can take the beautiful path to Uhuru Peak on the Marangu Route, where you overnight in cottages. If you want to get closer to nature, you can choose one of the other four routes in which you sleep in tents.

On the way to the top, you experience fantastic nature on every route. You make your way through rainforest, heathland and alpine desert, truly allowing you to experience the massive changes nature has to offer when you climb a mountain.

The highlight is reached when you ascend the peak of the mountain, which is nothing short of an incredible, magnificent experience. The combination of victory, exhaustion and the fantastic view gives you a feeling that cannot be described in words.

South Africa in January and February

If you’ve always dreamt of experiencing South Africa, then January and February are good months in this part of the continent, as it’s summer in South Africa when it’s winter here. If you’re into safari, beaches, nature or big cities, South Africa has it all.

The weather in Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’s unique national parks, features tons of sun but also rain, making the landscape more lush than other places. Despite the rain, it is a fantastic time to visit the national park. Here, you can have every major safari experience. Elephants, leopards, buffalo, antelopes and zebras are just some of the unique animals you can experience.

Combine your tour with a big city holiday in Cape Town, where the summer offers fantastic weather in these months: lots of hours of sunshine, warm weather and very little rain.

You can also enjoy a guided tour of South Africa’s famous Garden Route: one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline. The impressive coastal route, which is 300 kilometres long, extends from Mossel Bay (Western Cape) to Storms River (Eastern Cape). Situated along the Garden Route are exciting towns, scenic landscapes and fantastic detours. You will, among other things, experience Oudtshoorn, which is known as the world’s ostrich capital, and the charming town of Knysna, famous for its beautiful lagoon. A host of breathtaking experiences await you on the Garden Route.

Kenya in January and February

If you want safari experiences as far as the eye can see, Kenya is the clear choice. January and February are fantastic months to visit the country, and you can conclude all the experiences with a relaxing beach holiday.

The weather in Maasai Mara, probably Kenya’s best known game reserve, offers the year’s hottest temperatures and only a little rain. The nature is lush, as the months are just after the short rainy period in November and December.

Maasai Mara is one of truly major experiences in this East African country. The game reserve is home to all the big five animals, gorgeous nature and red-clad Maasai people. You never know what you will experience on your game drives, but it will be an experience without equal. If you like, you can visit a Maasai village and see how the tribe lives.

In Amboseli National Park, you will also find spectacular experiences in this period, including warm weather and limited rain. There are great opportunities to see birds spending the winter here, and the birds love the swamp areas of the park. The national park is also home to large herds of elephants, giving a chance for a perfect picture with majestic Kilimanjaro to the south as a background.

If you would like to relax in a beach paradise, there are many options. Mombasa and Zanzibar both guarantee lovely beaches, swaying palm trees, wonderful water and vibrantly colourful coral reefs. In other words, they have everything you need for a relaxing conclusion to your safari adventure.

Spend your winter holiday in Kenya

Uganda in January and February

If an encounter with wild gorillas is on your bucket list, a winter tour to Uganda in January or February is an excellent choice.

Uganda has one of its two dry seasons in January and February, bringing more sunny days and fewer wet paths for gorilla tracking. As Uganda is in a tropical area, you should still expect a little rain each day, however.

The experience is unbelievable, and without a doubt the uncontested highlight of the tour, when you follow paths in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to find the great apes. As the name of the park suggests, the gorillas live in a dense rainforest, and a “gorilla family” often consists of up to 10 members.  Gorillas are quite curious animals, meaning that although you must not go up close to them, there is a good chance they will come closer to you to get a closer look.

If you would like to experience more fascinating animals, you can also see chimpanzees in Uganda. These shy, human-like animals live in Kyambura Gorge. Remember to enjoy the trip on your way to the chimpanzees, as it is immensely beautiful.

Uganda is home to a wealth of other wild experiences. For example, see the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, a quite unique phenomenon. The behaviour of these lions is quite unusual and they only live in certain national parks in Tanzania and Uganda.

The African continent is a land of tours beyond the ordinary.

The countries offer one magnificent experience after the other. Savannah, mountains, nature areas, unique animals, big cities, culture and beach paradises are all experiences you can have on a tour here.

If you have any doubts about which destination to choose, please feel free to contact our tour specialists, who can help you choose the best holiday.

Escape the winter chills back home and enjoy a winter tour to warmer climes in Africa.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller