Cox & Kings Africa & Indian Ocean 2008 (page 72) online holiday brochure

Regional Weather Due to its sheer size, Africa has a range of climatic conditions and it is possible to travel at most times of year and find certain areas that are at their best. The guide below offers a general idea to the best times of year to travel to different parts of Africa and the Indian Ocean. NAMIBIA The most pleasant weather is between April and October, when temperatures are cooler and there is very little rainfall. Throughout the year, the coastal region near Swakopmund is noticeably cooler than the desert heat of the interior. Game viewing is good year round but is at its best during the drier winter months when animals congregate at the water holes. SWAKOPMUND JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 23 23 23 24 23 23 21 20 20 19 22 22 Min. Temp (慢) 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 Ave. Rain (mm) 0 5 8 3 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 WINDHOEK JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 30 29 27 26 23 20 21 24 27 29 30 30 Min. Temp (慢) 9 9 8 9 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 Ave. Rain (mm) 71 76 77 41 5 2 1 1 3 13 35 39 SOUTHERN AFRICA BOTSWANA The safari season in Botswana runs from April through to October. May, June and July are the winter months, marked by the cloudless days and mild temperatures. In the delta, the floodwaters from Angola start to fill the countless lagoons and streams. August and September can be compared to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The occasional rain shower may be experienced towards the end of October as the heat builds. The water holes begin to dry up and game viewing is excellent, due to the lack of thick vegetation. November, early December and March are considered summer months. These months border the rainy season, and you may encounter brief, but heavy rain and thunderstorms. November and December still afford the visitor excellent game viewing. April brings moderate temperatures and is a superb time to visit Botswana. MAUN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 33 32 32 31 29 26 26 29 33 35 34 33 Min. Temp (慢) 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 Ave. Rain (mm) 170 130 70 20 0 0 0 0 0 30 60 170 SOUTH AFRICA THE WESTERN CAPE & GARDEN ROUTE The weather is at its warmest between November and March, with warm and sunny days and temperatures tempered by the south easterly `Cape Doctor'. The cooler months of June to August offer the best value stays, with excellent hotel and airline rates. Whale watching is possible from June through to November. CAPE TOWN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 26 26 25 22 19 18 17 19 20 21 23 24 Min. Temp (慢) 11 10 9 8 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ave. Rain (mm) 15 8 18 48 79 84 89 66 43 31 18 10 LESOTHO Sometimes known as the Mountain Kingdom, as it contains the highest mountains in Southern Africa. There are two distinct seasons: the cold and fairly dry winter, between May and September, when temperatures can drop quite low and snow can sometimes fall, and the warm and wet summer from October to April, with the hottest and wettest months being January and February. MASERU JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 28 27 25 21 18 15 16 19 23 24 26 28 Min. Temp (慢) 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 Ave. Rain (mm) 91 79 76 56 25 8 10 20 20 51 66 61 SOUTH AFRICA - THE KRUGER Game viewing is good throughout the year, although it is more popular during the dry winter season, between May and September, when animals are forced to gather near the water holes. Game tends to be more greatly dispersed during the wetter summer months. Temperatures can fall quite low at night during winter. KRUGER JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 30 30 30 27 25 24 23 26 29 29 32 30 Min. Temp (慢) 9 9 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 9 9 9 Ave. Rain (mm) 166 100 39 35 9 3 16 16 24 49 114 112 MALAWI Malawi has a varied geography and climate, the low lands can be hot and humid and the mountains can be cool & misty in any month of the year. The most popular months are when temperatures are coolest and the lake is at its calmest, between April and November. There is little rainfall throughout the year near the lakeshore - the majority of rain falls in the mountainous regions between December and March. LILONGWE JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 27 27 27 27 25 24 24 25 28 30 30 29 Min. Temp (慢) 5 5 6 8 8 8 8 8 9 10 7 5 Ave. Rain (mm) 208 218 125 43 3 0 0 0 0 0 53 125 SOUTH AFRICA - NATAL Located on the coast between the Cape and the Kruger, this area includes sub-tropical beaches and high mountains, which receive a dusting of snow in winter. The coast is popular in summer, when temperatures can be quite hot, although rainfall and humidity are also at their highest. The weather is cooler inland as you approach the Drakensburg Mountains, and temperatures can drop significantly at night. DURBAN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 26 26 24 23 22 20 19 20 20 21 22 24 Min. Temp (慢) 6 7 7 7 7 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 Ave. Rain (mm) 109 122 130 76 51 33 28 38 71 109 122 119 MOZAMBIQUE Along the coast, temperatures are warm and pleasant for most of the year temperature, due to the sea breezes. During the single rainy season between November and March the conditions can be very hot & humid. VILANCULOS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Max. Temp (慢) 31 31 31 29 27 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 Min. Temp (慢) 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 Ave. Rain (mm) 15 21 60 80 41 36 23 17 23 40 58 138 ZAMBIA The most popular time to visit is during the short dry period between April and September, when the game congregates near the waterholes. The `Green Season' in Zambia runs from December to April. It is not only a quiet time of year for the lodges, but travel is relatively inexpensive. During this time the rivers in the Luangwa Valley swell, dry plains become lakes and vegetation 70