February safari - babies, primates & beaches

February safari highlights

February sees fantastic wildlife action and low tourist volumes if you know where to go. The calving season throughout Africa is in full swing, and the predators are easily picking off young animals. It's also an excellent time for gorilla and chimp trekking and searching for rare and endemic birds. Along the coast, the skies are clear and the days hot - perfect for snorkelling, diving and lazing on white-sand beaches. Expect lower lodge prices and no crowds.

Great Wildebeest Migration - the Serengeti calving season

Every year, half a million wildebeest are born on the Serengeti plains in Tanzania. February has the highest birthing rate, sometimes seeing as many as 8,000 born daily.

The abundant new grass makes the area around Lake Masek and Lake Ndutu the ideal place for the wildebeest to give birth. The herd will stay put for a while in the southeast Ndutu area after the calves are born before heading up north in a clockwise direction.

Calving season means adorable wobbly babies finding their legs – a bonus for predators who do not play nicely. If you want to see a wildebeest just hours old, your best chance is to go out at midday, when they typically give birth, to allow the babies the time to gain strength before nightfall. Find out more about the Great Migration here.

Gorilla and chimp trekking

This short dry season in Uganda and Rwanda provides excellent opportunities to trek for chimps, gorillas, golden monkeys and other primates - and to search for rare and endemic birds.

Maasai Mara secret season

February means green landscapes with low visitor numbers, making it an excellent time for wildlife viewing. This is the calving season; you will see cheetahs, lions, leopards and hyenas targeting vulnerable young animals. Combine the Maasai Mara with a coastal holiday - for that perfect bush & beach combo.

The paradise islands

The iconic paradise islands of Zanzibar, Mafia, Chumbe, Pemba, Mnemba, Lamu & Quirimbas Archipelago are at their best during January and February. The days are hot, and the sea is at its clearest, making it an excellent time for diving, snorkelling and chilling on white-sand beaches. For the ultimate safari, enjoy a few days of sand-in-the-toes ecstasy after your East African safari to Maasai Mara or Serengeti.

South African combo safari

Cape Town & the Garden Route

February brings arguably the best weather in Cape Town and South Africa's Western Cape. The Mother City, nearby Cape Winelands and Garden Route are at their best, and the festive season crowds have left.

Greater Kruger

The Greater Kruger area offers green landscapes during the summer rains, and the calving season means plenty of predator action. You can combine these two destinations via a 2-hour direct flight from Cape Town.

São Tomé and Príncipe

February brings excellent warm weather in São Tomé and Príncipe with clear skies. The dry, sunny conditions mean excellent hiking opportunities and clear coastal water offers great snorkelling, diving and nesting turtle watching. This is also an excellent time to add endemic lifers to your birding list.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is at its best between October and March. February brings hot and dry weather - a good time to visit Omo Valley, Aksum, Lalibela, and Gondar.

For wildlife and bird watchers, Ethiopia is packed with endemic species. The national parks offer many enticing encounters – from Ethiopian wolf, gelada monkeys and walia ibex to blue-winged goose, golden-backed woodpecker and Abyssinian catbird.

Chad

Travel to Chad is best during the dry season months of November to April. Zakouma National Park offers an exceptional wildlife experience, including elephants, buffaloes, big cats and excellent bird-watching, with the floodplains in the eastern half of the park being the most productive.