Best destinations to visit in September in Africa
Best destinations to visit in September in Africa
September remains a strong month for East African safaris, while other parts of the continent shift from winter into spring.
The wildebeest migration is often still crossing the Mara River early in the month, giving wildlife watchers one more good window before the herds move on. Southern safari regions stay in their dry season too, with strong wildlife viewing as the season nears its end. South Africa's Namaqualand region also bursts into wildflower bloom around this time, drawing visitors for a display that only lasts a few weeks each year. Cape Town and the wider Cape region move out of their rainy winter, with conditions improving steadily through the month. North Africa also becomes noticeably more comfortable, as temperatures ease from the peak of summer.
The destinations on our list for Africa reflect that same shift, from a strong final stretch of safari season to spring's first wildflowers.
Lists by region
Road in South Africa
Garden Route
Scenic vineyards and coastal cliffs
Green, coastal and relaxed, this stretch of South Africa feels like a classic road trip. September is early spring with whales close to shore at Plettenberg Bay and mild days near 20 degrees Celsius. Forest walks in Tsitsikamma and cruises on Knysna lagoon are quiet before summer crowds.
City in Morocco
Marrakech
A vibrant maze of colors and spices
By September the worst of the heat is over, with highs easing from the low 90s Fahrenheit towards the high 80s, so shaded alleys are more bearable. In the evening Jemaa el-Fna square is full of food stalls, musicians and storytellers while rooftop terraces have views of the Koutoubia minaret at sunset.
City in South Africa
Cape Town
Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture
Dutch traders founded the city in 1652 as a supply stop for ships sailing to Asia, with flat topped Table Mountain rising behind the harbour. September is early spring so the hiking trails up Table Mountain are cool while wildflowers bloom at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and southern right whales swim close to shore.
National Park in South Africa
Kruger National Park
Where Africa's Big Five Roam Free
Gates open at dawn and close at dusk so visitors start early and rest at camp at midday. September is dry and warm, with thin bush and animals gathering at rivers and waterholes. Lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo all live in the park, which is almost as big as Wales.
National Park in Kenya
Lake Nakuru National Park
Vibrant wildlife and crater lake horizons
Smaller than the Mara and Serengeti, this park is easy to cover in a day around a shallow lake. September is dry and flamingos crowd the shore in pink groups though numbers change with the water level. The park is also a rhino sanctuary with white rhinos, black rhinos and Rothschild's giraffes.
Country
Mauritius
Tropical Bliss in the Indian Ocean
Sitting in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, this volcanic island is ringed by coral reef and calm lagoons. September is dry and mild at about 25 degrees Celsius with clear water for snorkelling. Le Morne Brabant rises 556 metres above the lagoon and Black River Gorges National Park has waterfalls.
Nature Reserve in Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Nature's Untamed Sanctuary
A volcano collapsed here about two to three million years ago and left a crater 600 metres deep. September is dry so hyenas, lions and black rhinos are easy to spot on the open crater floor. Olduvai Gorge nearby is where early human fossils were found.
National Park in Namibia
Sossusvlei
Towering red dunes meet white clay
September days reach about 30 degrees Celsius with cool mornings that suit sunrise dune climbs. Dune 45 and Big Daddy are among the tallest dunes here and the red sand glows at first light. Deadvlei is a white clay pan with dead camel thorn trees about 900 years old.
Region in Morocco
Atlas Mountains
Majestic peaks echo ancient desert horizons
Berber communities have lived in these mountains for centuries, building villages of mud brick and stone. September days are warm and dry in the valleys and cooler near Mount Toubkal, which rises 4,167 metres. Trails from Imlil village lead to walnut groves and guesthouses where hosts serve tagine and mint tea.
National Park in Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
The Ultimate Safari Adventure
Vast, golden and open, this park has plains that stretch to the horizon under huge skies and dramatic clouds. In September wildebeest herds gather in the north of the park where they cross the Mara River. Lions, cheetahs and leopards follow the herds across more than 14,000 square kilometres.
Country
Seychelles
Tropical paradise with pristine beaches
A scattered group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, this small country has granite boulders and white beaches. September is dry with steady breezes and sea temperatures near 27 degrees Celsius for easy snorkelling. Ferries link Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, where bicycles replace most cars and beaches stay quiet.
Town in South Africa
Hermanus
Whale Watching and Coastal Wonders
A small seaside town in the Western Cape, this is a top spot for watching whales from land. Southern right whales reach peak numbers in September and the cliff path runs about 12 kilometres along the shore. The Whale Crier blows a kelp horn to show where whales are swimming.
National Park in Kenya
Amboseli National Park
Elephants Against Kilimanjaro's Backdrop
Lying on a dry plain north of Mount Kilimanjaro, this park has swamps fed by water from the mountain. September is dry so elephants, buffalo and zebras gather at the green swamps in large numbers. Observation Hill gives wide views over the swamps with Kilimanjaro behind at dawn.
Nature Reserve in Kenya
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Witness the Great Migration
Dust, grunting wildebeest and the thud of hooves are part of the Great Migration, when more than a million wildebeest and zebra are in the Mara from July to October. Crocodiles wait in the Mara River while the herds gather on the bank before a crossing, which can happen at any time of day.
Country
Madagascar
Unique biodiversity meets diverse landscapes
About 250 miles off the coast of Mozambique, the island has been separated from Africa for millions of years, so most of its lemurs, chameleons and baobab trees are found nowhere else. In September walkers in Andasibe see indri lemurs, the largest lemurs, while boats off Sainte Marie Island go out to see humpback whales.
Region in South Africa
Namaqualand
Vibrant desert landscapes and wildlife wonders
A vast dry region along South Africa's west coast, this area turns into a carpet of flowers each spring. September is the peak month, when millions of daisies open in sunshine and close again in cloud or late afternoon. Namaqua National Park has gravel roads and short trails through fields of orange daisies.
National Park in Tanzania
Tarangire National Park
Elephant Paradise with Baobab Backdrops
Less visited than the Serengeti, this park is known for huge baobab trees and large elephant herds. In September the Tarangire River is the main water source so elephants, zebras and wildebeest crowd its banks. Termite mounds, baobab groves and more than 500 bird species add variety to game drives.
National Park in Namibia
Etosha National Park
Namibia's Wildlife Sanctuary
A huge white salt pan, wide enough to be seen from space, is in northern Namibia where animals gather at the waterholes around it in the dry season. At Okaukuejo camp visitors sit on a low wall at a floodlit waterhole to watch black rhinos, lions and elephants drink after dark.
National Park in Botswana
Chobe National Park
Elephant Haven in Botswana
Set up in 1967 along the Chobe River, this park now has one of the largest elephant herds in Africa. September is late in the dry season so elephants and buffalo come to drink at the river each afternoon. Sunset boat trips pass hippos and crocodiles while the light turns the water gold.
National Park in Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park
Elephant Herds and Wild Horizons
Wild, dry and open, this park in western Zimbabwe feels like classic elephant country with wide grass plains. More than 40,000 elephants live here and September is dry so they gather at pumped waterholes. Viewing platforms at Nyamandlovu Pan and Masuma Dam give close views of buffalo, giraffes and sable antelope.
Nature Reserve in Botswana
Okavango Delta
Africa’s Uncharted Water Wilderness
Guides pole mokoros, narrow dugout canoes, through papyrus lined channels where hippos, elephants and tiny reed frogs share the water. Floodwater from rain that fell in Angola months earlier is still high in September, so islands are ringed by clear water while elephants wade across the shallows.
National Park in Zambia
South Luangwa National Park
Walking Safaris and Wild Encounters
Walking safaris led by a guide and an armed scout are a local tradition in this park. September is hot and dry so hippos, elephants and crocodiles crowd the shrinking river and lagoons. Night drives often find leopards and hyenas while bush camps sit beside the Luangwa River.
National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Where predators rule the Kalahari
September is near the end of the dry season, when animals gather along the dry riverbeds and waterholes. Black maned Kalahari lions, cheetahs and leopards hunt gemsbok and springbok across red dunes. The park crosses the border of South Africa and Botswana and has remote camps under starry skies.
National Park in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Majestic volcanoes rise over misty valleys
Set high in the Virunga mountains of northwest Rwanda, this park has misty forest, bamboo and five volcanoes. Small groups of up to eight visitors spend one hour with a family of mountain gorillas. September is in the dry season so trails are less muddy and views of the volcanoes are clearer.
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