Africa Travel in October
Many safari destinations are getting very hot by October as the dry season comes to a close. In saying that, if you can put up with the heat, the game viewing is excellent. Towards the end of the month, you can also expect a few showers. The rain won’t ruin your safari but will cool things down a bit.
Botswana
- Max Day Temp: 35°C +
- Min Night Temp: 18°C
- Avg Rainfall: 13mm
It is hot and dusty and the humidity builds as the month progresses BUT the wildlife viewing is spectacular as animals continue to flock to the ever-decreasing water sources. There are huge number of elephant in the Delta, Chobe and Linyanti and predators have the upper hand in the dry conditions when hunting the herbivores.
It is a great time to capture stunning photos of game in the bright golden haze of sunset.
South Africa
- Max Day Temp: 27°C
- Min Night Temp: 14°C
- Avg Rainfall: 55mm Cape Town, 40mm Kruger
South Africa in October offers excellent game viewing in the Kruger and Eastern Reserves and generally settled and sunny weather in the Cape. When the rains begin in the north and east these tend to be spectacular short thunderstorms and wonderful to photograph.
Tanzania
- Max Day Temp: 29°C
- Min Night Temp: 16°C
- Avg Rainfall: 50mm
The heat in Tanzania is not as intense as that experienced in the Southern African safari countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. By October the herd numbers in Tarangire are at their peak and the Wildebeest that made it as far as the Maasai Mara are crossing back over the rivers into the Serengeti and starting to head south. For an outstanding and less crowded safari experience Ruaha and Katavi offer an excellent safari choice this month.
Kenya
- Max Day Temp: 28°C
- Min Night Temp: 11°C
- Avg Rainfall: 20mm
Kenya continues to be an excellent choice for a safari in October. Generally, by October, the Migration has headed back into the Serengeti but there could still be some herds in the south-east of the reserve. The Migration may have moved on, but you can expect to see plenty of action on game drives as wildlife is concentrated around diminishing water sources
Uganda
- Max Day Temp: 27°C
- Min Night Temp: 17°C
- Avg Rainfall: 97mm
It is essential to pack waterproof clothing if visiting in Uganda in October. It is the start of the second rainy season though sometimes you won’t experience much more than a short downpour until later in the month. Game viewing is still good at this time as vegetation is low but will be starting to green up. Prepare yourself for slippery and muddy conditions on gorilla and chimp treks. Rain may also affect roads and slow down travel.
Zimbabwe
- Max Day Temp: 35°C
- Min Night Temp: 17°C
- Avg Rainfall: 27mm
October is the hottest month to visit Zimbabwe and the temperature and while the maximum temperature is typically mid 30’s it can climb to just over 40°C. Wildlife sightings with scarce water are excellent but some people may find it too hot to enjoy the experience. Victoria Falls is at its lowest flow in October and views are best from the Zimbabwe side.
Zambia
- Max Day Temp: 38°C
- Min Night Temp: 18°C
- Avg Rainfall: 10mm
Like Zimbabwe, October is the hottest month to visit Zambia. Outstanding game viewing is the reward for withstanding the heat. Devils Pool on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls is accessible but we recommend seeing the falls from the Zimbabwe side – by October there may be little to no water flowing over the Zambian side. For thrill-seekers, the white water rafting is out of this world.
Namibia
- Max Day Temp: 30°C
- Min Night Temp: 15°C
- Avg Rainfall: 12mm
It is the last month of the dry season in Namibia and temperatures are hot and it is dusty. There may be a bit of rain by the end of the month but otherwise, wildlife will continue to crowd around any available water source in Etosha. The photography opportunities are fantastic!
Mozambique
- Max Day Temp: 32°C
- Min Night Temp: 20°C
- Avg Rainfall: 30mm
Mozambique is stunning in October. A perfect addition to a beach and bush safari. You may also see humpback whales cruising up the coast at the migrate from Antarctic waters.
India Travel in October
- Max Day Temp Delhi: 33°C
- Max Day Temp Mumbai: 33°C
- Max Day Temp Kochi: 31°C
- Max Day Temp Kolkata: 32°C
October is the start of the ‘tourist season’ in India which runs through till the end of March for most areas. It is dry in most places except Tamil Nadu which experiences heavy rains of the North-East Monsoon in October and November.
You can time your visit in October with the festival of Dusshera or Kolkata’s 10 day Durga Puja celebrations. Diwali celebrations are sometimes in October too.
Attending a festival can be a major highlight but we do need to help you carefully plan the rest of your itinerary – many artisans stop working and shops and attractions close during festival times.
For wildlife enthusiasts, most Wildlife Parks reopen from mid October with the exception of Kaziranga National Park in Assam which opens in mid-November.
