If you’re wondering whether a safari in October is worth it, let me save you a scroll: yes, absolutely. It’s dry enough for wildlife to be concentrated near water sources, warm enough to skip the thermals, and late enough past peak season that some lodges and camps have relaxed their pricing. Some call it the shoulder season. I call it the sweet spot.
Lions in full agreement that safari in October delivers, Image Credit: Mahali Mazuri
The Smart Month Nobody Talks About
Let’s be honest: October doesn’t scream “peak holiday season”. It’s not part of the glossy mid-year winter rush, nor does it come with the festive sparkle of year-end. And yet, this is the part I love. October is hands-down one of the smartest months to go on an African safari. Why? Because all the best parts of the dry season are still in play, without the frenzied mid-year crowds.
Golden hour goes airborne over the African plains, Image Credit: Chris Joubert, Usawa
What Makes October So Good for Safari?
By October, much of Southern and East Africa is nearing the end of the dry season. Water is scarce, which is excellent news for game viewing as animals tend to congregate around permanent waterholes, riverbanks, and pans, making them easier to spot. Grass is low, trees are bare, and visibility is excellent. Plus, migratory birds begin returning, which gives the twitchers something to cheer about.
However, here’s the catch: October can be hot. And I mean properly hot, especially in Southern Africa. But if you plan your destination well, you’ll get all the safari magic whilst beating the heat.
Dry season runway walk with zero audience pressure, Image Credit: Usawa Serengeti
1. Kruger National Park, South Africa
If I could bottle the feeling of an October morning in the Greater Kruger – warm, golden, alive – I would. The park offers superb game viewing at this time of year, with the bush still sparse and wildlife clinging to dwindling water sources. Private reserves like Sabi Sand and Timbavati come into their own here, where usually-elusive leopards proudly strut their stuff and lion prides rule the roads.
Tip: Combine a Kruger safari with a few days in Cape Town while it’s still relatively quiet.
Peak Kruger energy, no camouflage required
2. Botswana (Okavango Delta and Linyanti)
October is Botswana’s last dry gasp before the rains. In the Okavango Delta, floodwaters from Angola are still high in some parts, creating incredible boat and mokoro safaris. Meanwhile, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve and the Chobe Region offer big predator sightings and elephants en masse. It’s hot, yes. But the game viewing? Unreal.
Front-row seats to Botswana’s elephant-dominated drama, Image Credit: Kings Pool Camp
3. South Luangwa, Zambia
This is the month when South Luangwa National Park makes it personal. Its famed walking safaris are still in full swing, and visibility is peak-dry-season sharp. You’ll find high predator activity and the occasional hippo showdown in shallow pools. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s one of my favourite places for a safari that feels completely off the grid.
Walking safaris where the wildlife sets the pace, Image Credit: Puku Ridge
4. Maasai Mara, Kenya
October marks the tail end of The Great Migration as wildebeest start their slow march from the Maasai Mara back into the Serengeti. While large-scale river crossings in the northern Maasai Mara are mostly over by now, the early part of the month can still deliver a few surprises. But the real stars in October? The resident wildlife.
Private conservancies like Mara North, Olare Motorogi, and Naboisho offer phenomenal predator sightings, like lion prides, leopards in acacia trees, and cheetahs surveying the plains. And with the Migration crowds thinning out and the short rains not yet underway, game drives feel decidedly less congested.
Tip: If you’re after proper predator action without the high-season hustle, October’s your moment.
Resident predators steal the show on safari in October, Image Credit: Mahali Mzuri
5. Northern Serengeti and Zanzibar, Tanzania
In the Serengeti National Park, the herds are heading south, and the action starts spreading out. But that doesn’t mean it’s quiet. Resident wildlife holds the fort while the landscapes start transforming ahead of the rains. And if you’re after a post-safari detox, Zanzibar offers balmy waters, spice markets, and beaches that give you the soft landing you didn’t know you needed.
Stillness before the short rains in the Serengeti, Image Credit: Usawa Serengeti
6. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
October may not deliver a thunderous curtain of mist, but what you lose in volume, you gain in visibility. Victoria Falls reveals its rocky, sculpted face this time of year, with clearer views and fewer soaked camera lenses. It’s also prime time for white-water rafting, scenic flights, and sundowners on the Zambezi. Think of it as the adventurous exclamation mark at the end of your safari.
The Zambezi delivers golden hour with extra sparkle, Image Credit: Victoria Falls River Lodge
What to Know Before You Go
Before you zip up your duffel and start dreaming of lion sightings, there are a few things worth knowing. Nothing dramatic, just the kind of insider prep that can make a good safari feel like a great one.
October is Hot!
Pack breathable fabrics, sunscreen, and a large brimmed hat. Lodges will keep you comfortable, but mid-afternoon siestas aren’t always optional. They’re sometimes a much-needed escape from the sun.
Pack light, rest often, and respect the midday sun, Image Credit: Londolozi
Mosquitoes Are Around (But Manageable)
October is still within the drier stretch, so mozzie levels are relatively low. That said, pack repellent and take malaria precautions, especially in high-risk areas like Zambia and parts of Botswana.
Dry season dusk, where the only buzz is natural
Crowds? Less Elbows, More Elephants
Unlike July and August, October tends to fly under the radar, which means fewer vehicles at sightings and easier lodge availability. In my books, that’s a win.
Low season, high reward in the Delta’s quiet corners, Image Credit: Camp Okavango
FAQs About Safari in October
You’ve got questions. I’ve anticipated them. Here’s everything you might be googling at 1 AM while trying to decide if October is actually a good idea (spoiler: it is).
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Is October a good time to go on safari? |
Yes. October is the tail end of the dry season in many parts of Africa, which means exceptional wildlife sightings around water sources and sparse vegetation for better visibility. |
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Where’s best to safari in October? |
Top picks include Kruger (South Africa), Okavango Delta (Botswana), South Luangwa (Zambia), Maasai Mara (Kenya), and the Serengeti (Tanzania). Add Victoria Falls or Zanzibar for contrast. |
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Is October part of the Great Migration? |
It’s the tail end. In early October, some crossings may still occur in the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara. After that, the herds begin moving back south, but this changes year-on-year depending on many different natural factors. |
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Is it cheaper to safari in October? |
In some regions, yes. October can fall into shoulder season pricing depending on the lodge and location, especially after the peak of July–August. |
Big questions, rare sightings, zero second guesses, Image Credit: Wilderness Duma Tau
So, Should You Book a Safari in October?
If you’ve read this far, you already know where I stand. October might not be the show-off of safari months, but it plays the long game. It’s dry enough to deliver serious wildlife action, warm enough to enjoy it, and quiet enough to feel like the wild is yours alone.
And that, dear traveller, is exactly what makes this so-called “shoulder month” one of Africa’s strongest contenders. Get in touch, and we’ll help you craft a journey that proves great safaris don’t need a peak-season label.
Featured Image Credit: Mahali Mzuri
