Africa in July – perfect for seeing the wildlife.

The Jewels of July in Africa
July is the seventh month of the year and for those of us in the northern hemisphere it is normally thought of as the second month of summer.
Nonetheless, for many of us in the northern hemisphere, we’re still waiting for the first month of summer. Far too much!

In Africa, July marks the start of the great migration of around 1.5 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra and a number of antelope from the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya. Although hard to estimate, it’s thought that 250.000 wildebeest don’t survive the journey of around 1,800 miles. Visitors to Tanzania in July might see the herds cross the Grumeti River where those dreaded crocs lie in wait for their victims. In September, their major obstacle is the Mara River in Kenya where they have to dodge more crocs and navigate safely across.

July is also a good month to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, as the rainy season is abating and there is less spray to obscure the most spectacular views of the Falls. You can expect the sun to shine for around 10 hours per day in July – and if you go in August that rises to 11 hours! There are many wildlife conservation projects taking place in this area and if you would like to take part you can find out more from our website.

Last July, the first African penguin to be fitted with a satellite transmitter was released into the wild off the coast of South Africa. This was part of a conservation project which involves fitting wild penguins with transmitters to find out more about the life and habits of the species. Wonder what’s happened to him (or her) one year on…

In the Okavango Delta, July sees flood waters arriving after a journey from the distant Angolan highlands.  This is a great time to see wildlife as the trees are shedding leaves and grass is not so long. Often, the days are clear with bright blue skies and the quality of the light throughout the day is ideal for photography. Visitors can take canoes across the Okavango which is increasingly accessible.

July is a great month to see Africa, but for anyone who wants to spend their gap year volunteering to work in animal conservation, there are many more months to choose from!