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Gosheni Safaris

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Travel by Month

February: Peak Calving in Ndutu

Green Season · Crowds: Medium

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Africa's Leading Tour Operator 2024 · World Travel Awards Winner

22°C

Average Temperature

29°C

Daytime High

75mm

Monthly Rainfall

12

Rain Days

Browse by Month

February is calving season at full throttle. On the Ndutu plains of the southern Serengeti as many as 8,000 wildebeest calves are born every day, and the predators that shadow the herds (lion, cheetah, spotted hyena) are hunting constantly. For raw, dramatic wildlife action this is one of the very best months of the year.

Beyond the plains, February offers a reliable weather window for climbing Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro Crater is green and full of newborn animals. Expect warm days, starry nights and short afternoon showers; book the Ndutu camps early, as the calving area is compact and in demand.

Climate

Weather Across Africa in February

13 destinations shown for February.

Serengeti

22°C
Low 17°High 29°
75 mmSome rain

Rain on about 12 days

Ngorongoro

19°C
Low 14°High 24°
84 mmSome rain

Rain on about 16 days

Tarangire

24°C
Low 19°High 30°
113 mmSome rain

Rain on about 13 days

Kilimanjaro (Moshi)

25°C
Low 19°High 31°
48 mmLow rain

Rain on about 10 days

Zanzibar

28°C
Low 26°High 33°
52 mmLow rain

Rain on about 13 days

Masai Mara

22°C
Low 16°High 29°
60 mmLow rain

Rain on about 10 days

Amboseli

24°C
Low 18°High 30°
43 mmLow rain

Rain on about 9 days

Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)

10°C
Low 7°High 13°
196 mmRainy

Rain on about 25 days

Bwindi (Uganda)

17°C
Low 12°High 21°
111 mmSome rain

Rain on about 17 days

Kruger (Skukuza)

25°C
Low 21°High 30°
212 mmVery rainy

Rain on about 14 days

Okavango (Maun)

25°C
Low 20°High 30°
101 mmSome rain

Rain on about 12 days

Chobe (Kasane)

24°C
Low 19°High 29°
152 mmRainy

Rain on about 14 days

Cape Town

21°C
Low 17°High 26°
12 mmDry

Rain on about 2 days

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · 5-year daily averages (2019-2023)

Best Time to Go

What February Is Like

Peak calving season in the Serengeti. The Ndutu plains are alive with hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest and zebra. Predators (lions, cheetahs, hyenas) are at their most active, offering extraordinary game viewing.

February
Green Season

Peak calving season in the Serengeti. The Ndutu plains are alive with hundreds of thousands of newborn wildebeest and zebra. Predators (lions, cheetahs, hyenas) are at their most active, offering extraordinary game viewing.

Calving seasonPredator sightingsPhotography
Wildlife
Crowds
March to May
Long Rains

The quietest, best-value months. Landscapes are at their most dramatic, birding is exceptional, and gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda stays superb.

Best valueBirdingGorilla trekking
Wildlife
Crowds
June to October
Dry Season

Peak safari season. The Great Migration river crossings, wildlife concentrated at water sources, and classic golden-light game viewing across every park.

River crossingsBig FiveClassic safari
Wildlife
Crowds
November to December
Short Rains

Brief afternoon showers repaint the plains green. Migratory birds arrive, the herds head south, and shoulder-season pricing returns.

Lush landscapesBirdingShoulder-season value
Wildlife
Crowds

Why Gosheni

Why Visit in February

01

Calving season

Thousands of wildebeest calves are born daily on the southern Serengeti plains.

02

Predator sightings

Lions, cheetahs and hyenas are at their most active around the herds.

03

Photography

Dramatic skies, lush backdrops and abundant wildlife reward photographers.

Highlights

Wildlife This Month

8,000+ calves born daily

8,000+ calves born daily

Peak calving floods the plains with newborn wildebeest, and keeps the predators that follow them constantly on the move.

Big cat action at its best

Big cat action at its best

Lions, cheetahs and hyenas hunt around the clock at the edge of the nursery herds.

Kilimanjaro climbing window

Kilimanjaro climbing window

A dry, settled spell on the mountain makes February one of the two classic summit windows.

Where to Go

Top African Safari Destinations

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Curated Journeys

Safaris for February

Hand-picked journeys that shine this time of year.

6 Days Best Northern Tanzania Safari
From $3,095
6 days
Featured

6 Days Best Northern Tanzania Safari

Serengeti National Park game drives. Ngorongoro Crater descent. Big Five game viewing. Tarangire elephant herds

Tarangire National Park | Arusha | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Serengeti National Park | Lake Manyara National Park
From
$3,095 - $5,200
per person
Request a Quote
5 Days Serengeti Great Migration Safari
From $3,570
5 days
Featured

5 Days Serengeti Great Migration Safari

Great Wildebeest Migration. Mara River crossings. Predator-prey action

Arusha | Ngorongoro Crater | Serengeti National Park | Ngorongoro Conservation Area
From
$3,570
per person
Request a Quote
5 Days Luxury Kruger Safari
From $3,832
5 days
Featured

5 Days Luxury Kruger Safari

Big Five in Sabi Sands. Private game reserve. Luxury bush lodge

Johannesburg | Sabi Sands Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
From
$3,832 - $4,800
per person
Request a Quote
5-Day Tanzania Low Season Safari
From $1,620
5 days
Featured

5-Day Tanzania Low Season Safari

Same camps and guides as the peak season, with far fewer vehicles at the sightings. Low-season rates for November 2026 and May 2027, from US$1,620 per person. A full day of game driving in Tarangire. Two nights in Central Serengeti, with a full day on the Seronera plains. A morning on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, with lunch by the lake. Your own Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, on-board Wi-Fi and a private guide. Starts from your hotel in Arusha, so it fits after a Kilimanjaro climb or a night in town

Arusha | Tarangire National Park | Serengeti National Park | Central Serengeti | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Ngorongoro Crater
From
$1,620 - $2,175
per person
Request a Quote
12-Day Signature Great Migration Calving Photographic Safari
From $6,820
12 days
Featured

12-Day Signature Great Migration Calving Photographic Safari

Four nights on the Ndutu calving plains, not a single overnight stop. A maximum of four photographers per private vehicle, for real access to the windows and pop-up roof. A full day inside Ngorongoro Crater, descending early while the light is still soft. Three nights in Central Serengeti for leopard, lion and cheetah photography. A scheduled Seronera to Arusha flight, so the last day is spent shooting rather than driving. Vehicle refrigerator, charging points and Wi-Fi where network coverage permits

Arusha | Ngorongoro Crater | Ndutu Area | Central Serengeti
From
$6,820 - $10,830
per person
Request a Quote
12-Day Signature Great Migration River Crossing Photographic Safari
From $6,500
12 days
Featured

12-Day Signature Great Migration River Crossing Photographic Safari

Four nights in Northern Serengeti, so the safari never depends on one afternoon at the Mara River. A scheduled flight straight to Kogatende, saving a full day of overland transfer. A maximum of four photographers per private vehicle, for real shooting space. Three nights in Central Serengeti for leopard, lion and cheetah photography. A full day inside Ngorongoro Crater, descending early into soft light. A final Arusha night to back up files and repack equipment before flying home

Arusha | Serengeti National Park | Central Serengeti | Ngorongoro Crater
From
$6,500 - $10,420
per person
Request a Quote
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