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Gosheni Safaris

Award-Winning African Safaris Since 2009

Travel by Month

January: Calving Season Begins

Green Season · Crowds: Medium

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

21°C

Average Temperature

28°C

Daytime High

82mm

Monthly Rainfall

11

Rain Days

Browse by Month

January is the heart of the green season in East Africa. The Great Migration has settled onto the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti, where the first wildebeest calves of the season are born and lush, rain-freshened scenery stretches to the horizon. Days are warm and mostly sunny, broken by short afternoon showers that keep the dust down and the light spectacular.

It is a superb month for photographers and birders, more than 500 species are present with the Eurasian migrants in residence, and lodge rates sit well below the peak-season highs. Base yourself around Ndutu and Ngorongoro for the calving herds, or add Tarangire and Lake Manyara for elephants and tree-climbing lions without the July crowds.

Climate

Weather Across Africa in January

13 destinations shown for January.

Serengeti

21°C
Low 16°High 28°
82 mmSome rain

Rain on about 11 days

Ngorongoro

19°C
Low 14°High 23°
90 mmSome rain

Rain on about 14 days

Tarangire

23°C
Low 19°High 29°
115 mmSome rain

Rain on about 14 days

Kilimanjaro (Moshi)

24°C
Low 19°High 30°
44 mmLow rain

Rain on about 8 days

Zanzibar

28°C
Low 26°High 32°
55 mmLow rain

Rain on about 13 days

Masai Mara

21°C
Low 15°High 28°
85 mmSome rain

Rain on about 11 days

Amboseli

23°C
Low 18°High 29°
82 mmSome rain

Rain on about 9 days

Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)

9°C
Low 6°High 12°
183 mmRainy

Rain on about 27 days

Bwindi (Uganda)

16°C
Low 12°High 20°
97 mmSome rain

Rain on about 21 days

Kruger (Skukuza)

25°C
Low 21°High 30°
133 mmRainy

Rain on about 14 days

Okavango (Maun)

25°C
Low 20°High 30°
119 mmSome rain

Rain on about 14 days

Chobe (Kasane)

23°C
Low 20°High 28°
234 mmVery rainy

Rain on about 22 days

Cape Town

21°C
Low 17°High 25°
20 mmLow rain

Rain on about 4 days

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

Best Time to Go

What January Is Like

Wildebeest calving season begins in the southern Serengeti's Ndutu region. Up to 8,000 calves are born daily, attracting predators in dramatic numbers. Lush green landscapes across East Africa make for stunning photography.

January
Green Season

Wildebeest calving season begins in the southern Serengeti's Ndutu region. Up to 8,000 calves are born daily, attracting predators in dramatic numbers. Lush green landscapes across East Africa make for stunning photography.

Calving seasonPhotographyValue pricing
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 January

01

Calving season

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

02

Photography

Dramatic skies, lush backdrops and abundant wildlife reward photographers.

03

Value pricing

Green-season rates make top lodges significantly more affordable.

Highlights

Wildlife This Month

Wildebeest calving in Ndutu

Wildebeest calving in Ndutu

The herds settle on the Ndutu short-grass plains and the first calves of the season take their wobbly first steps within minutes of birth.

Great birding with migratory species

Great birding with migratory species

Eurasian and intra-African migrants swell the birdlife past 500 species across the lakes and plains.

Green season photography

Green season photography

Storm light, emerald grass and dust-free air make January a photographer's month.

Where to Go

Top African Safari Destinations

Whether it's your first safari or your twentieth, our Africa Safari Experts can tailor-make any vacation to make it the trip of a lifetime.

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Money Matters

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Convert between traveler currencies at live exchange rates while you plan.

Curated Journeys

Safaris for January

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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