Africa Climate

Northern Africa (Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania)

Widely varied climate from Mediterranean Temperatures in the North to the extremes of the Sahara.

Winter

In winter snow can be found on high grounds and if camping out at altitude be aware that the temperature can drop severely at night. Temperatures further South are quite pleasant through winter. In the Sahara region temperatures are more extreme and can be hot during the day time but drop to near freezing at night. If travelling along the coast there can be a constant on shore wind that blows sand into everything. The rainy season on the coast is September to May but although heavy are usually short lived.

Summer

In the north temperatures can reach 40C but in general the heat is usually bearable. In the Sahara temperatures reach extremes upto 50C and extra care needs to be taken. It is probably best to avoid this area unless you are used to extreme heat and if travelling independently have desert survival skills even if not leaving main routes.

Rains can fall in the desert at any time and strong winds and sand storms can make travel difficult. The danger of travel in the desert at any time of year should not be ignored.

Southern Africa (South of Angola, Malawi, Zambia)

The best time to visit are April, September and September. This is a fairly pleasant area. The climate varies from the desert areas around the Kalahari to the Mediterranean climate around Cape Province which has a fairly mild climate all year. Highest temperatures December to March

The eastern Zimbabwe highlands, inland Mozambique and Swaziland are fairly wet areas all year. The rainy season is from December to March. On the South coast there can be rain all year. The West coast has less rain but has cloud and fog which moderates the temperature.

West Africa

This is an extremely wet and humid area all year round with high temperatures all year round. The South has two main rainy seasons May to June and October. The North is still humid but has less rain with one wet period running from June to September. The humidity is reduced by a dry and dusty north easterly wind which blows from the Sahara.

East Africa

The low lands of the extreme East have near desert conditions with very low rain fall often creating drought conditions. Further South on the coast constant sea breezes cool the temperatures. Due o the higher altitudes in land the temperatures drop to similar to those of a European summer. Temperatures remain constant through out the year. The rainy seasons are April to May, and for a period between July and November dependant or Latitude.

© K.Vans-Colina 1992-2002