Best Time to Visit Eastern Africa
Also known as: Indian Ocean Islands, East Africa
Eastern Africa covers a broad sweep from the southern tip of the continent at Cape Town up through the Indian Ocean island chains of Mauritius, Reunion, and the Comoros. The mainland and islands follow different seasonal patterns: Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers, while the tropical islands revolve around cyclone season from November to April. If you are weighing beach time on an island against a mainland trip, the best month for each can be six months apart.
Each destination shows its highest-rated month overall. Select a destination to find the best month for you. Choose your preferences across budget, weather, and activities to see how each month scores.
Cape Town
Table Mountain's cable car spins 360 degrees on the ascent, and when the city spreads out below—Camps Bay's white sand on one side, the Winelands…
Best overall month: March
Cape Verde
Ten volcanic islands scattered across 500 kilometers of Atlantic Ocean, each requiring separate flights or overnight ferries to reach the next—the…
Best overall month: November
Comoros
Four volcanic islands rise from the Mozambique Channel with 340 kilometres of coastline and fewer annual visitors than Antarctica. Comoros offers…
Best overall month: May
Mauritius
The water off Mauritius glows in shades of turquoise so specific that paint companies haven't named them yet—a visual trick created by the island's…
Best overall month: May
Réunion
Between June and October, Réunion transforms into one of the world's most accessible active volcanic destinations, where you can stand on the rim of…
Best overall month: September