TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

January is a great month to travel within africa and like I say with each question about where is the best place to go and when? Africa is a continent in which you can travel almost everywhere all year round, the only difference is that some months it’s better in some countries. For Example, Never go to Namibia in February, Waaaay too hot. After saying this, Where is the “best” place to go to in January? Well, besides the obvious, Cape Town, I would suggest Uganda. Yes. Uganda, to see the Gorillas. 

January is great in Uganda, because the rainy season just finished, the temperature is great and within all the choices, available it’s nice to do Uganda in January. In Uganda you can do so much, it is not only about the Gorillas, you can also go see the Chimpazees, and do a safari.

OH! You can visit Mirchison Falls, that’s where the Nile river starts, and if you are lucky you can see a Shoebill Stork in the wild (very lucky) but in Entebbe there’s a place where you can see them and interact with them, I find it an incredible bird and so prehistoric. I could not believe my luck when i got to be so close to one of them. 

So, yes, visit Cape Town in January (basically visit Cape Town all through summer here, Dec – Mar) but also think of Uganda as a very nice. Destination.

What to do and where to go.

In Uganda you can visit the Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest, for this you will need to get a permit to visit the gorillas, they are very limited, so you need to book in advance, they cost USD700 per person. If you’d like to see the Chimpazees, there are two options, fly to Kibale or to Kasese, Kibale is a better option to see the Chimps simply because there are more Chimp families there, but the permits are a bit more expensive than in Kasese, Kyambura gorge. 

In Uganda, you can visit a couple of national parks that offer proper safaris, Queen Elizabeth National park is the most known one but there are a few more, Kidepo Valley National Park is the one that offers better animal sightings but it is very difficult to reach so you will need to fly there. The other famous park is Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile River starts.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park you can visit the Kazinga Chanel, a Chanel that unites Lake George with Lake Edward. The animal sighting here is amazing. Lots of Hippos and as safari goes, if you are lucky you can see the tree climbing lions. 

While in Entebbe, you can do sunset cruises on Lake Victoria and even visit the Ngamba Island where they have a Chimp Sanctuary, where you can interact with the chimps but in order to do this you will need a special permit and also you will need to have all the vaccinations that are in the world. Tetanus, Epathitis, Meningitis, TB, Smallpax, etc. you name it you will need it. One can also visit the Uganda Wild Conservation and education center, it used to be a Zoo a but now it is used more for research and education, if you do go, ask for the behind the scenes tour. That’s where you get to feed some of the animals and pat them, I fed a giraffe, a Rhino, an elephant, but the best was the interaction with the Shoebill stork, it’s something I will never forget. 

Need some help planning your January holiday?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get there & back.

What Our Clients Say

xavier gordillo
xavier gordillo
2023-05-20
Espectaculares vistas y paisajes de Sudáfrica. Un fantástico descanso en la naturaleza. Muy recomendable el servicio de Nanan Travel.
Vanessa Mazzucchelli
Vanessa Mazzucchelli
2023-05-20
Espectacular el safari!!! Gracias Nanan Travel .. super recomendable.
Rodrigo Rivera
Rodrigo Rivera
2023-05-10
Gracias German por todo el soporte antes, durante y despues de todo el viaje. Fuiste clave para tener una luna de miel SOÑADA. Empezando por la tremenda ruta Nyota en Africa y terminando con Malvidas. Excelente eleccion. Tu soporte y compañia durante todo el viaje nos dio la tranquilidad de poder disfrutarlo como se debe. Gracias!!
Manuela Duharte Clever
Manuela Duharte Clever
2023-05-03
todo excelente. la atencion y la cercania de German con nosotros hizo todo mas facil. la seleccion de la ruta Nyota en Africa y los hoteles fue muy buena eleccion. terminar con Maldivas para descansar, mejor todavia. Gracias German!!
Polly Lambert
Polly Lambert
2023-04-18
German was a huge help with planning our trip to SA. He booked us a two-day guide for our time in Cape Town, who was incredible, plus German organised our unforgettable safari at Kariega Game Reserve. He took care of everything, plus gave us some valuable advice on where to stay too. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend!
Drew Kirkbride
Drew Kirkbride
2023-04-05
Germain guided us wonderfully through South Africa. When we first booked, he found plenty of alternatives to create a more authentic experience considering the needs and desires of the group. The hotel options were top notch, especially staying at Kitara Last World and the driver her uses for Cape Town and Stellenbosch was prompt, consistent, never rushed, and handles the group. A highlight was the sunset boat tour Private to our group. Only recommendation for change might have been pre-scheduling some of the wineries or finding some boutique options, though this did not change our experience.
Ted Lampa
Ted Lampa
2023-04-04
German from Nanan Travel organized the perfect South African birthday celebration for me and my friends. From beginning to end the trip was flawless. Drivers were organized for all transfers and day trips. The accommodations were impeccably beautiful! Everything about the safari was astounding! German's restaurant and vineyard recommendations were outstanding! This trip exceeded our expectations! I will definitely be booking future travel plans with German.
Lauren Frank
Lauren Frank
2023-04-02
We had a fabulous and seamless experience using Nanan Travel. He helped arrange our Safari experience at Kariega Game Reserve, including transportation to/from. He was attentive, quick to respond despite a huge time change between SA and North Carolina, USA, and helpful even with suggestions for Cape Town/Stellenbosch/Franschhoek. I would highly recommend!
Nick Depner
Nick Depner
2023-03-16
German pulled together and incredible itinerary for us! His fantastic recommendations during our entire trip, great lodging, attention to detail, and personalized service made this a truly unforgettable vacation!
Rafael Balaguer
Rafael Balaguer
2023-01-26
There's a certain ease and excitement when you don't have to worry about the rest of your trip living up to an incredible yesterday, because today and tomorrow are going to be EVEN BETTER. That's what you can expect from a South African trip planned by Nanan Travel. Just when you think it can't get better, it does. German planned every detail, so we didn't have to worry about a thing. Excursions were varied and executed flawlessly. Transfers between properties were seamless and hassle-free. And check-ins were actually fun and some of my favorite moments. Our trip had a perfect pace of relaxation, sightseeing, adventure, and surprises. It took us off the beaten path (literally) one day and 10 feet from a lion’s mouth the next. I arrived home after nearly 3 weeks with a full heart and memories I will never forget. Thank you, German, for helping to make my first time in South Africa so unforgettable.

× Just Ask Nanan!