Safaris in June

June marks the start of Kenya's long dry season. Vegetation begins thinning, wildlife becomes easier to find and visitor numbers are usually lower than in July and August. The major migration herds are generally still south of the Maasai Mara early in the month.

We would choose between the Maasai Mara, its private conservancies, Laikipia and Amboseli according to the month's rainfall, wildlife movement and the level of exclusivity you want. Camp location matters as much as the country itself, particularly when migration timing or clear Kilimanjaro views are priorities.

June is one of the drier and more popular gorilla-trekking months. Trails are often more manageable, though rain is always possible in Bwindi. Permits and the best lodges should be booked early, especially for trips combining Uganda with Kenya or Tanzania.

Gorilla permits and the forest sector should be confirmed before the rest of the route. We also consider trail conditions, transfer times and whether chimpanzee trekking or a savannah safari in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls is worth adding, rather than treating Uganda as a single-day gorilla stop.

June brings cool mornings, dry weather and increasingly extensive Okavango floodwaters. Water activities become more widely available while wildlife concentrates around permanent channels. Nights can be genuinely cold, so warm layers are essential.

The Okavango is not one uniform destination. We pair water-focused and land-focused camps according to flood levels, then decide whether Chobe, Linyanti or the Makgadikgadi adds a genuinely different experience. In transitional months, choosing the right concession is more important than simply booking the Delta.