Best places to visit in Africa in January
In January, Africa's best-scoring destinations are Sharm El Sheikh (93), Lamu (92) and Marsa Alam (91): 10 of its 50 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Cape & Garden Route; Zambia, Zimbabwe & Malawi averages 60/100.
Each place is scored at its seasonal best — beaches on beach weather, cities on walking weather, ski towns in snow season. Tap any place for the full January breakdown.
Classics at their best in Africa in January
15The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 10 of Africa's 50 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.
- 1Sharm El Sheikh 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry, clean air · best April93
- 2Lamu 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, dry, clean air · best January92
- 3Marsa Alam 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best April91
- 4Mombasa 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, dry · best February91
- 5Dahab 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry, clean air · best April90
- 6Hurghada 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry, clean air · best November90
- 7Nairobi 🇰🇪 Kenyawarm, a little rain · best August90
- 8Knysna 🇿🇦 South Africawarm, a little rain, clean air · best January89
- 9Port Elizabeth 🇿🇦 South Africawarm, a little rain, clean air · best January89
- 10Swakopmund 🇳🇦 Namibiawarm, dry, clean air · best January89
- 11Durban 🇿🇦 South Africahot, rainy, muggy air · best January88
- 12Luxor 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best February88
- 13Merzouga 🇲🇦 Moroccocool, dry, clean air · best February88
- 14El Gouna 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry, clean air · best October87
- 15Hermanus 🇿🇦 South Africawarm, dry, clean air · best December87
Under the radar in Africa in January
15Less-visited places whose January weather outscores the classics above — the data's own suggestions.
- 16Addis Ababa 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry · best January95
- 17Simien Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry, clean air · best December95
- 18Aswan 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best January94
- 19Bahir Dar 🇪🇹 Ethiopiawarm, dry · best December94
- 20Lalibela 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry · best October94
- 21Gondar 🇪🇹 Ethiopiawarm, dry, clean air · best November93
- 22Praia 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best June93
- 23Jamestown Saint Helenawarm, dry, clean air · best January92
- 24Kololi 🇬🇲 Gambiahot, dry · best April92
- 25Laayoune Western Saharanice, dry · best March92
- 26Malindi 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, dry, clean air · best January92
- 27Watamu 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, dry, clean air · best January92
- 28Boa Vista 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best June91
- 29Diani Beach 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, dry · best January91
- 30Mindelo 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best April91
Every region of Africa in January
10The best-known place in each part of Africa this month, even where the month is only fair.
- Sharm El Sheikh 🇪🇬 EgyptEgypt & the Red Sea · avg 88/100 over 9 · nice, dry, clean air93
- Lamu 🇰🇪 KenyaSwahili Coast · avg 89/100 over 3 · sweltering, dry, clean air92
- Nairobi 🇰🇪 KenyaEast Africa · avg 79/100 over 8 · warm, a little rain90
- Knysna 🇿🇦 South AfricaCape & Garden Route · avg 87/100 over 5 · warm, a little rain, clean air89
- Swakopmund 🇳🇦 NamibiaNamibia & Botswana · avg 71/100 over 3 · warm, dry, clean air89
- Durban 🇿🇦 South AfricaEastern South Africa & Mozambique · avg 77/100 over 5 · hot, rainy, muggy air88
- Merzouga 🇲🇦 MoroccoMaghreb · avg 80/100 over 7 · cool, dry, clean air88
- Casablanca 🇲🇦 MoroccoMorocco's Atlantic Coast · avg 82/100 over 3 · nice, dry, muggy air86
- Grand Baie 🇲🇺 MauritiusIndian Ocean Islands · avg 70/100 over 5 · hot, soaked, clean air80
- Victoria Falls 🇿🇼 ZimbabweZambia, Zimbabwe & Malawi · avg 60/100 over 2 · hot, soaked, clean air61