The question “when is the best time to go on safari in Africa” has almost as many answers as there are parks and reserves on the continent. Though there are some trends — for example, between June and October most places in southern Africa are a sure bet, and most of east Africa is good from June-October and also January-March  — there are also major exceptions to these “rules.”

So we’ve compiled a list of 15 of the most popular parks and natural areas in Africa and listed the best times of year to see the Big Five and other flora and fauna, based on weather, migrations, and various other factors that impact the quality of a safari.

Click here to read more on AFKTravel.com.