Africa is bisected by the equator and the majority of African countries lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area is known as the tropics and this location gives Africa a varied climate. The rainfall in Africa occurs in particular seasons but can be very unpredictable. The rainy season features very hard rains, typically from nightfall to the early morning. The wettest parts of Africa are the areas around the equator. South of the equator, January is the hottest month of the year, while north of the equator July is the hottest, driest month.

Africa has several varying climate zones. Well known are the hot desert regions of the Sahara, Kalahari and Kenya-Somali deserts. The annual rainfall in these regions is below 100 millimetres with high temperatures and extreme daily ranges. On the edges of the deserts you will find a semi-arid climate that has the same temperatures as the desert regions but more rainfall.

South Africa and the northern African coastline enjoy the climate of the Mediterranean, with distinct seasons - winter rains and dry, hot summers. The north coast has winter in December/January and the south has a July/August winter. Mountain climates are experienced around East Africa┐s lakes where thunderstorms are frequent during the rainy season. Much of Southern Africa has a warm temperate climate and the savanna regions enjoy a distinctive climate of wet and dry seasons and high temperatures. The tropical rainforests of West Africa and western Central Africa experience rain most months and it is always hot and wet in these regions.