When is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania?

The best time to visit Tanzania for a safari is during the dry season from late June to October. Tanzania has two distinct rainy seasons: April to May (the ‘long rains’) and November to December (the ‘short rains’). Generally, the country’s ‘long rains’ produce tropical downpours in the afternoons and some safari camps may close. The ‘short rains’ bring about the occasional brief shower.

Most safari areas in Tanzania enjoy warm days and cool evenings year-round. While temperatures drop to below freezing on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the country’s Indian Ocean coast and lakeside regions are hot and humid.

The best time for a Tanzania safari will depend on where you want to go and what you want to see. For first-time safari goers, the best time to go to Tanzania is usually during the dry season, as wildlife is easier to track and spot. Whether you’re visiting Tanzania for the first time, understanding the difference between the safari high season vs low season is a great place to start.

Tanzania Safari High vs Low Season

High or Peak Season		Low or Green Season
About June to October (long dry season)		About January to March and November to December
Highest rates		Lowest rates
Need to book well in advance		No need to book too far in advance
Cool and dry weather		Hot and occasionally wet weather
Not many baby animals around		Lots of baby animals around
Not many migrant birds to see		Fantastic time for bird-watching
Most crowded		Least crowded
Good photography conditions		Greenest, most scenic landscapes with the best light of the year for photography

In addition to knowing what you want to see and experience, knowing when you intend to visit will also affect your plans for where to go in Tanzania.

When to See the Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti

Event		Approximate Time
Calving or Birthing Season		January to March
Intense Big Cat Action		January to March
Rutting (a period of sexual excitement, reproductive activity and mating battles between males)		January to March
Grumeti River Crossings		May to July
Mara River Crossings		July to September

Note: the above are approximate dates only. The Wildebeest Migration is a year-round, circular journey and the river crossings cannot be predicted, although they generally occur between May and September. Sometimes the herds stay put for two weeks, other times they could cross four times in one day! You can take a look at our detailed Wildebeest Migration guide for more information about this natural spectacle.

Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Dar es Salaam	31°C 68mm	32°C 76mm	32°C 140mm	31°C 256mm	30°C 169mm	29°C 34mm	29°C 28mm	29°C 23mm	29°C 27mm	30°C 56mm	31°C 117mm	31°C 96mm
South Central Tanzania	24°C 174mm	24°C 150mm	24°C 185mm	24°C 188mm	24°C 23mm	24°C 1mm	24°C 0mm	25°C 1mm	26°C 11mm	26°C 62mm	24°C 168mm	23°C 215mm
Mount Kilimanjaro	2°C 168mm	4°C 165mm	3°C 296mm	2°C 327mm	0°C 172mm	-1°C 63mm	-1°C 64mm	-1°C 71mm	1°C 67mm	2°C 172mm	1°C 296mm	1°C 235mm
Nyerere National Park/Selous	29°C 210mm	29°C 202mm	29°C 246mm	28°C 225mm	27°C 72mm	26°C 12mm	26°C 5mm	27°C 7mm	28°C 11mm	29°C 28mm	30°C 72mm	30°C 145mm
Ruaha National Park	28°C 137mm	28°C 129mm	28°C 111mm	27°C 55mm	27°C 4mm	26°C 0mm	26°C 0mm	26°C 0mm	28°C 1mm	30°C 7mm	30°C 34mm	29°C 139mm
Serengeti National Park	27°C 94mm	27°C 99mm	27°C 136mm	26°C 137mm	25°C 64mm	25°C 27mm	25°C 12mm	25°C 25mm	27°C 31mm	27°C 42mm	26°C 96mm	26°C 111mm
Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area	17°C 87mm	17°C 104mm	16°C 137mm	16°C 140mm	15°C 60mm	14°C 12mm	14°C 6mm	14°C 7mm	15°C 7mm	16°C 27mm	16°C 85mm	15°C 113mm
Dry Season
Wet Season
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Best Time for Safari

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Month by Month Guide for Travelling to Tanzania:

Travelling to Tanzania during January to March

If it’s a tropical beach holiday that you’re after, January is one of the best times to visit Tanzania’s coast. Experiencing Zanzibar for a vacation consists of powder-soft sand beaches, azure waters, and total relaxation. For the Wildebeest Migration, the first month of the year usually sees the herds move into the southern Serengeti to give birth to their calves.

It’s hot and humid during February, and it’s the start of calving season when thousands of wildebeest give birth to their young and predators lie in wait. Approximately 500,000 wildebeest calves are born during this period. The plains are full of new life, taking their first teetering steps.

It’s extremely hot in Tanzania in March, early in the month it tends to be dry, although the ‘long rains’ have in previous years come early. The landscape turns an otherworldly green which is a strong contrast to the brown texture of the terrain over the summer months. The Ngorongoro Highlands receives short and sharp rainfall in the late afternoon, leaving the mornings pleasant. March is also considered a prime month to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.

Visiting Tanzania in April & May

April is by far the wettest month of the year and while the rains predominantly come in the form of afternoon thundershowers, it’s not unusual to have big storms at night, as well as plenty of grey days. The western and southern parks have the highest humidity of the year, but accommodations and Tanzania tours offer great value for money if you choose to travel during this time.

The beginning of May is still very wet, but things do start to dry out towards the end of the month as June welcomes in the dry season. During this month, the Great Migration is trekking from the southern Serengeti to the western corridor.

Visiting Tanzania from June to August

June is dry, busy and is considered the best time of year to visit for Tanzania luxury safaris. The rains have come to an end, the savannahs are starting to change from green to yellow, and wildlife sightings improve as the vegetation slowly recedes. The Wildebeest Migration may have stopped at the Grumeti River, building up numbers before they attempt their death-defying crossings.

July is when peak safari season is in full swing and is the best time to travel to Tanzania for ideal weather and excellent game drive opportunities, as well as pairing up a Kenya and Tanzania safari. The Great Migration should have reached the northern parts of the Serengeti, getting ready for its main event: crossing the treacherous waters of the Mara River into Kenya. Read more to find out about a Kenya vs Tanzania safari.

August is still considered peak season with tourist crowds flocking to the northern safari circuit (Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti) and Zanzibar. Wildlife viewing is sensational, and the herds of the Great Migration should have started to cross the Mara River.

Travelling to Tanzania during September and October

In September, tourist crowds begin to dissipate and there is still no rain, meaning humidity levels are low bringing fewer mosquitoes. September is another prime month for hikers wanting to conquer Kilimanjaro and for those in search of high numbers of elephants, the Tarangire National Park is where you will find them en masse. Plus, this month is the start of the fishing season in Tanzania’s great lake regions.

October sees the building of thunderclouds and the arrival of the first rains. Mahale Mountains National Park during this month is the best time to travel to Tanzania for chimpanzee encounters, and Lake Tanganyika is at its warmest. If you’re wanting to climb Mount Meru, this is the best month to visit Arusha National Park.

Visiting Tanzania in November & December

November is possibly one of the most underrated months for a safari in Tanzania. There will be rain, but it’s usually only periodic thundershowers in the afternoon. The northern parks of Tanzania are generally great for game viewing year-round, and this month is a good time to discover some off-the-beaten track destinations.

December falls in the middle of the ‘short rains’ and the beginning of the month is usually quiet compared to the two weeks over Christmas and New Year. December is the perfect month for birdwatching as the migratory birds start to arrive – particularly in the Nyerere and Tarangire National Parks. The Great Migration has returned to the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti. It’s the ideal time for a Serengeti Safari in Tanzania witnessing feasting in preparation to calve and bringing new life on their year-round circular journey.