Planning your trip
The best time to visit Tanzania: a month-by-month guide
Exotic Legacy Safaris and Tours · · 2 min read
There is no bad month for a safari in northern Tanzania, but each season offers something different. Here is what to expect, month by month.
Tanzania lies just south of the equator, so temperatures stay pleasant all year. What changes is the rain. There are two rainy seasons: the long rains from about late March to May, and the short rains in November and early December.
The seasons at a glance
| Months | Weather | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| January – February | Warm, mostly dry, short showers | Calving season in the southern Serengeti; good for Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar |
| March | Rains begin | End of the calving season; green landscapes |
| April – May | Long rains | Lowest prices and fewest vehicles; some camps close |
| June – October | Dry, cool mornings | Best general game viewing; Grumeti crossings in June–July; Mara River crossings July–October |
| November – mid-December | Short rains, usually afternoon showers | Herds move south; good value |
| Late December | Warm, mixed | Festive season: book early |
Dry season: June to October
As the land dries out, animals gather around rivers and waterholes, and the grass is short, so they are easier to see. Tarangire is at its best now, with big elephant herds along the river. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, so book the most popular lodges well ahead.
Calving season: January to March
The wildebeest herds graze the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu and give birth to their calves, mostly in February. Predators follow, and the action can be intense. It is one of our favourite times to be on safari.
Green season: April and May
Rain usually falls in heavy afternoon showers rather than all day. The parks are lush and quiet, many lodges offer their lowest rates, and the resident wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater and central Serengeti is still there. Some roads become muddy, and a few seasonal camps close.
Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar
The best months to climb Kilimanjaro are January to mid-March and June to October. Zanzibar is sunniest from June to October and December to February; many beach hotels close in May.
Our advice
Decide what matters most to you – the migration, avoiding crowds, the lowest price, or combining a safari with a climb or the beach – and we will suggest the best dates. Start planning here.
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