Best Time for Tanzania

Best Time for Tanzania

The best time to go on safari in Tanzania varies for each traveller. Unlike in Kenya, the Great Migration can be seen during most of the year somewhere in Tanzania though you'll need to travel in June-Sep to catch the famous Mara River crossing. Avoid the school holidays if you are able; there are fewer crowds. The south is never crowded though; the few lodges are dispersed, so even at peak times you'll feel alone. Jan-Feb is a lovely time after the short Nov-Dec rainy season; the landscape is greener and there are baby animals xxxxplus rates may be lower. The best time to go on safari in Tanzania is any time outside of the March to early May rains. These can cause travel disruption in the remote south, and wildlife disperses as food and water become more abundant. June to September are peak months for the Great Migration and the classic Mara River crossing, see our climate chart and advice from Tanzania experts below. In early June, the herds of the Great Wildebeest Migration make their way towards the western Serengeti, where they must cross the swollen Grumeti River, thick with crocodiles, to access the grassy plains of the region. They quickly devour the bounty, necessitating their trek north towards the Masai Mara during late July and early August.

Tanzania is too close to the Equator to experience a summer and winter as most people are used to in Europe and Northern America. Instead the seasons split into a dry and rainy season. The rainy season is divided into the short rains from November to December and the long rains from March to May.

Especially the higher regions of Northern Tanzania are far cooler than most people expect. Places like Ngorongoro Crater rim and the Usambara Mountains can be chilly at night and foggy in the morning. The Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro Crater floor are warmer, but far from hot, temperatures are chilly in the morning and after dawn. Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks are situated on a lower altitude and are warmer than the other places, especially in the afternoons. The higher areas of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru have alpine weather and temperatures drop below zero degrees. Best time to travel: The most popular months are January to February and the high season June to October.