Best Time To Visit Tanzania
Best time to visit Tanzania for a Safari
The Best Time To Visit Tanzania is from June to October and from December to March due to the dry season and high animal visibility. The Best Time To See Serengeti Migration and the extraordinary wildebeest calving is from late January to February. As Land becomes wet due to rainfall between April, May, and November and hence is not the Best Month For Tanzania Safari.
Going On Tanzania Safari In The Low Season
During the off-peak seasons, going on Tanzania Safari is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania for many reasons. The low and peak periods which is also called the shoulder season offer similar advantages to the low seasons. From January to March- the shoulder season between the long and short rains is actually considered by some Best Time for Safari in Tanzania for game viewing in Tanzania.
Going On Tanzania Safari In The Green Season
Between or after the annual rains is the Green Season, which is also the Best Season To Visit Tanzania. Making the most of the abundant surface water spreading out from waterholes and rivers and most importantly, taking advantage of the fresh grazing grass. Large herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate during this new grazing season in both East and Southern Africa in Tanzania Safari Tours.
Best Time Of The Year For Tanzania Safari Tours
The Dry season, from late June to October is the Best Time To Visit Tanzania when wildlife viewing is generally at its best. Usually between June and July is the Best Time To Visit Serengeti for viewing wildebeest migration and for other Tanzania Activities. The wildebeest calving season however is from late January to February. During the dry season (June to October) the southern and western circuit parks are best visited.
When To Go To Tanzania: Weather
A major Tanzania Safari Faq’s provides the best things about Tanzania Weather. The main rainy season lasts from about March, April, and May. Daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s and the humidity is high. Throughout June, July, August, September, and October is the long dry season when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands. With altitude and locations, the temperatures vary hugely. Still, the fine, clear sky and sunny Tanzania Weather in the dry season is the Best Time of Year To Travel To Tanzania.
Month By Month Guide To Traveling In Tanzania
- June to October – Dry Season: These are the Best Month For Tanzania Safari to see the wildebeest migration
- August to September is the best time to see the wildebeest river crossings in northern Serengeti. Animals are easier to spot since they concentrate around waterholes and rivers
- January-February is the time to see the calving in the southern Serengeti, and an excellent time to see predator action
- March to May is the peak of the Wet season. Wildlife viewing in Mikumi, Udzungwa, Nyerere, Saadani, Bagamoyo, Gombe Katavi and Ruaha is better during the Dry season.
Best Time Of The Year For Northern Circuit Parks
The Northern Circuit Parks, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha and Kilimanjaro offer some of the most exhilarating safaris in the premier wildernesses of Tanzania. They can be visited all the year round but get heaving at peak times. Millions of wildebeest, zebra and other ungulates, brave predators and swollen rivers, drought and exhaustion on their annual Great Migration, followings the rains from their mass calving in southern Ndutu from December on wards, and baby drops peaking by February in a three week birthing marathon, to the distant northern Mara River from July to October. During the other months from March to June, you can also follow their epic journey through south central to western Serengeti and then north where the cross over to the Masai Mara in Kenya. Kim.tours can arrange an unforgettable wildebeest migration vacation in northern Tanzania for you to coincide with their passage.
Predators and herbivores are easier to track and spot during the dry season from June to October when they gather at permanent water sources and when the vegetation is most sparse. November to May coincides with the two wet climatic seasons in Tanzania (short and long rains) but is best time to go to Lake Manyara and Tarangire for birding trips, but not canoeing on the Momella Lakes unless you do not mind getting drenched while kayak gliding on the alkaline lake. Mkomazi is best for large mammals in July and August, although its avian beauty is at its height from March to June.
January and February is the clearest time to see the glistening peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and acclimatize yourself by climbing Mount Meru with Uhuru Trails by Kim.tours before tackling the highest African mountain and the world highest free standing mountain. The weather during this time is also humidly hot and partly dry with pockets of short rain showers in January and February that started in November, or from July to September when it is dry, but colder to climb. January and February, or July to October are most popular Kilimanjaro trekking months but also on days of the full moon. Tarangire teems with migratory wildlife including elephants from June to October when the primary river is the only source of water since the surrounding waterholes have dried out.
Best Time Of The Year For Southern Circuit Parks
Selous and Ruaha are isolated Southern Circuit Parks which are rarely busy compared to the northern parks, but game viewing is better in the dry from late June or early July to October as the foliage is less dense and congregating wildlife arrive at central water sources. Many lodges close in the wet during from middle of March to end of May. Mikumi is more easily accessible all year round.
Best Time Of The Year For Western Circuit Parks
From December to March, it gets hot and humid, especially in less crowded parks in southern and western Tanzania, but the finest time to trek the mountains in pursuit of chimpanzees in the Western Circuit Parks of Gombe and Mahale is during the dry season, that initiates from late May to early October but peaking to the best in the months of June to September. This is also a superb time to spend time on the beach and in the waters of Lake Tanganyika or on a fishing tour around Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria from July onwards. Remote Katavi presents its most impressive dramas in the most dry, from August to October, when crocs and hippos battle for cooling mud in shrinking rivers. Kitulo, the Garden of God, riots with wild flowers between December and May.
Best Time Of The Year For Coastal Parks
The Tanzania east coast of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Kilwa and the off-shore islands of Zanzibar, Mafia, Pemba, Fanjove, Lazy Lagoon, Mnemba, Chumbe and Chapwani offers year-round warmth and humidity tempered by Indian Ocean breezes and monsoons along with similar wet spring seasons in November and December (short rains) while middle of March to early June welcomes the awaited long rains. Coastal Sadaani in the east is great in January and February after the short rains, or from June to August, when wildlife stays in the park.
The beach shores of Tanzania sets a rich enlightenment experience to many historical sites including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Stone Town and Ruins of Kilwa punctuated by cultural festival like Sauti za Busara in February or the Zanzibar Film Festival in June. The safari-cum-beach holiday choices and logistics are complex, but Kim.tours can make it simple and hassle free by guiding you through the best travel season experiences in pursuit of your African dreams in Tanzania. So start planning your amazing Tanzania Safari with Kim Tours Trips today! We provide the best customized and tailored packages and Tanzania Travel Guide which suits your needs and interests to make your trip successful.
Best Time Of The Year For Migration
It’s hard to give you one easy answer on 'what the best travel time is' as Tanzania is great to visit whole year around. Abundance and diversity of wildlife will always be very impressive therefore your decision of when to travel can be based on seasons, the weather, budget, crowded travel time or the Great Migration. Each month has different advantages. With below information you can decide what is the best time for you to travel to Tanzania.
Travel to Tanzania in January, February, March
🌿 Safari experience:
These are the dryer months with occasional rain. These rains trigger the calving season for most of the herbivores which allows for great viewing and increased change of observing hunts by predators.
🐾 The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park:
Late December, early January the herds are moving towards Southern Serengeti and Ndutu Area for calving. This is because of the nutritious grasses in this area which are important for the mother and newly born calf, therefor it’s generally guaranteed that you find the migration herds in this area. Between January and February around 8,000 baby wildebeest are born each day. Inevitably, some of the calves will fall prey to predators such as hungry hyena’s, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, but as 80% of the wildebeest females give birth in the same two- to three-week period, most will survive. When you decide to travel in January, February or March, we do recommend staying a few nights in the Ndutu area in addition to the ‘normal’ safari route. Animal viewing is excellent here during these months, due to the flat landscape and short grasses one can see the masses of the migration. Have a look at our sample itinerary for seeing the Great Migration during these months.
☀️ Weather:
Summertime! It’s hot and dry during these months with occasional rain. Temperatures will be between 30-40 °C.
👣 Tourists:
Very busy – normal – quiet
💰 Price:
Peak season prices – High season prices – Low season prices
Travel to Tanzania in April, May, June
🌿 Safari experience:
This is the green season. The environment will change during these months from brown and dry to green and lush which makes beautiful landscapes, vistas and scenery. Also, a great time for photography with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms. This is a very quiet travel period with fewer tourists on the safari circuit meaning that you lose less time at national park entrances and generally for more private viewing.
🐾 The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park:
The herds with their calves are moving from Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, via the center of the park, towards the western Serengeti. It’s normal for this time of the year that the Migration is a bit more spread out between the middle and the west side of the park, however you will still be able to see the large numbers together. Have a look at our sample itinerary for seeing the Great Migration in April/May/June.
🌦 Weather:
Rainy season! After many dry months the plains and animals can’t wait for some rain. The big rains are mainly late afternoon and at night, but even during the day you can get a few scattered showers. In May and June, it can be very cloudy. Temperatures are still comfortable; between 20-25 °C. The mornings and evenings can be colder so do take a sweater. We recommend staying in lodges rather than tents during these months, but apart from that the weather shouldn’t influence your safari experience negatively in the northern part of Tanzania (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara).
👣 Tourists:
Very busy – normal – quiet
💰 Price:
Peak season prices – High season prices – Low season prices
Travel to Tanzania in July, August
🌿 Safari experience:
Through the month of July, the rainy season starts to taper off. The plains start to dry out. Animal viewing is great; however, it can get crowded with tourists in the national parks especially in game viewing hot spots. This is a result of the holiday season in most parts of the world.
🐾 The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park:
In July the Migration is moving towards the north of the Serengeti, also called ‘Kogatende’ or ‘the Mara River’. And this is where it happens: the absolute apex of the migration, the equally famous and notorious crossing of the Mara River. This is where the most beautiful photographs that you see in nature documentaries are shot. Obviously, it is any safari goer’s dream to experience this for themselves. We can point you in the right direction, but we have to keep in mind that nature cannot be forced, nor can it be predicted fully accurately. We can, however, raise our chances by focusing on the month of August and by staying in the Kogatende area for at least 2-3 nights. The more days there the better your chances of seeing this nature wonder! Have a look at our sample itinerary for seeing the Great Migration in July/August.
🌤 Weather:
In July/ August it’s still a little cooler and partially cloudy but days with blue sky as well. The temperatures are generally between 25-35 °C. The mornings and evenings are colder. You do need to take a sweater and long pants for the early safari mornings. In the afternoon, when the sun comes out, it heats up and it will be ‘t-shirt-weather’.
👣 Tourists:
Very busy – normal – quiet
💰 Price:
Peak season prices – High season prices – Low season prices
Travel to Tanzania in September, October, November, December
🌿 Safari experience:
As the holiday season ends the number of tourists decrease and the parks get less congested and one can experience more private game viewing. The environment is dry however in October/ November you can have a few small showers which is much needed respite from the dry and arid conditions.
🐾 The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park:
During these months it’s a bit unpredictable where the migration herds are exactly located. They will make their way from the northern part of the park, back towards the Southern part of Serengeti where they prepare themselves for the calving season. We recommend staying in Cental Serengeti Central Serengeti these months as this area guarantees great game viewing all year around because of the availability of water. Have a look at our sample itinerary (1, 2, 3) for seeing the Great Migration during these months.
☀️ Weather:
Sunny! The weather during these months is mainly blue skies, sun, warm with temperatures between 30-40 °C. We have the so called ‘short rains’ in October/ November but those are little tropical showers and won’t affect your sunny holiday!
👣 Tourists:
Very busy – normal – quiet
💰 Price:
Peak season prices – High season prices – Low season prices
We hope this information helps you decide what your best time to travel to Tanzania is. If you are still not sure, please contact us for some personal advice.