The Worst/Best Time to Visit Tanzania | Month By Month
The Worst/Best Time to Visit Tanzania | Month By Month, Weather, Temperature, Climate. Best Time to Visit Tanzania for safari, migration, beaches, and worst time according to experts. From July through September, Tanzania enjoys its longest and driest season, making it the ideal time to visit. Safaris, trekking, the Great Migration, and Zanzibar beach vacations are most enjoyable during these months.
During these months, travel is at its highest. Because of the increased traffic, several hotels, lodges, and parks have decided to raise their prices.
Going during the brief wet season (late October through December) is a good option if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy some peace and quiet.
You should try to avoid going in April and May, when it rains for a lengthy time. There has been a history of last-minute event cancellations due to the intense and abrupt rains.
The Worst/Best Time to Visit Tanzania
The best time to visit Tanzania for peak safari conditions, especially the Great Migration river crossings, is the dry season from June to October, with July-September being ideal for wildlife viewing and cooler, dry weather, though it’s peak season. For budget travel and lush green scenery with calving wildebeest, consider the shoulder season (January-February), while avoiding the heavy long rains from March to May.
Peak Season (June – October):
- Why: Dry, cool weather, minimal vegetation makes animals easy to spot, and the Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings (especially July/August).
- Best For: Classic safaris, wildlife photography, Kilimanjaro climbs (Jan-Mar & Jun-Oct).
- Considerations: Higher prices, more crowds, book well in advance.
Shoulder Season (November – May):
- January & February: Hot, drier, excellent for witnessing wildebeest calving (Southern Serengeti) with predators.
- March & April (Green Season): Lush landscapes, great birding, lower prices, but heavy rains can disrupt travel and hide animals.
- May: Very rainy, some lodges close, but offers deep discounts and serenity.
Key Considerations for Your Trip:
- For the Great Migration: Head north in June-July for river crossings, or south in Jan-Feb for calving season.
- For Budget & Fewer Crowds: April, May, November, and early December offer lower rates.
- For Mt. Kilimanjaro: Dry months of Jan-Mar and Jun-Oct are best for clear views and safer climbing.
When is the best time to visit Tanzania (Month by Month)
1. Tanzania in January
January in Tanzania offers lush green landscapes, excellent wildlife viewing (especially wildebeest calving in Ndutu/Southern Serengeti), warm/hot weather with high humidity, and is a good month for climbing Kilimanjaro, though coastal areas are hottest and can be humid; expect vibrant scenery, newborn animals, and fewer crowds than peak season in some spots, making it great for photography and birding despite occasional showers.
Following the brief downpours in November and December, January brings mostly hot and dry weather.
A brief downpour is possible, although it’s more likely to happen throughout the night.
It is highly recommended to visit the Ndutu Plains in January, particularly towards the end of the month, during calving season, if you want to witness an abundance of wildebeest.
2. Tanzania in February
February in Tanzania offers warm, mostly dry weather ideal for safaris, especially to witness the climax of the wildebeest calving season in the Serengeti, attracting predators and creating lush green landscapes from recent rains. Expect warm days (77-86°F/25-30°C) and cooler nights, with some potential for short, afternoon showers, perfect for combining wildlife viewing with beautiful scenery and excellent beach/diving in Zanzibar before peak prices hit.
Migrants are continuing making their way over the Ndutu Plains as temperatures rise.
February is a great time to go on a safari in the northern or southern parks, climb Kilimanjaro, or take a beach vacation to Zanzibar.
Similar to January, brief downpours are still possible, but they tend to happen throughout the night.
3. Tanzania in March
March in Tanzania is a transitional month, marking the start of the “long rains,” with lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, lower prices, and excellent wildlife viewing, especially the calving season of the Great Migration in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu), though expect warm/hot weather, increased humidity, and afternoon showers that can make some roads muddy.
Extreme heat persists as the migration begins to move westward, approaching the Grumeti River.
Trekking, safaris, and beach vacations are still best enjoyed in the start of the month. As the month draws to a close, though, rain becomes more likely as Tanzania enters its lengthy rainy season.
4. Tanzania in April
April in Tanzania is the peak of the long rainy season, offering lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, lower prices, and excellent birdwatching, but expect heavy afternoon showers and potential travel disruptions, especially in southern/western parks and Zanzibar, making it ideal for adventurous travelers who enjoy vibrant scenery and quiet safaris. Wildlife viewing is still good, with the Wildebeest Migration moving north in the Serengeti, though thick foliage can sometimes hide animals, and water activities in Zanzibar see reduced visibility.
The protracted wet season begins in earnest around April. Heavy rains can ruin vacation plans, so it’s best to avoid travelling during this time.
This is the most perilous time of year to climb Kilimanjaro. A lot of lodges are closed as well.
5. Tanzania in May
May in Tanzania is the end of the long rainy season, offering lush green landscapes, amazing birding, and the wildebeest migration moving west, with fewer crowds and lower prices, though expect some rain, especially early in the month, making beaches and mountains less ideal but safaris great value for green-season beauty.
May is a rainy month, similar to April, making it less than ideal for travel. Although visually appealing, the abundance of flora makes animal observation more challenging.
6. Tanzania in June
June in Tanzania is the start of the dry season, offering cooler, clear weather ideal for safaris, climbing Kilimanjaro, and enjoying Zanzibar’s beaches, with wildlife gathering at waterholes for excellent viewing as the Great Migration begins, though it’s also the start of peak tourist season, requiring early booking for better prices and availability. Expect sunny days and chilly nights/mornings, necessitating layers for comfortable game drives and treks.
Towards the beginning of June, the long rainy season ends, and Tanzania is blanketed by verdant vegetation and is a great time for bird-watching.
By the end of the month, the savannah generally becomes drier and locating wildlife becomes easier. The migration begins heading north from Grumeti River in June.
7. Tanzania in July
July in Tanzania is peak dry season, offering fantastic conditions for safaris with cooler days (20-30°C/68-86°F), chilly mornings/nights (10-15°C/50-59°F), minimal rain, and excellent wildlife viewing as animals gather at waterholes, especially for the Great Migration river crossings in the Serengeti. It’s prime time for hiking Kilimanjaro and relaxing in Zanzibar, but also high season, requiring early booking for accommodations and tours due to high demand and prices.
The busiest time of year for tourists visiting Tanzania begins in July. Elephants are congregating at Tarangire National Park in preparation for their migration to Kenya.
Southern safari parks like Ruaha and Selous are more secluded, so visitors can escape the throng and cheap costs of peak season.
In order to secure their favorite accommodation, visitors are urged to make their reservations in advance.
July is another pleasant month to visit Zanzibar because it is still dry but slightly cooler than the months of December to March.
For early morning safari drives and sundowners in the bush, it’s a good idea to bring some warmer clothing, as nights, evenings, and mornings on the mainland can also be chilly.
8. Tanzania in August
August in Tanzania is peak dry season, offering excellent, less humid weather with warm days (25-30°C coast, cooler highlands) and cooler nights, perfect for spotting wildlife congregating at water sources, witnessing the Mara River crossings during the Great Migration, hiking Kilimanjaro, and enjoying coastal activities like diving and turtle hatching, though it’s a busy and pricier time requiring early booking.
Tanzania is at its best in August, when the weather is dry and mild.
Once animals begin to seek out water, their activities become more predictable, increasing the likelihood that you will spot The Big Five.
Because of the abundance of food and shelter available at the otherwise haunting Lake Natron, flamingos also flock there in large numbers.
The months of August and September are ideal for scuba divers because of the exceptionally clean water. Furthermore, the islands in the Indian Ocean are a nesting ground for turtles.
9. Tanzania in September
September in Tanzania is peak dry season, offering warm, sunny days, low humidity, and excellent game viewing, especially for the Great Migration’s northern Serengeti crossings and massive elephant herds in Tarangire; it’s ideal for safaris, hiking Kilimanjaro, and beach time in Zanzibar, though cooler mornings/evenings require layers.
September, the final month of the peak season, is known for its high pricing and huge volume of visitors. The Serengeti is home to migratory zebra and wildebeest herds.
The Mara River, which originates in Kenya’s Northern Serengeti, presents the greatest challenge they must overcome.
The exhilarating but terrifying scenes of wildebeest hurriedly swimming across crocodile-infested waterways serve to remind tourists of the African Plains’ inescapable cycle of life.
During your time in Zanzibar and along the coast, you may be lucky enough to see turtles hatching from their eggs.
10. Tanzania in October
October in Tanzania is a fantastic, transitional safari month with hot, dry conditions, excellent wildlife viewing as animals gather at waterholes, and fewer crowds than peak season, but expect rising humidity and the first short rains later in the month; it’s great for migration viewing, Kilimanjaro climbs, and coastal trips, though accommodation costs remain high early on.
October may not be peak season anymore, but it is still a dry month and a great time to go trekking, safari-ing, or relaxing on the beaches of Tanzania.
There are still many creatures to observe in Kenya, even if the migration has ended.
It is best to start your vacation plans for the month of October before the brief rainy season begins, which might begin as late as the end of the month.
11. Tanzania in November
November in Tanzania is the start of the “short rains,” bringing lush greenery, fewer crowds, and lower costs, ideal for budget-friendly safaris with good wildlife viewing (especially migrating birds and whale sharks off the coast) despite occasional afternoon showers, though hiking and diving visibility are impacted by wet conditions. Expect warm temperatures and a mix of sun and rain, making it a great shoulder-season choice for a vibrant, green landscape and unique experiences like whale shark spotting, but pack rain gear and take malaria precautions.
The brief rainy season begins in November. Even though it’s the low season (November–early December), most lodges stay open (unlike during the extended rain season).
In the evenings, you might get a little shower. When the grasslands and plains turn verdant again, safari parks become ideal viewing spots for birds, particularly those that migrate south. You could see a few crossings here and there as the migration slowly makes its way south from Kenya.
The best time to see whale sharks off the coast of Zanzibar or Mafia is between the months of November and March.
12. Tanzania in December
December in Tanzania offers warm, lush green landscapes from the “short rains,” making it great for safaris with newborn wildlife, especially in Southern Serengeti, plus sunny beaches in Zanzibar, though expect pleasant warmth with occasional, usually brief, afternoon showers refreshing the air. Temperatures range from warm days (25-30°C/77-86°F) to cooler nights, with highlands being cooler and coasts more humid. It’s a popular, vibrant travel time, especially around the holidays, balancing adventure with festive vibes.
Midway through December marks the end of the brief wet season. Occasionally, from December to March, it may rain briefly, but it will likely be nighttime and very brief.
The weather is steadily warming up throughout this month, making it an ideal time to visit Zanzibar. If you want to avoid crowds and higher prices, plan ahead of time for the days leading up to Christmas.