best time to visit tanzania
Month-by-month guide for travelling in Tanzania
This is the time to witness the great wildebeest migration in the Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Exact locations for the best viewing of the migration can vary with each rain season as the migration moves according to the rain patterns. Between January and March, calving happens in the Southern plains of Serengeti. This is quite a spectacle as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra drop their calves, with predators on hunting. It is also the best time to watch large herds of elephant, large predators and hundreds species of birds in Tarangire national park.
The best places to go during this time depend on the timing of the rainy season in any particular year. Some of the wildebeest migration herds will still be in parts of Southern Serengeti and some will be spread out from Southern plains to the central Serengeti areas, and slowly heading to into the western corridor of Serengeti.
The best place to witness the great migration is the western corridor of the Serengeti, along the Grumeti River, Kirawira and Nyasirori plains. This is also the good time to explore Seronera area and Eastern Serengeti for all kinds of animal especially big cats. Central Serengeti is all year round accessible for game viewing activities. Explore Tarangire National Park, one of the greatest wildlife refuges in Africa with less number of tourists.
This is the best time and one of the highest seasons for visitors. The vegetation is relatively getting dry and animals gather around permanent water’s points. The wildebeest migration at this time will be around Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. This is the best time you can witness the migration crossing with crocodiles attack. Tarangire National Park is really worth visiting during this time as large herds of elephant, zebra and wildebeest are easily seen along the Tarangire River and Silalei Swamp while predators lying in wait.
This is the short rainy season the vegetation is turning greener and beautiful landscapes in Tarangire, Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti. While Christmas and New Year is the highest season to do safari in Northern Tanzania, November and December other than the holidays are relatively quiet times to come, though there’s still more to see. If you want to witness the great migration herds, it is likely to see them at Eastern, some parts of Central and Southern Serengeti. This is the best time to come as it is less crowded with tourists, so you will have a quieter experience while the wildlife is abundant.
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Due to Tanzania’s close proximity to the equator, we generally only have two seasons; a rainy season and dry season. Short rainy season is from November to January and long rainy season is March through May. Dry season usually starts from July to October.
Majority of people will suggest that the best time to visit Tanzania is between July to October. This is the dry season, means that animals wandering searching for water, which makes them relatively easy to spot. You will probably see them in large concentrations as the watering points and rivers are getting limited. Most of the water’s sources dry up or get smaller during the dry season. However because most people believe that July to October is the best time to come, it is also the busiest time in the national parks. This means that majority of people miss the hidden treasures that can be found at other times of the year.
Here is a short overview of what the year looks like in our National Parks.
Ideas and travel guides for exploring Tanzania
High Season
- From June to October
- It is the dry season
- Climate: Dry and warm, although there is short rains between August and September
- Higher rates applied Great Migration Mara River crossing
Recommended Itineraries
- Great Migration River Crossing
- Kilimanjaro and Safari adventure
- Cultural and Great Migration experience
- Serengeti Migration and Zanzibar
- Kenya and Tanzania Game Safari
- Tanzania Camping Safari
Mid Season
- From November to February
- It is the short rains season
- Climate: Short rains, hot and dry in some days
- Average rates applied
- Great Migration Southern Serengeti (Calving Season)
Recommended Itineraries
- Special Green Season
- Wildebeest Migration and Cultural Safari
- Tanzania Signature Safari
- Tanzania Luxury Safari
- Tanzania Safari Adventure
Low Season
- From March to May
- Long rain season
- Climate: Rainy days, occasionally warm
- Lower rates applied
- Great Migration safari Southern to central Serengeti
Recommended Itineraries
- Special Green Season
- Tanzania Highlights Safari
- Wildebeest Migration and Cultural Safari