The best time to visit Tanzania
Our clients always ask when
“When is the best time to go to Tanzania in East Africa?“,
and the answer is often complex.
This guide aims to help you understand the climate and migration routes to plan your trip to one of Africa’s most amazing countries.
Related links
- Most popular Tanzania Safaris
- Tanzania County Info
Weather & Climate
Tanzania’s widely varying geography of plains, lakes and mountains account for it’s differing climatic conditions. In many places if can be quite cool at night. The coast and offshore Islands of Pemba, Zanzibar and Mafia have a hot, humid, tropical climate with cool sea breezes. On the mountain slopes of the north-east the country enjoys an almost temperate climate for most of the year.
March to May is the long rainy season (called the “Green Season” by some hoteliers), when you can expect rain almost every day, especially from April on-wards. In November to early December is a shorter rainy season with often showers in January as well. The rest of the year is hot and dry.
Best time to see the Great Migration
There is no actual “best time to view the migration”, because game viewing in Tanzania is great all year round and the migration is always on the move.
During May and June millions of blue wildebeest and zebra, accompanied by predators like lion, cheetah and hyena, will cross the river and it is a spectacle not to be missed. Even if it is not possible to witness the migration one can still see vast herds grazing on the infinite grass plains. Lions are always popular on safari in Tanzania during November to January as the animals enter to the Serengeti National Park. This is heaven for anyone wanting to see a big variety of game and includes lion, elephant, leopard, Thompson and Grant’s gazelle, impala, hyena, cheetah, buffalo and many other beautiful antelope species.
Although the rain season can be very wet, cheaper rates are offered at the luxury lodges and fewer visitors travel in this period. The Serengeti national park roads however can very muddy during this time.
Oct – Nov
|
The migration starts as the Wildebeest move out of the Masai Mara and travel south via the north-eastern part of the park. |
Nov – Dec |
The Wildebeest arrive in well grassed Southern Plains of the the Serengeti. |
Jan – Mar
|
Large, separated groups move through the Southern Serengeti, Ndutu area and Ngorongoro Crater. Calving Season in February. |
Apr – May
|
The Wildebeest herds gather in huge columns traveling toward the Western Serengeti. |
Jun |
They reach the central and western Serengeti and travel further north-west. Cross the Grumeti River. |
Jul – Aug |
The Wildebeest migration reaches the Western Serengeti and Grumeto Reserves and cross Mara river in Jul. |
Sept – Oct |
The herds reach the Masai Mara and disperse throughout the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara |
Dry Season vs Wet Season
| Nov – May |
June – October |
|
|
|
|
