There is no bad time for a safari in Tanzania, but some months suit some places better. The best time depends on where you are going and what you want to see.
The dry season, June to October
This is the classic safari season. Rain is rare, the grass is short and animals gather near rivers and waterholes, which makes them easier to find. Nights are cool, mornings can be cold on game drives. It is also the busiest time, so book early.
January and February
These are warm, drier months that are good for the calving season on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu, when thousands of wildebeest are born and predators are close by.
The long rains, March to May
April and May bring the heaviest rain. The landscape is green, there are fewer visitors and accommodation rates are lower, but some roads are slow and some camps close. Birdwatching is good.
The short rains, November and December
Short showers usually come in the afternoon. It is green and quiet, and the herds start to return to the southern Serengeti.
What suits what
- Great Migration river crossings: July to October
- Calving season: January to March
- Elephants in Tarangire: June to October
- Kilimanjaro: January to early March and June to October
- Zanzibar beaches: June to October and December to February
Tell us your dates and what you would like to see, and we will advise which parks to choose.