Best time to visit Tanzania for a Safari

What is the best time to visit Tanzania?

It’s hard to give you one easy answer on ‘what the best travel time is‘ as Tanzania is great to visit the whole year around. The 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 the below information, you can decide what is the best time for you to travel to Tanzania.

The best months for viewing wildlife in Tanzania are during the Dry season from late June to October. For the best chance of seeing the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti the time to visit is between June and July and the time to see the wildebeest calving is late January to February. The southern and western circuit parks are best visited during the Dry season, unlike the more popular northern circuit parks that can be visited throughout the year. Tarangire is the only exception since its wildlife viewing is considerably better in the Dry season. 

Best Time June to October (All parks), June-July and January-February (Serengeti for the wildebeest migration and calving)

High Season July to March (northern circuit parks; they get crowded), July to October (southern and western circuit parks; they don't really get crowded at any time of the year)

Low Season April and May (northern circuit parks still get quite a few visitors unlike the southern and western circuit parks, where many lodges close down)

Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Worst Weather March and April (Peak of Wet season)

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June To October

Dry Season

• The best months to see the wildebeest migrations are June and July 
• Animals are easier to spot due to the fact they are concentrated around waterholes and rivers where there is less vegetation
• Mosquitoes are on the decline at this time as there is little to no rain; skies are clear and most days are sunny
• Even though most tourists visit during the Dry season, the parks still don't feel crowded, except for the Ngorongoro Crater and Seronera area in the Serengeti
• Mornings and nights get cold; we recommend to bring warm clothing for morning game drives in open vehicles during the months of June, July and August

November To May

Wet Season

• Late January to February is the time to see the calving in the southern Serengeti, and an excellent time to see predators in action

• The scenery is green and beautiful; it's low season, meaning potentially lower rates and less crowded parks

• Although wildlife is easier to spot in the Dry season, you'll still see plenty and most northern circuit parks offer good wildlife viewing all year round

• Migratory birds are present, and bird watching is at its best

• Except for March, April and May, rains are mostly short afternoon showers and are unlikely to have a negative impact on your trip

• March to May is the peak of the Wet season

• Most big wildlife has migrated out of Tarangire NP

Best Time to go to Tanzania by Major Park

The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater offer good wildlife viewing throughout the year. The best months being June and July for seeing the migration, and February is the best month for the wildebeest calving. The dry months offer good wildlife viewing throughout Tanzania. Tarangire and the southern and western circuit parks (including Katavi, Selous and Ruaha) are best visited from June to October.

A huge country with much regional variation in geography and climate plus two distinct rainy seasons, the question of when to go to Tanzania depends on what it is that you want to experience.

The best time to go to Tanzania for the Serengeti Migration is between November and August but you'll need to be in the right place at the right time to catch all the action: find out more about the best time to see the wildebeest migration.

General game viewing in the Serengeti and Tanzania's other parks is at its peak during the June to October dry season. Mount Kilimanjaro is best climbed either between July and October or January to March, while the best time to visit Tanzania's coast, its islands and Zanzibar is between August and October - avoid the coast during the long rains of March to May.