Travel guide
The best time to visit Tanzania
There is no bad month, only different ones. What changes is how easy the animals are to find, how busy the parks are, and where the migration herds have got to.
Last updated 15 August 2026
The short answer
Tanzania is worth visiting all year. There is no month with no wildlife. What changes is how easy the animals are to find, how the roads behave, how many other vehicles you share a sighting with, and where the migration herds are.
- June to October is the long dry season. Vegetation thins, water sources shrink, and animals concentrate around what is left. This is the easiest game viewing of the year, and the busiest.
- January and February is a shorter dry spell between the rains, and it is when the migration is calving on the southern plains.
- March to May is the long rains. Green, dramatic, far quieter, and some tracks become difficult.
- November to December brings the short rains, usually brief afternoon downpours rather than all-day weather.
Month by month
| When | What it is like |
|---|---|
| January to February | Warm and mostly dry. Calving season on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu, with heavy predator activity. Good for photography and for families. |
| March to May | The long rains. Landscapes are green and empty of crowds. Some camps close. Roads in the western and southern Serengeti can be hard going. Lower season everywhere. |
| June | The rains end and the dry season begins. Herds move north and west, with Grumeti River crossings possible. A good compromise month: dry conditions before peak crowds. |
| July to August | Peak season. Reliable dry weather, excellent visibility, and the herds reaching the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. Book well ahead, particularly for northern Serengeti camps. |
| September to October | Still dry and still excellent. Crossings continue in the north. Slightly quieter than August. October gets hot before the rains. |
| November to December | Short rains arrive, usually as afternoon showers. Landscapes freshen, migratory birds arrive, and the herds start moving back south. December fills up over the holidays. |
It depends what you came for
| If you want | Aim for |
|---|---|
| The easiest general game viewing | June to October |
| Mara River crossings | Late July through October, northern Serengeti |
| Calving and predator action | Late January to March, southern Serengeti |
| Fewer vehicles and lower season | March to May, and November |
| Zanzibar beaches at their best | June to October, and December to February |
| Climbing Kilimanjaro | January to March, and June to October |
| Birdwatching | November to April, when migrants are present |
Two things worth saying plainly. The rains do not fall on a calendar, and a wet year or a dry year shifts everything by weeks. And the "bad" months are not bad, they are different: green season Tanzania is beautiful, and you will often have a sighting to yourself.
Zanzibar runs on its own rhythm
The coast is hotter and more humid than the northern parks all year. The long rains hit Zanzibar hardest in April and May, when many hotels reduce operations. June to October is dry and breezy. December to February is hot, calm and popular.
Seaweed farming and tide range affect swimming on parts of the east coast at certain times of the month, which is why we ask which side of the island you would prefer before recommending anywhere.
Common questions
What is the single best month for a first safari?
July, August and September give the most reliable dry weather and the highest chance of river crossings, but they are also the busiest and need booking furthest ahead. June and October offer much of the same conditions with fewer vehicles.
Is it worth going in the rainy season?
Yes, if you are relaxed about a few wet afternoons. March to May is green, quiet and lower season. Game viewing is harder because animals disperse when water is everywhere, but you often have sightings to yourself.
Will I definitely see a river crossing?
No, and nobody can promise one. Crossings depend on rain and on the herds themselves. Being in the northern Serengeti for three or more nights between late July and October gives you good odds, not a guarantee.
Where this comes from
General Tanzania travel information on this page draws on the sources below. Anything specific to a Clerisa journey comes from us. Rules and timings change, so check official sources close to your travel date.
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