Safari Planning
Best Time to Visit Tanzania
Tanzania is a year-round destination, but the season you choose changes the wildlife, the crowds and the price. Here is how to decide.
7 min read
The short answer
June to October is the classic dry season: comfortable temperatures, thinner vegetation and wildlife concentrated around water. It is also the busiest and most expensive window.
January to March is quieter, greener and excellent for predators on the southern Serengeti plains during the calving season.
Month by month
January to March: warm and mostly dry between short rains, with the calving herds on the short-grass plains. Superb for big cats.
April to May: the long rains. Landscapes are beautiful, camps are quiet and rates drop, but some roads and camps close.
June: the plains dry out and the herds begin moving through the western corridor.
July to October: peak dry season and river crossing season in the northern Serengeti. Book early.
November to December: short rains freshen everything up. Good value until the festive period.
How we would choose
If it is your first safari and dates are flexible, aim for late June to early October or February.
If value matters more than crowds, November or early December give you excellent wildlife at lower rates.
