When to visit Tanzania

January sees the western parks such as Gombe, Mahale and Kavati likely to have continuous rain throughout the wet season; trekking surfaces can become muddy and sometimes even impassable so chimpanzee treks are more difficult. Despite humidity also being very high, you don’t feel the heat so much at Ngorongoro Crater due to the high altitude, this is probably the best place to spot rhinos.

Late January is a great time to see the calving season begin with antelope, zebra and wildebeest delivering their offspring while the landscape is green and there is plenty of water in the parks.

If you want to combine your safari trip to Tanzania with a beach visit, January is a good time to head to Zanzibar, the sea breeze tempering the high humidity making it a pleasant place to soak up some winter sun.

As with January, the rains depend on your whereabouts in Tanzania. Northern parks are likely to see drier periods while western parks remain fairly rainy throughout.

February is definitely the best time of year to see wildebeest calving; you may have the opportunity to watch young take their first steps.

This usually happens in Ndutu in the southern part of the Serengeti where millions of wildebeest congregate to feed on the grasses and give birth to their calves, around 500,000 wildebeest calves are born. Although they can be somewhat unpredictable, Greater and Lesser flamingos around Lake Natron at this time of year.

Heavy rains tend to begin in March, bringing with them much more cloud coverage and even higher humidity. Although the rains are unlikely to last all day, they can be frequent and are likely to occur most days throughout the month. Some roads may become inaccessible during this time and some lodges and camps may even close down during this time, please ask our experts for their advice on the best parks to visit. Lush green landscapes are abundant and flowers are blooming, creating fantastic backdrops for your safari drives and photographs.

There is a high chance of rain in March and wildlife can be more difficult to spot. For birdwatchers, March can be a good, quiet time to visit Tanzania.

Plenty of water birds reside by the fertile wetlands and streams in Lake Manyara, which is also well known for numerous hornbills perching in the trees.

April continues the long rainy season and despite the highest humidity, the south and south-eastern parts of the Serengeti generally have wide open plains with poor tree coverage at all times so game viewing can still be good. Wildebeest start to return to the hills in the north in April as the young are now a few months old.

In April, the wildlife is making the most of the abundant water supplies from the heavy rains, but can be challenging to spot with the flourishing foliage.

Kavati and Mahale Mountains remain difficult to access so if you are looking to go on a chimp trek consider travelling in June instead. Similarly, Selous and Rhuara are likely to be closed due to arrival only being possible using bush runways. Also avoid Zanzibar, which is at its wettest due to the Kusi monsoon winds bringing in high levels of precipitation.

May can be surprisingly dry, especially towards the end of the month, you may be fortunate enough to have numerous dry days. There is notably less dust as the ground remains damp, significantly less visitors and possible lower prices.

May is a great time to head to Moru Kopjes in the Serengeti as many wildebeest are passing through before heading north, but most wildlife has left Tarangire National Park.

Still avoid Zanzibar at this time as it is possible for rains to pour every day for weeks on end.

June is the start of the dry season with clear skies, sunshine, flora in bloom and daytime temperatures usually sitting around 25-30°C with mornings and nights somewhat cooler; this pleasant climate does mean that prices rise significantly too.

In June, thousands of wildebeest stop at Grumeti River to build up numbers before attempting to cross the river. Many cross successfully, however, if you’re in the right place you may spot a crocodile attempting to take down a wildebeest.

As the sun comes out to dry up the landscapes, Katavi and Mahale become accessible once again and large herds of buffalo can be easily spotted in the open landscapes.

Winter continues in Tanzania in July with constant clear skies and warm days. The temperatures get to their lowest during early mornings and nights, but this is very unlikely to dip below 12-14°C.

If you want to see chimpanzees, head to the southern and western parks which are also quieter; Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Park have the highest number of wild chimpanzees.

July is the driest month of all in Tanzania which does mean that the ground is very dry, creating clouds of dust when driving through the plains. We recommend wearing sunglasses and a light scarf to use when out on game drives.

The climate continues to be dry and warm and the pleasant temperatures enhance your experience; although wildebeest and zebra are likely to have moved on to Kenya during this time, other animals and predators will still be present in Tanzania and the parks remain relatively quiet.

Landscapes become arid and waterholes start to dwindle, foliage becomes sparse which makes game viewing even easier than in previous months and many of the plains’ grasses will have been grazed down by herds of buffalo and antelope over the summer.

If you want a variety of activities while on safari, head to Selous and Ruaha in August which offer combinations of walking and boating safaris as well as day and night game drives. You can enjoy snorkeling and sunbathing on the picturesque idyllic coastal destination of Zanzibar with bright blue skies and warm white sands.

September remains dry with low levels of humidity, daytime temperatures sit around 28°C and only really dropping to 15°C in the evenings, so you will only need fairly lightweight layers on morning and evening game drives.

In September, it is possible to catch wildebeest and zebra crossing the river and Masai Mara as they head back south from Kenya, depending on water levels and rainfall.

The latter end of the dry season also sees the beginning of better sea visibility off the coast of Zanzibar making it an excellent time to snorkel and dive. The east coast hosts the Bagamoyo Arts Festival in September celebrating with traditional dance, music and performances as well as art exhibitions and workshops.

Spring is arriving as the temperatures are rising and Lake Tanganyika is at its warmest this time of year.

In October, Mahale is still fully accessible so a great time to see the chimpanzees. Make the most of the dried up landscapes in Katavi before the rains begin, with spectacular large groups of elephants and game viewing gathering around the Katuma River.

October is the best time to visit Arusha National Park and if you want to, climb Mount Meru. Although wildlife viewing is not as highly regarded here as it is in other parks, there is still the possibility of seeing leopards and hyenas at dusk and dawn.

Depending on where you are, November sees the start of the short rains. Generally, the northern parks are good for game year-round and although the Serengeti receives rain, this means the wildebeest will be moving south across the plains to make the most of this moisture.

Tarangire National Park particularly hots up from November onwards with humidity joining the rains throughout summer but offers great game numbers. Kaskazi winds blow in from the north-east from November onwards which are relatively dry, helping to temper the intense humidity. To avoid the ranis, head down to Selous where the dry landscapes last until December.

November sees plenty of predators seeking out newborn herbivores as the rainy season starts, fewer safari vehicles about which makes for a much more intimate game viewing experience.

Zanzibar does receive significant rainfall which is extremely unpredictable but visibility is still good on the coast and the billfish marlin fishing season begins around the middle of the month.

The short rains may continue into December but are unlikely to last the whole month and vary depending on where you visit. Tanzania and Zanzibar are very popular over Christmas and New Year so it is important to book well in advance and be aware that numerous safari vehicles are around when out on game drives.

Large herds of wildebeest gather on the plains of the Serengeti in areas of low grass, making them easy to spot. If the weather permits, you may be able to take a hot-air balloon over the plains.

December is a great time for bird watchers as many migratory birds arrive, particularly in parks such as Selous and Tarangire National Park. A true bird watcher's paradise; look out for red-necked spurfowl, purple grenadier and cinnamon-breasted buntings.