The best Time to Visit Tanzania

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As our specialist Georgie explains, the best time of year to visit Tanzania depends entirely upon what you would like to do. The changing seasons can affect temperature and rainfall and therefore it is important that they are taking into consideration.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania?

If you’re planning a dream trip to Tanzania, arriving at the right time of year is important. The best time of year to visit the country depends on what you want to see and do, as well as the length of your trip. You may also want to consider variables such as tourism numbers, budget, and weather.

Tanzania is a large country, and temperatures and rainfall can vary significantly from place to place. Here’s an overview of what you can expect in some of Tanzania’s tourist hotspots.

June – October, Dry Season

Rainfall around the country is minimal with temperatures also dropping, meaning you might experience chilly overnight conditions from time to time. These months are peak season for tourism. However with such a large area, you’ll find there’s plenty of room for everybody. If you visit the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater, you might find that it is busier as they are such amazing attractions.

One of the best things about these months is you can visit all of the national parks, as conditions will be suitable for spotting game. Dry season is the best season for game in Tanzania, as the number of water sources is low therefore animals congregate in higher numbers. The southern and western parks have fewer tourists.

November – May, Wet Season

These months are considered to be the wet season, with long rainy days between March and May, and afternoon showers from November to February. In the latter part of rainy season, the rains shouldn’t affect your travels too much. The national parks are bursting with greenery, which is beautiful to look at but it can make wildlife viewing trickier. However, the northern national parks are great year round.

January and February is the peak calving season in the Serengeti, bringing in predators; nature at its finest.

If you like birdwatching, the wet season is the best time to visit Tanzania, as migratory birds are passing through.

Viewing Wildlife in the Serengeti

The wildebeest migration along with zebras, gazelles, elands and impalas can be seen throughout the year in Tanzania, as long as you’re in the right place. Fortunately, they are predictable so if this is a bucket-list item, you’ll be able to tick this one off. The Serengeti is the most famous place to see migration; the best sightings are January and February for calving season and between June and September.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

There are two times you can consider climbing Kilimanjaro. Between July and October is peak season for tourism, with dry conditions and mild temperatures. The other season is from January to March, which has fewer tourists but temperatures are significantly colder and you’ll possibly see snow at the summit.

Zanzibar and the Tanzanian Coastline

The best time to visit Zanzibar and the Tanzanian coast is from August to October. This is dry season and, while temperatures are slightly cooler, it’s still wonderful beach weather.

Rainfall is at its peak during March, April and May. Tourism is understandably lower at this time so you can find some bargains, but your beach days may not go as planned.

Our weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable so these guidelines are not 100% reliable, but they should give you a good starting point for booking your trip.

If you aren’t sure when to visit Tanzania, get in touch with True Travel. We have staff that have spent time in the country and have extensive knowledge to share. To start planning your trip of a lifetime, call us on +44 (0) 203 137 124, email [email protected] or drop into our London office.