Tanzania

When to Visit Tanzania

Lying just south of the equator, Northern Tanzania doesn’t have the same extremes of seasons that are prevalent further south and the temperatures remain fairly consistent year-round in each location. With the Serengeti being more elevated than say Tarangire, it is slightly cooler there than elsewhere and similar to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Northern Tanzania does, however, have a rainy season that runs predominantly from March through April and May that soaks the otherwise dry ground and provides the necessary rainwater that allows the grasses to grow and feeds the incredible wildlife. In addition, there is often a short rainy period in November with epic skies and afternoon thunderstorms that provide a much needed boost, refreshing and nourishing the landscapes for calving season in January and February when upwards of 300,000 wildebeest are born in the southern Serengeti but elsewhere the wildlife may be scattered and viewing is challenging. Peak season is definitely from July through October but not necessarily because the wildlife viewing is better but because the famed Great Migration usually is crossing rivers into Kenya’s Maasai Mara during this time so most of the tourists are visiting the Northern Serengeti at this time. This of course has the knock-on effect of an increase in tourism across Tanzania during these months as tourists try to couple seeing the migration with exploring other areas that it has to offer so places will feel busier and less exclusive and intimate. So if the migration is something you want to see then these are the months to think of travelling but be warned it will be busy. Of course travel in this time can be epic if you want to avoid the migration crowds and have incredible wildlife sightings to yourself (just with fewer wildebeest).