January
High season- The herds
- Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. Calving starts late in the month.
- Weather
- Warm, a dry spell between the short and long rains.
- Crowds
- Busy
- Best for
- Calving herds and predators, Kilimanjaro
Migration calendar
The Great Migration, month by month.
Where the Great Migration is, what the weather is doing, how busy the parks are and what you will pay, for every month of the year.
At a glance
The year in one table
Short answer: Tanzania is good all year. June to October is the classic dry season, January to March is calving season, and April to May is the quiet, green and cheapest time.
| Month | Herd location | Weather | Crowd | Best park | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Southern Serengeti and Ndutu | Warm, a dry spell between the short and long rains. | Busy | Ndutu & southern Serengeti | $$$ High |
| February | Ndutu plains | Warm, with occasional afternoon showers. | Busy | Ndutu (calving peak) | $$$ High |
| March | Still on the southern plains, starting to gather for the move north | Long rains usually begin late in the month. | Moderate | Ndutu & Ngorongoro | $$$ High |
| April | Moving north-west through the central Serengeti | Long rains. Green, lush and dramatic skies. | Very quiet | Tarangire & Ngorongoro | $ Low |
| May | Central Serengeti, heading to the Western Corridor | Rains easing off towards the end of the month. | Quiet | Central Serengeti | $ Low |
| June | Western Corridor, with the first Grumeti River crossings | Dry season starts. Cool mornings, sunny days. | Moderate | Western Serengeti (Grumeti) | $$$ High |
| July | Northern Serengeti | Dry, sunny and cool at night. | Busy | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) | $$$ High |
| August | Northern Serengeti, with Mara River crossings | Dry and sunny. The coolest month. | Peak | Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) | $$$ High |
| September | Northern Serengeti | Dry and warming up. | Busy | Northern Serengeti & Tarangire | $$$ High |
| October | Northern Serengeti, starting to move south late in the month | Hot and dry, the end of the dry season. | Moderate | Northern Serengeti & Lake Natron | $$$ High |
| November | Moving south through the eastern and central Serengeti | Short rains: brief afternoon showers. | Quiet | Central Serengeti | $$ Shoulder |
| December | Arriving on the southern plains around Ndutu | Short rains, warm. Festive season around Christmas. | Busy at Christmas | Southern Serengeti & Ndutu | $$$ High |
February
High season- The herds
- Ndutu plains. Calving peaks, with thousands of calves born each day.
- Weather
- Warm, with occasional afternoon showers.
- Crowds
- Busy
- Best for
- The calving peak, cheetah and lion action
March
High season- The herds
- Still on the southern plains, starting to gather for the move north.
- Weather
- Long rains usually begin late in the month.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Best for
- Last of the calving season, green landscapes
April
Low season- The herds
- Moving north-west through the central Serengeti.
- Weather
- Long rains. Green, lush and dramatic skies.
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Best for
- Lowest prices, birdwatching, empty parks
May
Low season- The herds
- Central Serengeti, heading to the Western Corridor. The rut begins.
- Weather
- Rains easing off towards the end of the month.
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Best for
- Green-season value, the wildebeest rut
June
High season- The herds
- Western Corridor, with the first Grumeti River crossings.
- Weather
- Dry season starts. Cool mornings, sunny days.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Best for
- Grumeti crossings, start of the dry season
July
High season- The herds
- Northern Serengeti. The first Mara River crossings.
- Weather
- Dry, sunny and cool at night.
- Crowds
- Busy
- Best for
- Mara River crossings, Kilimanjaro
August
High season- The herds
- Northern Serengeti, with Mara River crossings.
- Weather
- Dry and sunny. The coolest month.
- Crowds
- Peak
- Best for
- River crossings, classic dry-season game viewing
September
High season- The herds
- Northern Serengeti. Crossings continue.
- Weather
- Dry and warming up.
- Crowds
- Busy
- Best for
- Crossings, elephants gathering in Tarangire
October
High season- The herds
- Northern Serengeti, starting to move south late in the month.
- Weather
- Hot and dry, the end of the dry season.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Best for
- Crossings with fewer vehicles, Lake Natron
November
Shoulder season- The herds
- Moving south through the eastern and central Serengeti.
- Weather
- Short rains: brief afternoon showers.
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Best for
- Shoulder-season prices, green landscapes
December
High season- The herds
- Arriving on the southern plains around Ndutu.
- Weather
- Short rains, warm. Festive season around Christmas.
- Crowds
- Busy at Christmas
- Best for
- Holiday safaris, safari and Zanzibar
Kilimanjaro
- Best: January to early March, and June to October
- Avoid: April and May, the long rains
- Full moon summit nights are popular, book early
Zanzibar
- Best: June to October, and December to February
- Avoid: April and May, the heaviest rains
- November is short rains, still lovely and quieter
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