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
When to go
Tanzania safari 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 | Where the herds are | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Southern Serengeti and Ndutu | Busy | High season |
| February | Ndutu plains | Busy | High season |
| March | Still on the southern plains, starting to gather for the move north | Moderate | High season |
| April | Moving north-west through the central Serengeti | Very quiet | Low season |
| May | Central Serengeti, heading to the Western Corridor | Quiet | Low season |
| June | Western Corridor, with the first Grumeti River crossings | Moderate | High season |
| July | Northern Serengeti | Busy | High season |
| August | Northern Serengeti, with Mara River crossings | Peak | High season |
| September | Northern Serengeti | Busy | High season |
| October | Northern Serengeti, starting to move south late in the month | Moderate | High season |
| November | Moving south through the eastern and central Serengeti | Quiet | Shoulder season |
| December | Arriving on the southern plains around Ndutu | Busy at Christmas | High season |
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
Plan your journey
Tell us when you can travel.
Give us your month and we will tell you exactly where to be for the best wildlife, and what it will cost.
- Share dates, travellers and the feeling you want the journey to hold.
- We shape an itinerary with routing logic, lodge fit and a calmer sense of luxury.
- You receive a clear proposal with prices per person, inclusions and lodge options.
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