When is the best time for a Tanzania safari?
It depends on what you want to see. The herds calve on the southern Serengeti plains from January to March and cross the Mara River in the north from July to October, when Tarangire also fills with animals along its river. The Ngorongoro Crater holds wildlife all year. Kilimanjaro is best climbed from January to early March or from June to October.
There is no single best month for Tanzania. Each season brings something different, and the right time for you depends on what you most want to see.
The Serengeti migration
- January to March: calving season. The herds gather on the southern short-grass plains to give birth.
- April to June: the rut, as the herds start to move.
- July to October: the herds reach the northern Serengeti and cross the Mara River.
The timing shifts every year with the rain, so we plan the camps around where the herds are most likely to be for your dates.
Tarangire
From July to October water is scarce outside the park, and animals come in from the Maasai Steppe to drink at the Tarangire River. After the rains, in the green season, the park is at its best for birds.
The Ngorongoro Crater
Grass and water are there all year, so the animals stay on the crater floor in every season. The rains run from about November to May; bring a warm layer at any time of year, because evenings on the rim are cool.
Arusha National Park
Migratory birds join the residents from October to April.
Kilimanjaro
The drier months, January to early March and June to October, give the clearest skies. We avoid April and November, the main rainy months, when the trails are more dangerous.
Plan around what matters to you
Tell us when you can travel and what you most want to see, and we will suggest where to be. The seasons for every place we visit are on our destinations page.