Planning for a safari in Tanzania is thrilling but the timing can influence the experience you have. Each season offers a range of activities, from magnificent river crossings to endless wildlife filled plains. It also depends on how you wish to travel, how much you want to battle the elements, and what you wish to see. Some months allow for fantastic views of the Great Migration, while in others the scenery is more lush and the tourists less. Knowing what each month can offer is key to tailoring the trip to your exact desires. This guide provides everything you need to know to help you pick the best time for you, and have a safari that meets your exact expectations.
Tanzania Safari Seasons at a Glance
As far as Tanzania safari seasons are concerned, they help you budget, know how many other safari vehicles you’ll be dealing with, when it rains, and when the animals are most active. The safari dry season in Tanzania is from June to October, and this is when the safari game viewing is the best, and the wildebeest river crossings are happening in the northern Tanzania safari circuit. The other key window in the safari season is from January to March. This is when the wildebeest and other herbivores are giving birth to the new calves, and this is called the calving season.
The green season and the other shoulder months are a time when the safari landscape is beautifully transformed, you will likely see less people, and the prices will be lower. A safari during this time will also be unique from the other times. Planning a safari during these other times can make a safari that is average into an exceptional one, especially when your itinerary is thoughtfully designed by a specialist like Sababu Safaris, who tailors trips to the specific month of travel to connect you with Tanzania’s wildlife, landscapes, and cultural heritage.
Dry Season (June–October): Maximum Sightings + Maximum Visitors
Hearding wildlife is easiest during the dry season. Animals are forced to drink from the same locations, making sightings common. Predator grass is another unique feature of the dry season. Dry season grass is an optimal terrain for stalking prey, and the dry season strengthens the hunting of the main carnivores, which focus on stalking the secondary water sources. The secondary water sources are the main roads, which are also fully accessible during the dry season. The only downside is the cut off of the dry season. The most popular safari camps and routes are fully booked months in advance, and you will most likely fill most safari camps in the popular wildlife zones.
Short Rains (November–mid-December): Savings + Rejuvenated Scenery
Most peak season safari bookings in Tanzania occur in the long dry season that leaves the grass brown and the skies blue, and the land common and dry. Downpours during the short rains bring in lush greenery that stimulates the wildlife down to the desert- aircraft level. The short rains also stimulate the view of the wildlife, and bring in new bird species sharply increasing the view of the wildlife.
Green Season (mid-December–March): Birthing + Carnivore Frenzy
The Southern Serengeti and Ndutu become one of nature’s most dramatic delivery rooms when thousands of wildebeests start dropping calves. The predators feasting on the most vulnerable targets create dramatic sequences for the lovers of nature and wildlife photography.
The dustless atmosphere, enchanted, soft light, and the theatrical formations of the clouds make this stretch of the Serengeti ideal for photography. Even with the holiday rush towards the end of December, the parks are way less crowded than the peak months of the dry season. Now that the patterns of the seasons are clear, we know what the different months offer for wildlife, weather, and peak values across the entire system of parks in Tanzania.
Tanzania Safari Weather by Month
Now you know what each month of the year has to offer, and you can answer the question of when is the best time to go on safari in Tanzania.
June: Dry Season Launch
The start of the dry season is characterized by grass dying and vulnerable wildlife becoming more exposed making lion, leopards, and cheetahs easier to spot. In Tarangire National Park you can start to spot herds of elephants.
The Central Serengeti starts to become a wildlife hotspot, and the temperatures are ideal for long safari drives. June is a popular month among safari veterans and planners, as they consider it the best month for people going on safari in Tanzania for the first time and avoiding the crowds of peak season.
February: Calving Peak
Southern Serengeti is a predator paradise, with hordes of newborn wildebeests carpeting the grasslands. Cheetahs zoom through the short grass, and lions and hyenas are all out feasting on slow wildebeests. This month offers unparalleled wildlife experiences, but if you intend to book a stay at some of the Ndutu-area lodges, do so months in advance, as it becomes extremely busy with serious wildlife photographers and filmmakers.
September: Exceptional Big Game
September sees slightly less of a crowd than August, yet the wildlife experiences remain just as incredible. Wildlife river crossings continue in the northern Serengeti, while waterholes in Tarangire are at their lowest, and in turn elephant herds reach their highest concentrations. September’s clear skies are perfect for photography, while the cooler temperatures make the long game drives much more bearable.
This is the perfect combination of fantastic wildlife and low visitor numbers. With the weather charted, the next thing to consider are the specific safari objectives you hope to achieve during these months. Are you going for the river crossings, the big cats, the herds of elephants, the perfect picture weather?
Best Time to Visit Tanzania for Signature Safari Goals
There will be differing wildlife activities that will happen in differing timeframes so if your dates are aligned with certain activities, you will have the highest level of satisfaction.
Great Migration Timing
Also, the river crossings are also highly contingent on the time of the year, and for the Great Migration, there are also some ranges that are more favorable for viewing. For example, in the Ndutu and Southern Serengeti, the calving season begins in January and stretches until the end of March. Within only a few weeks, there will be hundreds of thousands of new calves born. The predators that are present in the area will be attracted to the new food source and there will be large predator interactions. This is, in fact, just as good as watching the river crossings. And the Grumeti River crossings happen in a more unpredictable time range, from May to July, and on top of that, there are also the large crossings that happen in the Northern Serengeti at the Mara River, but for that, you will have to consider the mid-July to the end of October range with the crossings highly contingent on the rainfall.
Big Cat Sightings
The short-grass plains of the Eastern and Southeastern Serengeti are good for Cheetah sightings from January to March as they hunt down Thompsons gazelles. The riverine forests of the Seronera are home to the leopards year-round, but they become more sightable in the June to October dry season. Finally, there are lion sightings and interactions throughout the parks year-round, but they are much more active during the calving season as the prey will be more exposed and there will be more of them.
Elephant Super-Season
June to October is the elephant super-season in Tarangire National Park. During these months, Tarangire is elephant paradise, as large herds of the gentle giants gather along the banks of the Tarangire River. You will make elephant memories, as you observe and encounter hundreds of elephants.
The same is true for Ruaha National Park, where concentrated herds of elephants will be found along the banks of the Great Ruaha River. Both these parks offer Walking Safaris for the visitors who wish for close encounters with the amazing giants of the animal kingdom. Timing the adventure with the elephants is only half the puzzle; the Tanzanian region you select is equally important, as the northern, southern, and western circuits offer different seasonal experiences.
Tanzania Safari Seasons by Region
The weather while on safari in Tanzania varies greatly depending on which region of the country you are in, and for each of the several safari zones there are distinct advantages to be considered.
Northern Circuit Timing
The traditional northern route: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara, offers outstanding wildlife safari experiences throughout the entire year, with the best wildlife viewing occurring from June to October. In the southern Serengeti and Ndutu, itineraries centered around the calving are most successful, and these occur from January to March. Irrespective of the timing of your visit, the Ngorongoro Crater offers outstanding encounters with the Big Five. An early morning entry helps to avoid the congestion from the safari vehicles that occurs around midday. Lake Manyara is famous for its tree climbing lions and flamingo’s.
Southern Circuit Timing
Nyerere National Park and Ruaha are best enjoyed from June to October, while some lodges close during the April and May rains (though fly-in safaris are still possible). The southern circuit offers fewer vehicles, more walking safaris, and boat safaris on the Rufiji River. This niche fits travelers looking for safari wilderness with less developed tourism.
Western Circuit Timing
From June to October, Mahale Mountains and Katavi National Park become accessible once trails are dry enough for chimp trekking. These remote parks are better for experienced safari travelers or those looking to build more complex itineraries across the safari zones. Understanding the particular timeframes of each region gives safari travelers more destination options, but choosing the best time to go to Tanzania safari depends on the members of the travel party and the safari experience travelers want.
Tanzania Safari Weather Meets Safari Style
When the safari season and the travel style are in sync, travelers are likely to experience comfort and overall satisfaction
First-Time Safari Itineraries
For first-timers, the June-October period is nice and simple in terms of planning. It also has the most dependable wildlife. You can head to a maximum of three national parks. You will want to spend at least two nights in each park to reduce the amount of time spent driving and increase the chances of wildlife sighting. Good planning can also leave you with more time to appreciate the unique aspects of each national park. No need to feel like there is a race to the next park.
Budget Safari Timing
Between April, May, and November, there is the most significant drop in prices for flights and accommodation. The wildlife viewing is also still very good, even with the occasional rain, especially in the northern parks. If you’re trying to manage your budget, you can pick a luxury safari camp for a few nights and pair it with solid mid-range accommodation options. This strategy increases your budget while maintaining a good standard.
Your Biggest Tanzania Safari Questions Answered
What is the best time for Tanzania Safari when there are fewer people and the weather is nice?
The best times are early June and September as there are the most positive conditions and people. In March it is also nice despite some occasional rain and there are fewer people as the holiday season has just ended
When is the best time to see the Big Five in Tanzania?
When in Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti’s Seronera area, you can see the Big Five year-round. You’re likely to see consistent sightings of the lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants in the central Serengeti, while black rhinos are also spotted fairly consistently in the Crater too. Seasonal changes in the Serengeti will only alter the difficulty of sightings, but will not change the species that are present.
Do some lodges in Tanzania close during the rainy season?
Yes, some of the more seasonal camps in the Serengeti close during the rains in April and May, but most of the permanent lodges stay open year-round. The lodges in the southern circuit of Tanzania see more frequent closures during the seasonal rains. Whenever planning a trip for the rainy season, always double-check the schedules of the lodges.
Final Thoughts on Timing Your Tanzania Safari
There is no one universal answer to the question of when to take a safari in Tanzania. It’s all a matter of personal preference. The choice depends on what you aspire to see in terms of wildlife, how flexible your budget is, and how many people you are comfortable being around. First time safari goers will enjoy the consistent wildlife sightings during the dry season, while seasoned safari goers tend to enjoy the “green season” for the spectacular flurry of wildlife. The wildlife migrations in Tanzania also tend to be unpredictable and don’t stick to set calendars, but understanding the seasonal changes will give you the best chances of catching the wildlife in all of Tanzania’s tremendous glory.
Don’t just think about which days to book your safari for. Consider what experience you want to have in Tanzania, like witnessing the new born wildebeest.