Tanzania has wildlife all year round, so the best time to visit depends on what you most want to see, how much you value quiet roads, and what budget you have in mind. Here is how the seasons work across the northern parks.
Dry season: June to October
This is the classic safari season. Rain is rare, the grass is short and animals gather around rivers and waterholes, which makes them easy to find. Tarangire is at its best from July to October, when elephants crowd the river. In the Serengeti, the wildebeest reach the northern plains and the Mara River from July, and river crossings are most likely between July and October. Days are warm and dry, and nights can be cool, especially on the Ngorongoro rim. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, so book early.
Calving season: January to March
From January to March, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu area, usually peaking in February. The newborns attract lions, cheetahs and hyenas, so predator action is excellent. The landscape is green, it is warm, and the parks are quieter than in July and August.
Green season: November to May
Short rains fall in November and December, and the long rains from March to May. Showers are usually brief and the scenery is lush, with fewer visitors, lower prices and excellent birdwatching as migrant species arrive. April and May are the wettest months, when some roads are slower and a few camps close. In return, you may have the parks almost to yourself.
Month by month
- January and February: calving on the southern plains, green and warm
- March: calving season ends and the rains begin
- April and May: rainy and quiet, with the herds moving through the central and western Serengeti
- June: the herds head to the western corridor and the dry season begins
- July to September: northern Serengeti and Mara River crossings, with Tarangire at its best
- October: still dry, as the herds start moving south again
- November and December: short rains, green landscapes and herds returning to the south
How to choose
- For river crossings and peak game viewing, choose July to October.
- For newborn animals and predator action, choose January to March.
- For lower prices and fewer vehicles, choose November, early December, or the shoulder months of April and May.
- For the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, any month works well.
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