Dry season, green season, migration and Kilimanjaro: how to choose the right month for your trip.
Tanzania is a year-round destination, but what you see, and what you pay, changes with the seasons.
June to October: the dry season
The driest and coolest months are the classic safari season. Vegetation thins out and animals gather near water, so game viewing is easy. This is also when the Mara River crossings usually happen in the northern Serengeti. Expect higher prices and more vehicles at popular sites.
November to December: the short rains
Short showers turn the landscape green and the crowds thin. Birdlife is excellent, and the herds return to the southern plains by December.
January to March: calving and hot, dry weather
Calving takes place on the southern Serengeti plains in January and February, which brings predators too. It is also a good window for climbing Kilimanjaro and for the beaches of Zanzibar.
April and May: the long rains
The wettest months bring the lowest prices and the fewest visitors. Some camps close, roads can be slow, and you should be flexible, but the scenery is lush and dramatic.
Choosing your month
Tell us what matters most, whether that is river crossings, calving, a summit attempt, beaches or a budget, and we will match it to the right month and route.
