Best Time To Visit Tanzania for the Ultimate Safari (Month by Month)

Is there a best time to visit Tanzania?

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Tanzania would be during the dry season (late June to October). The absence of rain allows tourists to easily spot the wild beasts during game drives and other activities, and the weather in Tanzania during this time of the year is relatively better than any other, and your stay is likely to be most comfortable around this time, too. However, it really depends on the tourists to choose the best time for themselves, depending on what they wish to see and do in Tanzania. So the best month to visit Tanzania is really your choice!

Month By Month Guide on Visiting Tanzania:

• January to March:

If you’re looking for an amazing beach holiday, then January might be your best pick. Experiencing a relaxing beach vacation at Zanzibar is one of the top travel goals for a lot of tourists; surrounded by the beautiful blue waters, with the warm breeze against you and the soft sunshine that hits the land, who doesn’t want heaven? However, if you wish to visit the country during the wildebeest calving season, then February is your month, though the weather is quite hot around this time. The heat only increases in March, and this might be the best time to go to Tanzania if you wish to peak Kilimanjaro.

• April and May:

The Tanzania rainy season is rather infamous, for it does put a damper on the wildlife that tourists can spot. April is quite simply the wettest month of the year, and May is relatively drier. This might be the best month to visit Tanzania if you wish to see the iconic wildebeest route in the Great Migration trekking from Southern Serengeti towards the Western Corridor.

• June to August:

June is quite a dry month, and is considered the best time to go on a Tanzania safari. This time is undoubtedly one of the best times of the year to visit Tanzania if wildlife safaris and game drives are your priorities. However, if June is good,  July is better! The best time to go on a Tanzania safari is probably during July when the Great Migration has knocked on the doors of Northern Serengeti and is ready to cross the ominous waters of the Mara River. Tanzania’s temperature in July is quite bearable, and one must consider this time while planning a trip. August is still pretty much the peak season dragging on and can also be called the best time to go on a Tanzania safari– primarily the Northern Safari Circuit, while Tanzania’s weather in August also doesn’t pose any major trouble.

• September and October

The peak season takes a fall during the month of September, and again hikers wishing to climb the Kilimanjaro flock the country. For many tourists, climbing the Kilimanjaro remains a lifelong dream for years, and it is best to therefore start your climb during a season when all the environmental factors also support the endeavor. If you wish to see huge elephants, or witness the beginning of the fishing season at the Great Lakes, then this might be the best month to visit Tanzania for you. The rains begin to drop by during October, and if you’ve wanted to witness the famous chimpanzees in Tanzania, then this is your best shot! Additionally, this might also be the best time to visit Tanzania if you want to climb Mount Meru or visit the Arusha National Park.

• November and December:

Though quite suitable for a safari, November has somehow not gained as much popularity for being one of the best times for a safari in Tanzania. The northern parks of Tanzania are never really devoid of the treats you get at game viewing, and November might be a good time to explore that, and some off-the-beaten-track places as well. Tanzania’s weather in December is partially a bummer, because the short rains begin around this time. This is also generally the festival and celebration season, owing to Christmas and New Year, and the all round cozy holiday vibe somehow finds its place in the Tanzanian air as well. But Tanzania in December offers plenty- if you’re a bird enthusiast, then for you, December might be the best time to visit Tanzania. The migratory birds begin to flock the skies at Nyerere National Park and the Tarangire National Park as well, so get ready to brave the Tanzania weather in December to get a glimpse of your favorite birds. Notably, the ferocious wildebeests have also returned to the grass plains at Serengeti by this time, so this is also the perfect time for a safari in the Serengeti. If you’ve been wanting to do that, then December can also be a good time to go for a safari in Tanzania.

In Conclusion:

Now that we have had a brief overview of what is there in Tanzania all year round, we know that generally, it is the drier season that is considered the ideal time to travel the country, it is equally true that attractions stay at Tanzania all year round so whether you visit the country in January or in September, it can still be the best time to visit Tanzania for you, if it is able to host the activity that you wish to participate in. Whether it is watching game drives at Serengeti, enjoying a relaxing stay at Zanzibar, trying to spot the endemic species at Ngorongoro or any other activity, Tanzania has something in store for everyone, and the best time to visit Tanzania is definitely sooner than later.