2026 season guide
Best time to visit Tanzania
Every month works somewhere in Tanzania. Here is what each season gives you, month by month and park by park.
Last updated
When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
The best time to visit Tanzania for a safari is the dry season, June to October. Animals gather at water and the grass is short. Go July to September for the river crossings and January to February for calving. For the lowest prices, travel in the March to May rains.
Four seasons
Tanzania safari seasons explained
Each season trades wildlife, weather, crowds and price differently. Scores are out of 5. For crowds and prices, 5 is busiest or most expensive.
Peak dry season
July to October
The best time for wildlife viewing. Animals gather around water, the grass is short, and the Great Migration river crossings happen. Expect peak prices and book well ahead.
- Wildlife
- 5 out of 5
- Weather
- 5 out of 5
- Crowds
- 4 out of 5
- Prices
- 5 out of 5
- Mara River crossings (July to September)
- Excellent game viewing in every park
- Little rain and clear skies for photos
- Best time for walking safaris
Shoulder season
June and November
Good wildlife with fewer visitors. June starts the dry season. November brings green landscapes and young animals before the short rains.
- Wildlife
- 4 out of 5
- Weather
- 4 out of 5
- Crowds
- 3 out of 5
- Prices
- 4 out of 5
- Good value with quality game viewing
- Fewer vehicles at sightings
- June: herds moving to the Western Serengeti
- November: peak birdwatching
Green season
March to May
The long rains bring lush landscapes and the lowest prices. Some camps close, and the ones that stay open offer real value. Photographers get dramatic skies and green backdrops.
- Wildlife
- 3 out of 5
- Weather
- 2 out of 5
- Crowds
- 1 out of 5
- Prices
- 2 out of 5
- Lowest prices of the year (40 to 50% off)
- Newborn animals everywhere
- Dramatic light for photography
- Very few other visitors
Calving season
January to February
More than 8,000 wildebeest calves are born each day in the Southern Serengeti. Predator action is intense, as lions and cheetahs follow the herds.
- Wildlife
- 5 out of 5
- Weather
- 4 out of 5
- Crowds
- 3 out of 5
- Prices
- 4 out of 5
- 400,000+ calves born in 3 weeks
- Peak predator activity
- The Southern Serengeti at its best
- Clear skies between the short rains
Month by month
Tanzania safari calendar 2026
Weather, wildlife and crowds for each month. The herds column comes from our migration tracker.
January
4/5 Very good
- Weather
- Warm, occasional showers, 20–30°C
- Rain
- Low
- Wildlife
- Excellent, calving begins
- Herds
- Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Best for
- Southern Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
- Not ideal
- Selous (hot)
February
5/5 Excellent
- Weather
- Warm, short rains ending, 20–30°C
- Rain
- Low
- Wildlife
- Excellent, peak calving
- Herds
- Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
- Crowds
- High
- Best for
- Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, Lake Manyara
- Not ideal
- Western Serengeti
March
3/5 Good
- Weather
- Hot, long rains begin, 21–29°C
- Rain
- High
- Wildlife
- Good but scattered
- Herds
- Southern to Central Serengeti
- Crowds
- Low
- Best for
- Value seekers, Photographers, Ngorongoro
- Not ideal
- Remote areas, Walking safaris
April
2/5 Fair
- Weather
- Warm, heavy rains, 20–27°C
- Rain
- Very high
- Wildlife
- Fair, animals dispersed
- Herds
- Central Serengeti (Seronera)
- Crowds
- Very low
- Best for
- Budget travellers, Ngorongoro Crater
- Not ideal
- Most parks (muddy roads)
May
3/5 Good
- Weather
- Cooling, rains ending, 18–26°C
- Rain
- High to moderate
- Wildlife
- Improving
- Herds
- Central to Western Serengeti
- Crowds
- Very low
- Best for
- Budget with good wildlife, Selous opening
- Not ideal
- Northern Serengeti
June
4/5 Very good
- Weather
- Cool and dry, 15–25°C
- Rain
- Minimal
- Wildlife
- Very good, dry season starts
- Herds
- Western Corridor (Grumeti)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Best for
- All Northern Circuit, Ruaha, Value and quality
- Not ideal
- None, great everywhere
July
5/5 Excellent
- Weather
- Cool and dry, 14–25°C
- Rain
- None
- Wildlife
- Excellent, crossings begin
- Herds
- Northern Serengeti / Mara River
- Crowds
- High
- Best for
- Grumeti River crossings, All parks, Walking safaris
- Not ideal
- Budget travellers
August
5/5 Excellent
- Weather
- Cool and dry, 15–26°C
- Rain
- None
- Wildlife
- Excellent, peak migration
- Herds
- Northern Serengeti / Mara River
- Crowds
- Very high
- Best for
- Mara River crossings, Photography, Big Five
- Not ideal
- Budget travellers, Avoiding crowds
September
5/5 Excellent
- Weather
- Warming, dry, 17–28°C
- Rain
- None
- Wildlife
- Excellent, migration continues
- Herds
- Northern Serengeti & Maasai Mara
- Crowds
- High
- Best for
- Northern Serengeti, All parks
- Not ideal
- Budget travellers
October
5/5 Excellent
- Weather
- Hot, dry, 18–30°C
- Rain
- Low, short rains begin late
- Wildlife
- Excellent
- Herds
- Northern Serengeti
- Crowds
- Moderate to high
- Best for
- Northern Serengeti, Tarangire elephants, Ruaha
- Not ideal
- Zanzibar beaches (warm)
November
4/5 Very good
- Weather
- Hot, short rains, 19–29°C
- Rain
- Moderate
- Wildlife
- Very good
- Herds
- Central to Southern Serengeti
- Crowds
- Low to moderate
- Best for
- Birdwatching, Green landscapes, Value
- Not ideal
- Walking safaris
December
4/5 Very good
- Weather
- Warm, short rains ending, 20–29°C
- Rain
- Moderate to low
- Wildlife
- Very good, herds moving south
- Herds
- Southern Serengeti & Ndutu
- Crowds
- High (holidays)
- Best for
- Festive safaris, Serengeti, Zanzibar
- Not ideal
- Avoiding holiday crowds
Rating: 5 excellent, 4 very good, 3 good, 2 fair.
By destination
Best time for each park
Different parks peak at different times. Here is when to go to each one.
Serengeti National Park
- Best
- June to October, January to February
- Avoid
- April to May
June to October for the river crossings, January to February for calving. April and May bring heavy rain.
Ngorongoro Crater
- Best
- Year-round
- Avoid
- April (muddy roads)
Wildlife stays in the crater all year. Rhino sightings are best in the morning.
Tarangire National Park
- Best
- July to October
- Avoid
- March to May
The dry season draws elephants to the Tarangire River. The wet season spreads the wildlife out.
Lake Manyara
- Best
- June to February
- Avoid
- March to May
Tree-climbing lions are most active in the dry season. Flamingos are best November to February.
Selous / Nyerere
- Best
- June to November
- Avoid
- March to May (closed)
Many camps close in the wet season. Boat safaris are best July to October.
Ruaha National Park
- Best
- June to November
- Avoid
- February to April
A remote park, easiest to reach in the dry season. Wild dogs den June to August.
Mahale Mountains
- Best
- July to October
- Avoid
- February to May
Chimp tracking needs dry forest trails. The wet season makes trekking hard.
Zanzibar
- Best
- June to October, December to February
- Avoid
- April to May
The dry seasons bring the best beach weather. Skip the long rains for a beach holiday.
Wildlife events
Time your trip around these
Great Migration crossings
July to September
Wildebeest and zebra plunge into the crocodile-filled Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. It's the most dramatic sight of the safari year.
Migration calendarCalving season
January to February
More than 8,000 wildebeest calves are born each day on the short-grass plains of Ndutu. Lions and cheetahs hunt the newborns.
More on calvingTarangire elephants
August to October
Large elephant herds gather along the Tarangire River, often 300 or more.
Explore Tarangire
Season questions
What is the best time to visit Tanzania for safari?
The best time for a Tanzania safari is the dry season, June to October. Wildlife gathers around water and the grass is short, so you see more. The calving season (January to February) in the Southern Serengeti is also exceptional for predator action.
When is the Great Migration in Tanzania?
The Great Migration moves through Tanzania all year. River crossings happen July to September in the Northern Serengeti. Calving is January to February in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu. The herds pass through the Western Corridor (Grumeti) in May and June.
What is the cheapest time to visit Tanzania?
The cheapest time for a Tanzania safari is the green season (March to May), when prices drop 40 to 50% from peak rates. November is also good value, as the short rains refresh the landscape.
Can you see the Big Five year-round in Tanzania?
Yes. The Big Five live in Tanzania all year, especially in the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The dry season (June to October) gives the best visibility, but you can see them in any month.
When is the rainy season in Tanzania?
Tanzania has two rainy seasons. The long rains (Masika) run March to May with heavy, steady rain. The short rains (Vuli) run November to December with lighter afternoon showers. The long rains affect safari travel more.
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- Migration timing for your dates
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