When is the best safari season to visit Tanzania?

Our travelers often want to know when the best time to visit Tanzania is.  Tanzania is a vast country with a number of incredible safari destinations and climates that vary. This makes answering the question of when to visit rather complex. The best time to visit Tanzania will depend on where you want to go and what your safari interests are.

As Tanzania is situated just south of the equator, the climate is relatively consistent and daytime temperatures average between 25 – 30 °C; the hottest months are January – February and the coolest is August. Generally, the Dry Season from June to October is the best time to visit Tanzania. It is almost a year-round safari destination, with two rainy seasons – the long rains and the short rains – which should be noted.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for a wildlife safari in both the Northern and Southern Parks in Tanzania is during the Dry Season from June to October. The Dry Season sees cooler, pleasant weather with clear skies, lower humidity and little to no rain.

The drier weather means that the vegetation is thinner making it easier to spot animals. Wildlife also congregates around sources of water making for exciting interactions and great safari game viewing.

One important thing to note is that with the good weather and excellent wildlife viewing come larger crowds. The Dry Season is definitely Tanzania’s High Season.

While the north is generally pleasant year round, the south becomes hotter and humid during the rains and the summer months. Another point to be aware of in the south is that during the long rains from March to May a number of the lodges are closed. This is low season and access is restricted to many lodges due to the rain.