The Best time to Visit Tanzania

The Best time to Visit Tanzania: ‘When is the best time for a safari in Tanzania?’ is one of the most popular queries from tourists. While there are undoubtedly popular travel seasons, other elements are largely up to the individual. Based on your preferences and travel interests, continue reading to learn the best time of year to visit Tanzania.

WEATHER IS KEY FACTOR TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TANZANIA

Tanzania is located close to the equator and the Indian Ocean, which means that its weather patterns are equatorial and tropical. Other places may have traditional summer, winter, fall, and spring seasons. Tanzania experiences two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is sunny and occasionally warm, whereas the wet season is the rainy season. The advantages and disadvantages of each season are covered in more detail below.

However, it is fairly typical to experience sunny afternoons after a morning of rain during Tanzania’s wet season and occasionally rain during the dry season. Keep this in mind when choosing the dates for your safari.

THE SEASONS IN TANZANIA

January–March

Tanzania typically experiences its hottest weather in the first few months of the year, with February being the hottest month. This time of year, which is one of the most popular for safaris, is typically dry. Particularly around the New Year, parks may feel a little crowded. As other water sources dry up, animals may be seen swarming around rivers and lakes in search of moisture.

 As zebras and gazelles travel to the Tarangire River for water during this time, they are soon followed by predators like lions and leopards, making Tarangire National Park a prime location to see a variety of wildlife.

March–May

The “long rainy season,” which runs from mid-March to mid-May, is characterized by rainy nights and mornings. The sun usually appears in the afternoon, and the evenings are usually calm and peaceful. With plentiful water sources spread throughout the parks, the rains make everything lush and green, and the animals in the parks are lively and active.

However, due to flooding or deep mud, some of the parks’ rough roads might be impassable. The main roads in the parks are usually in good condition, and many parks, including Ngorongoro Conservation Area, have numerous paved sections of road that are safe to drive on.

Since there are a lot fewer tourists during this time of year, almost all accommodations provide special low-season rates. The safari experience during the rainy season has been described as an intimate, secluded adventure by guests who don’t mind rainy mornings because they felt like they had the park to themselves to observe the incredibly active animals in the damp, green forests.

June–September

Tanzanians refer to this time as the “cold” season. Visitors from other climates find the weather to be pleasant and fresh, despite the fact that it is cold for the locals (you will see people wearing winter coats and hats). Bring a jacket for chilly mornings, but the weather is dry and pleasant in the afternoons, when it is typically sunny. During these months Tanzania has a busy travel season, with lots of tourists visiting the country’s national parks. During Tanzania’s dry season, this is the best time to travel if you don’t like the heat. In Serengeti National Park, the Great Migration can frequently be seen during this time.

October–December

The brief rains typically occur between October and December, and as the year’s end draws near, the temperature rises. Additionally, in East Africa, the jacaranda trees bloom in October, creating a stunning display of trees covered in purple flowers. The flame trees bloom in December, turning a vivid red right before Christmas.

Tanzania sees a spike in tourism around Christmas, and the short rains frequently end by mid-December. Many visitors have special plans for the holiday season, like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to mark the occasion. Holiday meals may be served to visitors by hotels and lodges. Although December weather is typically regarded as ideal, parks and lodgings might feel busier than at other times of the year.

DRY SEASON: PROS AND CONS

Pros:

• Favorable weather
• Abundance of Wildlife
• The scenery looks like many images of Africa: vast, dry grasslands and animals around watering holes.
• Holiday seasons, and when most visitors have time off
• Good weather for an evening swim in the swimming pool at your hotel or lodge
• Suggested time for a family vacation or honeymoon
• Popular tourist times

 Cons:

• Parks may feel more crowded or busy.
• Accommodations are full-price (no discounts).
• The end of the dry season may be dusty; bring a bandana or handkerchief to help.

RAINY SEASON: PROS AND CONS

Pros:

• See Africa in a new way! Tropical climate with green forests and active animals
• Photographers especially enjoy capturing wildlife during the rainy season, and the contrast of colors looks amazing.
• Guests may receive low-season discounts.
• Parks are not crowded, and guests feel they are on a private adventure.

Cons:

• Some park roads may be inaccessible.
• Likely to experience some wet days, but it does not rain all day, and typically there is significant sun at some point each day.
• Bring a rain jacket and shoes that are water-resistant for your comfort.
• In some parks, the animals are more dispersed during the rainy season.

 THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TANZANIA: THE GREAT MIGRATION

The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania’s most popular tourist attractions. Visitors from all over the world travel to see this natural phenomenon each year to see the enormous movement of animals across the Grumeti River. It is the largest animal migration in the world, which is one of the reasons the Serengeti is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year, or even all the time, the Great Migration crosses the Serengeti.

Wildebeest herds and other ungulates are in Kenya for a brief time (roughly 2 months each year). They typically migrate there in the months of July and August, risking crocodiles and other predators in order to get back to the Maasai Mara’s new grass. The remainder of the year is spent by herds in Tanzania, primarily in the Serengeti or a region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. For roughly ten months of the year, they will stay in this area to breed, give birth to their young, and enjoy the lush grasses of the Serengeti.

What causes the animals to continue to move around? Basic survival instincts drive herds of wildebeests, gazelles, impalas, elands, and zebras to migrate in search of more abundant water and greener grass. The animals move to find better food and water sources as the weather changes from dry to wet, and their fearsome predators, lions, cheetahs, and leopards, are constantly pursuing them. Throughout the year, different parts of the Great Migration can be seen; for example,

In February, which is calving season, thousands of baby wildebeests are born every day! Witness the wonder of a newborn wildebeest’s ability to run soon after birth as well as the miracle of new life.

The Serengeti herds start to gather in the Seronera region in March and April, providing some amazing photo opportunities of vast numbers of animals peacefully grazing in a stunning environment.

 The herds start to migrate northward in May, forming impressive columns of moving animals that appear to be marching in unison. They may assemble at the Western Corridor as they search for a secure location to cross the Grumeti River. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe the dense population of animals migrating together in this way, which is an amazing natural phenomenon to see for yourself.

Visitors are likely to see the amazing animal migration and the heart-pounding Mara River crossing from late July through early September. The animals move quickly and in great numbers through the choppy waters in an effort to cross over. Even though National Geographic regularly documents this phenomenon, experiencing it in person rather than through a television screen allows one to more fully appreciate the energy and power of nature.

You’ll return home with a fresh appreciation for Africa’s wildlife and other unaltered natural features. How amazing that we can still appreciate and observe this annual cycle, which has most likely been going on for millennia!

The Mara River and the Grumeti River are the two rivers that are crossed during this yearly cycle of migration. The names are used to denote the animals’ direction of travel:

When the herds enter Kenya in May and June, they frequently cross the Grumeti River. Herds frequently cross the Mara River in July and August as they move from Kenya back into Tanzania.

 As you can see, Serengeti National Park is home to an ongoing spectacle of the Great Migration. Nearly all seasons of the year offer something interesting to see and do. If seeing the Great Migration of the Serengeti is something you’ve always wanted to do, now is your chance!

CONCLUSION: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TANZANIA?

The best time to experience a fantastic safari in Tanzania is really any time of year. What time of year is best for you depends on your personal preferences.

When Tanzania’s parks are probably less crowded and you might feel like you have the entire hotel to yourself if you want a special, intimate safari, why not go there? Think about visiting during the rainy season.

If you want the best weather and to see trees that are vibrant with the colors of nature, think about going to Tanzania in November or October.

Do you have your heart set on seeing the Great Migration of the Serengeti cross a river during the dry season? Then decide between  August.

Tanzania’s wildlife is constantly active, and the national parks’ flora is vibrantly alive all the time. The best time to see Tanzania’s wonders is at any time of the month. Choose a time that works best for you, and get ready to be astounded by this amazing country’s breathtaking natural beauty and exciting wildlife.