Dec → Feb
27 to 29°
nights 16 to 17°
- 13 rainy days · 92 mm
When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
- Jan27°recommended
- Feb29°recommended
- Mar29°fair
- Apr27°not recommended
- May27°fair
- Jun28°recommended
- Jul28°recommended
- Aug29°recommended
- Sep30°recommended
- Oct30°recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec27°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Serengeti, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 16° | 95 mm | 15 d | ✓ |
| February | 29° | 17° | 62 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 17° | 82 mm | 12 d | |
| April | 27° | 16° | 146 mm | 17 d | |
| May | 27° | 16° | 41 mm | 7 d | |
| June | 28° | 16° | 11 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| July | 28° | 15° | 5 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| August | 29° | 16° | 9 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
| September | 30° | 16° | 17 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| October | 30° | 17° | 41 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| November | 29° | 17° | 116 mm | 14 d | |
| December | 27° | 16° | 120 mm | 15 d |
The four seasons in the Serengeti, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Seronera) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
27 to 29°
nights 16 to 17°
- 12 rainy days · 90 mm
Jun → Aug
28 to 29°
nights 15 to 16°
- 2 rainy days · 8 mm
Sep → Nov
29 to 30°
nights 16 to 17°
- 8 rainy days · 58 mm
Book early for January to February and June to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in the Serengeti, month by month
EventsWildebeest calvingJanuary to MarchMara River crossingJuly to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: May, June, July, August
- Towns & culture: February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Serengeti, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to MarchWildebeest calving
The herds gather on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and give birth within a few weeks, with predators lying in wait.
- July to OctoberMara River crossing big crowds
The wildebeest cross the Mara River in the north of the park, in waves, between July and October.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended27°16° at night
- 95 mm · 15 d
High season, book early
February
Recommended29°17° at night
- 62 mm · 10 d
High season, book early
March
Fair29°17° at night
- 82 mm · 12 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended27°16° at night
- 146 mm · 17 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair27°16° at night
- 41 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended28°16° at night
- 11 mm · 3 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended28°15° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended29°16° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended30°16° at night
- 17 mm · 3 d
High season, book early
October
Recommended30°17° at night
- 41 mm · 6 d
High season, book early
November
Fair29°17° at night
- 116 mm · 14 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair27°16° at night
- 120 mm · 15 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 95 mm over 15 days. High season: book early.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (62 mm). High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (82 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. A very wet month, 146 mm of rain over 17 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 41 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (11 mm over 3 days). Busy season, without the crush.
July. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). High season: book early.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). High season: book early.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (17 mm over 3 days). High season: book early.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 41 mm over 6 days. High season: book early.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Frequent rain: 116 mm over 14 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 120 mm over 15 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
January to February and June to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 27 to 30 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Seronera).
Which month should you avoid in the Serengeti?
April: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 146 mm over 17 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Seronera).
What is the hottest month in the Serengeti?
September, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Seronera).
What is the coldest month in the Serengeti?
January, with 27 °C at best during the day and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Seronera).
What is the driest month in the Serengeti?
July: 5 mm over 1 day of rain, against 146 mm in April, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in the Serengeti?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in September: 30 °C in the afternoon, 16 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in the Serengeti?
May, June, July, August: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Seronera), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Serengeti guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Tanzania: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Balazs Simon / Pexels · Bushland Adventure Travel / Pexels · Gavin Rain / Pexels · Ana Kenk / Pexels · Lan Yao / Pexels