Dec → Feb
27 to 29°
nights 16 to 17°
- 14 rainy days · 91 mm
- 11 h of sun
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
In short: June to October for the dry season and safaris in the north, with the Mara River crossings from July to September, and December to March for the herds of the southern Serengeti, which calve mainly in February. July is the best compromise between safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar: 4 mm of rain in the Serengeti and the island at its driest.
- The Great Migration in the north: From July to September, the wildebeest reach the northern Serengeti and cross the Mara River, in the height of the dry season.
- Wildebeest calving: From December to March in the Ndutu area and the south-eastern plains of the Serengeti, with births peaking in February.
- Climbing Kilimanjaro: From June to October and from December to February, between the mountain's two rainy seasons (March to May, then around November).
- Zanzibar beaches: From June to October, between the long rains of March to May and the short rains of November and December; July is the driest month.
- A quieter safari: In April and May, the Serengeti turns green again and prices drop, at the cost of frequent showers: 149 mm over 17 days in April.
Best avoided: April and May: the long rains peak (149 mm over 17 days in April in the Serengeti), tracks in the south can be cut off and Zanzibar is also in the middle of its rainy season.
Sources: serengeti.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
- Jan27°recommended
- Feb29°recommended
- Mar29°fair
- Apr28°not recommended
- May28°not recommended
- Jun29°recommended
- Jul29°recommended
- Aug30°recommended
- Sep30°recommended
- Oct32°recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec28°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Tanzania, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 16° | 10.9 h | 103 mm | 14 d | 29° | ✓ |
| February | 29° | 17° | 11.3 h | 75 mm | 12 d | 29° | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 17° | 11 h | 79 mm | 13 d | 30° | |
| April | 28° | 16° | 10.2 h | 149 mm | 17 d | 29° | |
| May | 28° | 16° | 10.8 h | 41 mm | 7 d | 28° | |
| June | 29° | 16° | 10.4 h | 5 mm | 1 d | 28° | ✓ |
| July | 29° | 15° | 10.4 h | 4 mm | 1 d | 27° | ✓ |
| August | 30° | 16° | 10.4 h | 9 mm | 2 d | 26° | ✓ |
| September | 30° | 17° | 10.8 h | 28 mm | 5 d | 27° | ✓ |
| October | 32° | 17° | 10.9 h | 25 mm | 5 d | 27° | ✓ |
| November | 29° | 17° | 10.6 h | 140 mm | 16 d | 28° | |
| December | 28° | 16° | 10.8 h | 96 mm | 15 d | 30° |
The four seasons in Tanzania, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Serengeti National Park) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
28 to 29°
nights 16 to 17°
- 12 rainy days · 90 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 29°
Jun → Aug
29 to 30°
nights 15 to 16°
- 1 rainy days · 6 mm
- 10.4 h of sun
- sea 27°
Sep → Nov
29 to 32°
nights 17°
- 9 rainy days · 64 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
- sea 27°
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 Tanzania, month by month
EventsWildebeest crossing the MaraJuly to OctoberWildebeest calvingJanuary to FebruarySauti za BusaraFebruaryZanzibar International Film FestivalJulyDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: May, June, July
- Towns & culture: February, May, June, July, August, September
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Tanzania, 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.
- July to OctoberWildebeest crossing the Mara big crowds
The herds cross the river in the north of the Serengeti under the gaze of the crocodiles, in successive and unpredictable waves.
- January to FebruaryWildebeest calving
Hundreds of thousands of calves are born within a few weeks on the Ndutu plains, in the south of the Serengeti, with predators lying in wait.
- FebruarySauti za Busara
Stone Town welcomes bands from all over Africa inside the old fort, for four days in February.
- JulyZanzibar International Film Festival
Films from East Africa and the Indian Ocean are screened in the open air within the walls of Stone Town's fort, in July.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Tanzania, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇿 Kilimanjaro | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
| 🇹🇿 The Serengeti | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended27°16° at night
- 103 mm · 14 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
February
Recommended29°17° at night
- 75 mm · 12 d
- 11.3 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
March
Fair29°17° at night
- 79 mm · 13 d
- 11 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended28°16° at night
- 149 mm · 17 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended28°16° at night
- 41 mm · 7 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended29°16° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended29°15° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
August
Recommended30°16° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 26°
High season, book early
September
Recommended30°17° at night
- 28 mm · 5 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
October
Recommended32°17° at night
- 25 mm · 5 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
November
Fair29°17° at night
- 140 mm · 16 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair28°16° at night
- 96 mm · 15 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 30°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 103 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (79 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. A very wet month, 149 mm of rain over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 41 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
October. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Frequent rain: 140 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 96 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. 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 Tanzania?
June to October for the dry season and safaris in the north, with the Mara River crossings from July to September, and December to March for the herds of the southern Serengeti, which calve mainly in February. July is the best compromise between safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar: 4 mm of rain in the Serengeti and the island at its driest.
Which month should you avoid in Tanzania?
April and May: the long rains peak (149 mm over 17 days in April in the Serengeti), tracks in the south can be cut off and Zanzibar is also in the middle of its rainy season.
What is the hottest month in Tanzania?
October, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Serengeti National Park).
What is the coldest month in Tanzania?
January, with 27 °C at best during the day and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Serengeti National Park).
What is the driest month in Tanzania?
July: 4 mm over 1 day of rain, against 149 mm in April, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Tanzania?
February, with 11.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Tanzania?
The gap between day and night reaches 15 °C in October: 32 °C in the afternoon, 17 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in Tanzania?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 26 to 30 °C depending on the month (warmest in March), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Zanzibar (Stone Town)).
When is the best time to hike in Tanzania?
May, June, July: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Serengeti National Park), the safest windows for walking.
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