The coming and going of the rainy seasons is not fully predictable; there may be
variations from one year to another.
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| Safari in Serengeti National Park. |
Seasons for safaris
Dry conditions are the best for safaris. Rain may cause accessibility problems on bush
roads, and the game viewing is less rewarding when roof hatches and windows of vehicles
have to be kept closed.
Northern Tanzania
The best time for safaris are the dry seasons from December to March, and from June
to October.
Avoid the rainy season from April to May ("the long rains"), as the conditions
for safaris may not be good. The rainy season in November ("the short rains")
has less rain, and conditions for safaris may be acceptable.
Northern Tanzania has parks such as Serengeti,
the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake
Manyara and Tarangire.
Southern Tanzania
The best time for safaris is the dry season from June to October, and a drier spell
from January to February in the rainy season.
Southern Tanzania has parks such as Selous,
Mikumi and Ruaha.
Western Tanzania
Western Tanzania has a climate pattern similar to the southern parts, with a tendency
towards rain distributed throughout the year.
Western Tanzania has parks such as Katavi,
Gombe Stream and Mahale
Mountains.
More about safari seasons
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| The Tanzanian coast. |
Seasons for beach holidays
The coastal climate allows for swimming all year round. The temperatures during the
hottest part of the year, roughly October to March, range from 30ºC/85ºF to
35ºC/95ºF. During the rest of the year, you can expect temperatures from 25ºC/77ºF.
The coastal climate is similar to the inland climate, but the coastal air is more humid.
One or two showers during the day are not uncommon, but they pass quickly.
You may want to avoid the rainy season from April to May ("the long rains").
The coast has destinations such as Zanzibar Island.
Seasons for climbing
The main seasons (see Seasons for safaris above) for
northern Tanzania apply also to Kilimanjaro
and Mount Meru. The weather on the
mountains is more extreme, though, and the rainy seasons are longer.
The best time for climbing these mountains, from a weather perspective, is from mid-January
to mid-March, and from July to October. July and August may be quite cold.
The temperatures are of course much lower on the mountain, and you need to equip yourself
for temperatures well below the freezing point.
Temperatures
The temperatures in the main safari areas of northern and southern Tanzania are 25–30+ºC/77–85+ºF
during October–March, and 5º/10º less during the rest of the year. Cooler
temperatures may be encountered because of weather conditions, and in highlands.
Humidity
The coast and the areas around the great lakes are generally humid, while the inland,
where most safari areas are found, is much drier.
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| Elephants in the rain. |
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