When to Visit Tanzania

There isn't a single "best" time to visit Tanzania — it depends on what you most want to see.

For general game viewing: June to October

The dry season makes wildlife easier to spot, since animals gather around limited water sources and vegetation is thinner. This is also when the Great Migration typically reaches northern Serengeti and the Mara River crossings happen — see our full migration guide for the month-by-month detail.

For the migration's calving season: January to March

The southern Serengeti and Ndutu area fill with newborn wildebeest calves — and the predators that follow them. A dramatic, less crowded alternative to the river-crossing months.

For lower prices and fewer crowds: November, or April-May

The short and long rains respectively. Wildlife viewing is still good (rain doesn't stop animals existing), landscapes are greener, and both lodge rates and park crowds drop noticeably. April can be genuinely wet, so it suits travelers who don't mind that trade-off.

For Kilimanjaro

The two driest climbing windows are January to mid-March and June to October — outside of those, trails are wetter and colder, though the mountain remains climbable nearly year-round.

For Zanzibar

June to October and December to February are Zanzibar's two dry seasons, and the easiest time to combine a beach stay with a mainland safari.