When is the best time for a safari in Tanzania?

October 22, 2025

When is the best time for a safari in Tanzania?

Tanzania is one of the best safari destinations in the world. However, the best time to travel to Tanzania for a safari depends on what you want to experience. Some months offer impressive animal density in the dry season. In other months, you can observe the spectacular Great Migration in the Serengeti or the quiet weeks of the so-called “green season”. Each season has its own special advantages.
Important: The climate can fluctuate. The information in this article should therefore be seen as a trend and not as a guarantee.

Short answer and overview

The dry season from June to September is considered the most reliable and therefore the most popular time to go on safari in Tanzania. During this period, the days are usually sunny and dry, and with few natural water sources available, rivers and waterholes attract a variety of animals. Elephants, antelopes and predators such as lions and leopards can therefore be observed particularly well. The vegetation is sparser, which also improves visibility.

From December to March, the focus shifts to the south of the Serengeti and the Ndutu region. This is where the wildebeest calving season takes place, with hundreds of thousands of animals giving birth to their offspring at the same time. This event attracts numerous predators and makes the months a highlight for anyone looking for spectacular sightings.

Tanzania shows a completely different side during the rainy season. During the short rainy season, the vuli, in November and December, and during the long rainy season, the masika, from March to May, the landscape turns a lush green. Fewer visitors, lower prices and excellent birdwatching opportunities make this “green season” particularly attractive for many travelers.

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Tanzania safari calendar: month by month

The following overview shows you what to expect over the course of the year. It takes into account the weather, animal highlights as well as advantages and disadvantages.

Monat	Wetter	Highlights	Parks	Vorteile	Nachteile
Januar	Warm, meist trocken, kurze Regen möglich	Kalbungszeit beginnt in Ndutu, viele Raubtierbeobachtungen	Südliche Serengeti, Ngorongoro	Tierreich, wenige Touristen im Norden	Straßen teils schlammig
Februar	Warm, relativ trocken	Höhepunkt der Kalbungszeit (Gnus, Zebras)	Ndutu, Serengeti Süd	Intensives Raubtierverhalten, Fotografenparadies	Lodges stark gefragt
März	Beginn der masika (lange Regenzeit)	Tierwanderungen Richtung Westen	Serengeti, Tarangire	Grüne Landschaft, weniger Gäste	Schlammige Straßen, Lodges schließen teils
April	Starke Regenfälle (Peak)	Vögel in Brutstimmung	Selous/Nyerere, Ruaha	Günstige Preise, intensiv grün	Kaum Fahrten möglich, eingeschränkte Infrastruktur
Mai	Ende der masika	Migration im Westkorridor startet	Serengeti West, Grumeti	Fotogenes Licht, niedrige Preise	Straßenprobleme, Lodges nicht alle offen
Juni	Übergang in die Trockenzeit	Beginn Trockenzeit, Tiere an Flüssen	Serengeti West, Tarangire	Sehr gute Sichtungen	Start Hochsaison, Preise steigen
Juli	Trocken, kühlere Nächte	Migration zieht nach Norden, Elefanten im Tarangire	Serengeti + Nord, Tarangire	Exzellente Tierkonzentration	Hochsaison, Lodges ausgebucht
August	Trocken	Mara-Flussüberquerungen	Serengeti Nord, Mara-Gebiet	Spektakuläre Sichtungen	Sehr voll, früh buchen
September	Trocker	Migration noch im Norden, Raubtiere aktiv	Serengeti Nord, Nyerere, Ruaha	Ideale Safari-Monate	Hochsaisonpreise
Oktober	Ende der Trockenzeit	Viele Tiere an Wasserstellen	Serengeti, Ruaha, Nyerere	Stabile Safaris, angenehmes Klima	Teilweise Staub, Ende Hochsaison
November	vuli (Kurze Regenzeit)	Grüne Landschaft, Zebras und Antilopen aktiv	Serengeti, Tarangire	Weniger Gäste, gute Fotobedingungen	Regenschauer, unberechenbar
Dezember	Kurzregen klingt ab	Beginn Kalbungszeit, gute Tierdichte	Ndutu, Serengeti Süd, Ngorongoro	Weihnachtszeit lebendig, viele Tiere	Hochsaisonpreise, Lodges voll

Where in which month? – Park recommendations

Choosing the right national park depends heavily on the time of year. Each park has its own highlights, which vary throughout the year. If you understand when each region shows its strengths, you can plan your safari optimally.

Best time to visit Serengeti

The Serengeti is famous for the Great Migration and offers spectacular experiences all year round. If you are looking for the best time to visit the Serengeti, you should know that each region of the park has its peak in different months. From December to February, the herds are concentrated in the south, especially around Ndutu. During this time, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra give birth and predators are at their peak – perfect months for intense game viewing. In May and June, the herds migrate to the Western Corridor, where they cross the Grumeti River with its giant crocodiles. From July to September, the migration reaches the north of the Serengeti. The river crossings on the Mara are among the most dramatic scenes Africa has to offer.

Best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is a year-round destination. Due to its closed geography and constant water and food supply, the animal density remains stable. Rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes and numerous other species can be seen at any time of the year. Even though the crater is popular with tourists, it is one of the absolute highlights of any trip to Tanzania.

Best time to visit Tarangire

From July to November, Tarangire is one of the best parks for elephant watching. Huge herds gather at the Tarangire River, while many other animals are also concentrated here. From March to June, the so-called “small migration” takes place: Many animals leave the park to search for nutrient-rich pastures outside and give birth to their offspring. As there are waterholes everywhere, the animals disperse widely. However, as soon as the dry season begins, these springs dry up and the animals return. The Tarangire River with its permanent water then concentrates an impressive variety of wildlife, which is particularly easy to observe in the dry season. The months from November to May show a completely different side: then the landscape is lush green, less frequented and a paradise for birdwatchers.

Best time to visit Ruaha

Ruaha is a wild and pristine park with fascinating baobab landscapes. The chances of sightings are particularly high from June to October. Prides of lions, large herds of elephants and even wild dogs can be observed during this time. In the rainy season, on the other hand, the vegetation blossoms and the landscape is particularly impressive, but some paths are difficult to drive on.

Best time to visit Nyerere (formerly Selous)

The huge Nyerere National Park is particularly suitable from June to October. In the dry season, the animals gather along the Rufiji River and at numerous lakes. Boat trips are possible here, offering a completely new perspective on elephants, hippos and crocodiles. Outside of these months, the park remains vast and untouched, although it is difficult to access during the long rainy season.

Understanding rainy seasons - vuli and masika

Tanzania has two distinct rainy seasons, each of which characterizes the safari experience in its own way.

The short rainy seasonin Swahili vuli falls in the months of November and December and can sometimes extend into January. During this time, there are usually short, heavy showers that fall in the afternoon or evening. The rain rarely lasts all day. Nature recovers, the plains become lush green and wonderful contrasts are created for photographers. Many lodges and camps remain open during this phase, so safaris are still very much possible. In addition, the national parks are less crowded, which makes for a quieter travel experience.

The long rainy seasonthe masikalasts from March to May. April traditionally sees the most rainfall. Many camps and lodges close during these months as roads and tracks are often difficult to pass. Game viewing can be limited as a result. Nevertheless, this season also has its advantages: Accommodation often offers attractive prices, the vegetation is particularly lush and visitor numbers fall to a minimum. If you are looking for peace and quiet and want to experience nature in all its power, this is the time to gather extraordinary impressions.

Best time to travel by type of trip

Families, couples and first-time visitors

Those planning their first safari or traveling with the family will find the best conditions in the months of June to September. The weather is stable, the vegetation is thinner and the chances of sightings are very high. Animals are easy to find and the risk of weather-related restrictions is low. The months of January to March are equally interesting in Ndutu, when the calving season makes for particularly exciting sightings. Families with children in particular can experience impressive scenes that will remain in their memories for a long time.

Photographers

The months of June to October are particularly rewarding for photographers. In the dry season, the animals congregate at rivers and waterholes, allowing clear sightings and providing perfect opportunities for impressive shots. Dusty light moods in the evening sun and spectacular landscape backdrops also provide strong contrasts. Another highlight is January and February in the southern Serengeti around Ndutu. During the calving season, hundreds of thousands of young wildebeest and zebra are born and predators are particularly active – ideal conditions for dramatic wildlife photography.

Travelers with a focus on peace and budget

For guests who prefer peace and quiet, a green landscape and attractive prices, the so-called Green Season is ideal. From November to December and from March to May, there are significantly fewer visitors in the parks. Lodges attract guests with cheaper offers, nature is lush and colorful, and birdwatchers find a true paradise. Although occasional rain showers are to be expected, this is often when the most intense light and color moods are created for a special safari experience.

Combine Tanzania safari and Zanzibar

Many travelers combine a Tanzania safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday.
This combination offers the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation: first exciting game drives in the national parks, then relaxation on white sandy beaches with turquoise blue sea.

The months of June to October and December to February are particularly recommended to enjoy both parts of the trip to the full. During this time, safari conditions are ideal with a high density of wild animals that can be easily observed in the dry season. At the same time, Zanzibar offers ideal beach weather during these months with plenty of sunshine and warm water that is perfect for swimming, snorkeling or diving.

Even during the short rainy season in November, the island remains a worthwhile destination. Although short showers can occur, they are usually short-lived and the temperatures remain pleasantly warm.