The best months to visit Tanzania for a safari

Personally, we don't think there is a 'bad time' to visit Tanzania! It really is an all year-round safari destination which is what makes it so fantastic! There are just pros and cons depending on which months of the year you choose to visit.

Tanzania has two seasons, the wet season and dry season. The dry season is considered the 'best time' to visit for a safari as the bush is thinner and wildlife gathers around watering holes, making wildlife easier to spot!

Below we break down the pros and cons of each month, when the high and low seasons are and what to expect with crowds!

Month-by-month breakdown:

January - February

This is a wonderful time to visit Tanzania. We visited the first week of February!

It's shoulder season and there is usually a break in the rainy season. It's a cheaper time to visit than the high season and it is a wonderful time to see the Great Migration herds begin to gather.

Best For: Fewer crowds, cheaper prices, great wildlife viewing, wildebeest calving season, Great Migration herds gathering, luscious green scenery .

Pros:

• There is a break in the rains, so wildlife viewing is excellent

• You can witness the wildebeest calving season and see the Great Migration herds begin to gather

• It’s a cheaper alternative to high season

• It’s a less busy time to visit than high season

Cons:

• It’s hard to predict exactly when the calving season will start

• A luscious green landscape, which is stunning, but could make wildlife viewing more difficult

• You could still encounter afternoon showers (although we didn't have any rain on our trip!)

• It can be cold in the mornings and evenings

March - May

This is the low season and Tanzania's wettest months, so expect to grab a bargain! The wildlife viewing is more difficult during this time though as the grass is longer, the bush is thicker and some roads may be inaccessible due to flooding.

Best For: Lowest prices, fewer crowds, luscious green scenery & birdwatching

Pros:

• The prices will be at their lowest

• The parks will be the quietest

• It’s a fantastic time for birdwatching

• A luscious green landscape

Cons:

• Wildlife viewing will be more difficult due to the rain and thicker bush, particularly in parks like Tarangire National Park

• Some roads in the parks could be inaccessible due to the rain and flooding

• There will be more mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria

• It is often cloudy and rains most days

  

June - October

This is generally considered the 'best' time for a safari in Tanzania as it's the dry season, so wildlife viewing is exceptional! With that though come the crowds and higher prices!

Best For: Exceptional wildlife viewing, witnessing the Great Migration, great weather

Pros:

• Wildlife viewing is at its best as animals gather around watering holes

• The bush is less dense, the grass is shorter making it easier to spot wildlife

• Little to no rain, with lots of sunshine

• Witness one of nature's spectacles, The Great Migration

Cons:

• This is the most expensive time to visit

• The parks can be crowded, especially if you want to witness the Great Migration

• It gets really cold during the mornings and evenings

November - December

This is the start of the rainy season, however not the wettest months of the rainy season! These months are the shoulder season and therefore see lower prices.

Best For: Fewer crowds & cheaper prices!

Pros:

• The prices will be lower than the high season

• The parks will become quieter with less tourists

• It’s a really good time for birdwatching

• The landscape will start turning luscious and green

Cons:

• Wildlife viewing could become more difficult due to the bush thickening

• The number of mosquitoes will rise, increasing the risk of malaria