Tanzania has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons, and when you visit makes a real difference — particularly for safaris.
Dry Season: June to October
This is the best time for wildlife viewing. Vegetation thins out, animals concentrate around water sources, and the roads into parks are passable. It is also the peak of the Great Migration in the Serengeti, with dramatic river crossings between the Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara occurring from July through October. Expect higher prices and more visitors at popular camps and lodges, particularly in August.
Short Rains: November and December
Brief afternoon showers, usually predictable and clearing quickly. The bush turns green, bird life peaks with the arrival of migrants, and the parks are quieter and cheaper. The short rains rarely disrupt travel plans significantly.
Long Rains: March to May
The main wet season. Heavy, sustained rain falls across much of the country, and some safari camps in the northern parks close entirely. Roads can become impassable. Not impossible to travel, and the landscape is beautiful, but you need to plan carefully and check what's open.
Dry Season: January and February
A second dry spell, often hot, with excellent conditions in the southern parks. This is also calving season in the Serengeti — January and February see hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves born, attracting large predator concentrations. A less-visited time that rewards flexible travellers.
Zanzibar and the Coast
The beaches are good year-round, but the long rains (March–May) bring enough rain to dampen a beach holiday. June to October and December to February are the most reliable months for the coast and islands.
Altitude Matters
The southern and northern highlands, and Kilimanjaro, follow different patterns. Temperatures at altitude are considerably cooler, and Kilimanjaro's summit can be below freezing any time of year. The southern highlands can be cold and wet from June to August.