Planning Your Safari
When to Visit Tanzania
An honest month-by-month guide to what each time of year actually looks like — the wildlife, the crowds, the costs, and what we tell our own friends and family.
There is no single best month to visit Tanzania. There is only the month that is best for what you want to see and experience.
Every month in Tanzania offers something genuinely different. August gives you the Migration at its most dramatic — and the crowds to match. February gives you the calving season — arguably the most extraordinary wildlife spectacle on earth. March and April give you landscapes of almost unreal green beauty and pricing that would make you question whether you are really in East Africa. The guide below is what we tell our own family members when they ask us when to come.
January
Calving season, short rains ended
Wildlife
The Southern Serengeti is extraordinary — up to 8,000 newborn wildebeest born daily. Excellent predator sightings as lions and cheetahs exploit the vulnerable calves.
Crowds
High season. Christmas and New Year visitors are still present through early January.
Cost
Peak pricing. Book 6+ months ahead.
Our View
Great for wildlife, challenging for crowds and price.
February
Peak calving — the most extraordinary week in the Serengeti
Wildlife
The single best wildlife spectacle in Africa. The Ndutu region (southern Serengeti/northern Ngorongoro) has the world's highest concentration of newborn mammals.
Crowds
Moderate — less than January, but still busy at Ndutu.
Cost
Still peak. Camps in the Ndutu area fill 3-4 months ahead.
Our View
If you can only come once and want maximum wildlife density, this is your month.
March
Long rains begin — the green season
Wildlife
The migration starts moving north. Landscapes turn vivid green. Fewer predators visible in the short grass. Birds are extraordinary — migratory species arriving.
Crowds
Very low. Most travellers have left.
Cost
Lowest pricing of the year. Many camps offer 30-40% discounts.
Our View
The insider's choice. Dramatically cheaper, genuinely beautiful, wildlife harder to find but rewarding for those who know where to look.
April
Peak of long rains — many roads become impassable
Wildlife
The green season at its most dramatic. Emerald landscapes, dramatic skies, newborn antelope everywhere. Birding is superb. Some camps in the south close due to mud.
Crowds
Minimal. One of the quietest months in Tanzania.
Cost
Low season pricing. Exceptional value.
Our View
Beautiful but logistically challenging. Not recommended for first-time visitors or those with tight itineraries.
May
Rains easing — the transition month
Wildlife
The landscape is still green and beautiful. Wildebeest are moving through the central Serengeti. Predator sightings remain more difficult than dry season but easier than April.
Crowds
Low. The beginning of the shoulder season.
Cost
Low to moderate. Good availability at most camps.
Our View
A solid choice for value-conscious travellers who want green season beauty without the peak of April's rains.
June
Dry season begins — bush starts to dry
Wildlife
The migration is in the western corridor and beginning the northern movement. Wildlife begins to concentrate around water sources. Excellent for general game viewing across all parks.
Crowds
Moderate — school holidays in Europe begin.
Cost
Moderate to high. Shoulder season pricing.
Our View
A good all-rounder month. Wildlife viewing improves significantly as vegetation thins. Crowds not yet at peak.
July
Migration river crossings begin — the spectacle starts
Wildlife
The first Mara River crossings begin. Wildebeest mass on the northern banks. The river crossing sequence — one of the world's great wildlife spectacles — is underway.
Crowds
High. Peak summer holiday season in Europe and North America.
Cost
High season pricing. Lamai and northern Serengeti camps book 6+ months ahead.
Our View
If you want to see the Migration river crossings, July is when it starts. Book a year ahead.
August
Peak migration — best wildlife viewing overall
Wildlife
The migration is at its most dramatic — river crossings daily in the north. This is also the best month for general wildlife in Tarangire (elephant concentrations), and excellent across all northern parks.
Crowds
Maximum crowding at the Mara River and in the northern Serengeti.
Cost
Highest pricing of the year at many camps.
Our View
Unmatched for wildlife drama. But know that you will share the experience with many others at popular crossing points.
September
End of crossings — return south begins
Wildlife
The final dramatic Mara River crossings. Wildebeest begin the return south. Predator density in the northern Serengeti remains very high. Tarangire continues to offer excellent elephant sightings.
Crowds
Still high, but beginning to ease as European holidays end.
Cost
Still high but slightly lower than August.
Our View
The best combination of wildlife quality and slightly reduced crowds. September is our most requested month for repeat visitors.
October
Short rains begin — another green season window
Wildlife
The short rains arrive, turning the northern Serengeti green again. Wildebeest are moving south through the Lolilioni and Boliha popi areas. Bird migration brings additional species.
Crowds
Low to moderate. Shoulder season.
Cost
Moderate. Excellent value compared to August-September.
Our View
The most underrated month in Tanzania. Green landscapes, wildlife still concentrated, crowds significantly reduced, pricing 30% below peak.
November
Short rains — second green season
Wildlife
Similar to October. The short rains create green landscapes. Wildebeest calving begins again in the southern Serengeti — smaller scale than February but still significant.
Crowds
Low. The forgotten shoulder season.
Cost
Low season pricing. Exceptional value.
Our View
Another insider's choice. Particularly good for photographers — green landscapes, dramatic skies, fewer vehicles.
December
Christmas peak — short rains
Wildlife
Green season conditions. The southern Serengeti is beginning to see wildebeest returns. Birding is excellent. Predator sightings more difficult but improving as vegetation thins.
Crowds
High — Christmas and New Year travellers arrive.
Cost
Peak pricing for Christmas and New Year weeks.
Our View
Christmas week is peak pricing and peak crowding. The week before and after Christmas is significantly better value and noticeably quieter.
Still not sure which month is right for you?
Tell us what you most want to see and do. We will tell you which month delivers it — and which months to avoid.
The Short Version
When should I come?
For the Migration river crossings
July through October. Book 9-12 months ahead for the best camps.
For the calving season
January through February. The Ndutu region of the southern Serengeti.
For the best value
March, April, May, October, November. Green season discounts of 30-50%.
For first-time visitors
June through September. The dry season offers easiest wildlife viewing and most reliable conditions.