Best Time to Visit Tanzania & Zanzibar 2024 – Hail Tours Tanzania
The best time to visit Tanzania for safari varies from one traveler to another and reason for visiting Tanzania among other factors. What one may consider the best time to travel to Tanzania may turn to be the worst time to another person.
In most cases, the best time to visit Tanzania is determined by factors such as the activities a tourist intends to do or wildlife he or she wishes to see while on Tanzania safaris.
Tanzania is entirely an all-year-round travel destination though the dry season is considered to be the best time to travel to this beautiful African safari destination. That is from June, July, August, September to early October or visit Tanzania from December, January to early March.
During the 2 phases of dry season, tourists on Tanzania safaris are guaranteed of high wildlife visibility. Also, if your intention is to witness the wildebeest migration or calving, the dry season still plays an important part. Wildebeest calving season often falls in the months of January and February.
Most Tanzania safari destinations become wet/muddy making it challenging navigating through game tracks to search for wildlife during the wet or rainy season. The wet months of the year in Tanzania are April, May and November, though they are the best months to enjoy the lush vegetation of Tanzania or sight migratory birds in their thousands.
It should be noted that Tanzania experiences a tropical climatic conditions and these differ depending on the region and elevation. The coastal area of Tanzania is hot and humid unlike the low lying regions that are drier and cool. When planning for Tanzania safari, it is essential to put into consideration the two seasons- dry and wet season.
Visit Tanzania during the off/low or wet season
Visiting Tanzania safari parks at the start of wet season is of great advantage to some nature lovers. To most visitors, between peak and low season, higher chances are tourists can still enjoy excellent view of wildlife due to short grass and rains don’t begin falling heavily.
Tanzania safaris during the green season
Green season often occurs between or after rains and it is a favorite time on its own when it comes to Tanzania safaris. It is during this period when there is plenty of water on the surface flowing from rivers and existing waterholes.
During this period, most wildlife especially grazers- zebras, wildebeests, giraffes etc take advantage of the fresh grass to feed on making it ideal period to keep an eye on most of them as they forage.
When is the best time for Tanzania safaris?
The dry season is amazingly the best time to go Tanzania safaris. Explore diversity of wildlife in savanna parks of Tanzania from June till October or June to July. This is as well the ber time to visit Tanzania for wildebeest migration experience. visit Serengeti National Park from January to February as ot is an ideal birthing season for wildebeests.
Most of Southern and Western circuit protected areas are excellent explored during the dry season.
Visit Tanzania as per weather
Tanzania enjoys conducive weather conditions with the rainy season experienced from March, April and May. The daily temperatures on the other hand often decrease as low as 30 degrees with high humidity.
During the long dry season, rains are minimal or aren’t experiences regardless of location whether it is an island or not. It is generally sunny and the sky clear during the dry season.
Visiting Tanzania by months of the year
- From June to October, dry season- Tanzania is best to visit for wildebeest migration watching/experience.
- August-September-a favorite time to watch wildebeest as they cross the Mara river.
- January to February- the ideal months to explore the wildebeest give birth in the Southern Serengeti National Park.
- March-May, rainy season ideal for game viewing in Tanzania safari parks such as Ruaha National Park, Katavi, Tarangire and Selous Game Reserve.
What to pack for Tanzania safari holidays?
When you think of Tanzania safaris, there are lots of things to pack but the essential items include daypack, sun hat, sunglasses, lightweight scarf, long sleeved shirts, rain jacket, trousers, safari boots/shoes, cotton socks, sunscreen, headlamp, passport, insect repellent and more.
Best places to visit in Tanzania for a safari
Tanzania is a vast country in East Africa with several pristine National Parks, Reserves, historical sites and more. The top places to consider visiting for Tanzania safari include Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area or Ngorongoro Crater, Ruaha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Gombe & Mahale Mountains National Parks, Kilimanjaro National Park.
Other places to visit include Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Katavi National Park, Saanane Islands National Park, Kitulo National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Arusha National Park, Mkomazi National Park.
Top historic and cultural places to explore on Tanzania safaris include Stone Town in Zanzibar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major attraction in Zanzibar-Tanzania) with several sites to be visited including museums, ancient buildings, memorial centers. The national museum and house of culture in Dar-es-Salaam, Askari Monument, Village Museum.
Wildlife in Tanzania
Tanzania is amazingly a home to diverse wildlife species often spotted in various habitats ranging from savanna, grassland plains, wetlands, wooded forests. The species of wildlife to look out for on Tanzania safaris include wildebeests, elephants, sitatungas, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, giraffes, gazelles, hippos, hyenas, crocodiles, warthogs, zebras, snakes, plus other mammals.
Over 1112 species of birds call Tanzania a home and they range in different habitats. They include flamingos, ostriches, loveridge’s sunbird, Mrs moreau’s warblers, Iringa akalat, Fischer’s lovebird, banded green sunbird, grey breasted spur fowl, Tanzania red billed hornbill, Usambara weaver. Other birds to sight include Tanzania seedeater, rufous tailed sunbird, hartlaub’s turacos, marsh tchagra, pallid honeyguide, long tailed fiscal, Livingstone’s flycatcher, lappet faced vulture, green headed oriole, golden breasted starling etc.
Activities to do in Tanzania- East Africa
Tanzania has plenty of unforgettable safari activities/experiences for every traveler to be part. These range from nature/wildlife, cultural to hiking/mountaineering experiences and they include wildebeest migration experience offered at Serengeti National Park; big five game safaris or wildlife viewing, camping safaris, mountaineering, beach holiday at Zanzibar, scuba diving.
Others include hot air balloon safaris, explore Stone town, chimpanzee encounters, marvel at the rift valley, explore olduvai gorge, birding and many others.
Best Time to visit Zanzibar
For a thrilling tropical getaway, the best time to visit Zanzibar is during the dry season which range from June to October and from December to February. These months come with a pleasant weather featured with clear skies and calm temperatures which makes them the perfect months for enjoyment of outdoor activities that this stunning island uad to offer.
Dry months ranging from June to October come with a cooler and less humid climate which is perfect for relaxation and enjoyment of outdoor explorations.You’ll experience mild, sunny days, making it ideal for beach lovers.
On the other hand, the months of December to February come with a relatively warm weather giving adventurers a perfect condition for enjoyment of waater adventurous activities, with enough sunshine to bask in.
Top activities enjoyed at zanzibar during these dry months include Snorkeling & Diving, relaxing at Zanzibar’s pristine beaches like Nungwi, Kendwa, and Paje, sunbathing, swimming, exploring Zanzibar’s famous spice plantations, historical sites such as Stone town,taking a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow for a serene and picturesque view of the Indian Ocean.
We advise you to void the Rainy Seasons, especially the long rain months which range from March to May as they can make travel and outdoor activities less pleasant.
Best Time to visit Tanzania for Migration
The best time to visit Tanzania for the Great Migration is during the dry months that’s from June to October. These are the great months for particularly witnessing the wildebeest and zebras crossing the deadly rivers of Mara and Grumenti filled with crocodiles. crocodile-infested Mara and Grumeti Rivers. Here’s a breakdown of the great migration stages basing on different months:
The months of June to July are the best time to see the dramatic Grumeti River crossings in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti National Park.
During the months of August to October, the migration moves northward typi ally to the Mara River, offering a spectacular view of the Mara river wildbeest crossings. This river crossings is cconsideredto be one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Earth.
The wildbeest migration season from January to March also known as the migration calving season takes place in the Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is when thousands of wildebeest calves are born, and predators are highly active, making it a great time for game viewing.
You will notice that each season offers a unique viewing opportunities, but the July to October period is the most popular for witnessing the intense river crossings.
