
You can visit Tanzania throughout the year. It mostly depends on what you want to see as the wildlife depends on the rains. Reading different articles will let you know when it is better to visit Tanzania. In this post, we will cover all the months and what animals you can spot if you visit Tanzania in that particular month. The peak tourist period in Tanzania is July to October.
Best months to visit Tanzania:
1) January: January is a hot and dry season in Tanzania as the temperatures rise after the rain in November and December. There is also a chance of short night showers. In this season, towards the end of January on the Ndutu plain, you will get to see some wildebeest action.
2) February: In February, the temperatures still rise and the migration is still on the Ndutu plains. February is an excellent month for trekking Kilimanjaro. You can also go for safaris in the southern and northern parks and a beach holiday in Zanzibar. Just like January, you can expect some light night showers.
3) March: the migration starts heading to the Grumeti River in the west as the temperatures are still very hot. March is a great month for trekking, safari, and beach trips. However, towards the end of the month, there is a chance of rain as Tanzania rolls into its rainy season.
4) April: During April, Tanzania sees heavy rainfall. Traveling during this month is not advisable as the rains can affect planned trips. Trekking, safaris, and beach trips are mostly forbidden during this period.
5) May: Just as the month before, the travel conditions in May are not ideal. The vegetation blossoms this month and is very beautiful. However, it makes spotting wildlife even harder than usual.
6) June: As of June, the heavy rainfall in Tanzania comes to an end and is blanketed by overgrown vegetation and is a fabulous time for bird watching. By the end of the month, the Savannah gets drier, and locating wildlife becomes easier. The migration changes track, heading north from the Grumeti River in June.
7) July: You can spot the migration heading to Kenya and the elephant gathering at Tarangire National park as July is the peak season for visitors. If your goal is to avoid the high season price, you can visit some of the remote southern safari circuit parks like Ruaha and Selous. It is advisable to book in advance in June as it is peak season. Nights, evenings, and mornings can be cooler on the mainland, hence you should pack warmer clothes for early morning safari drives.
8) August: August is a dry and cool season. The wildlife starts searching for water resources, making their actions predictable for guides. You can spot the big five and numerous other animals during this period. August to September is the month for turtles to hatch of the Indian Ocean islands.
9) September: This is the last month of the peak season. In September the migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra are spread across the Serengeti. Watching herds of wildebeest swim across crocodile-infested waters is exciting as you often see scenes of chaos and fear. On the coasts of Zanzibar, you can watch the turtle eggs hatching.
10) October: October is not exactly peak season but it is still quite dry and is a good time for safari, trekking and beach holidays. The migration has now moved to Kenya but there are still numerous animals to see. At the end of October, the rainy season starts.
11) November: November is the start of the rainy season. Although the lodges remain empty during this season the number of visitors is low. The migration slowly moves back south from Kenya, hence some spotting across isolated crossings may be observed. From November to March, white sharks can be observed, on the shores of Zanzibar and Mafia.
12) December: The short wet season comes to an end in mid-December. Although there can still be some short rains they are usually overnight. It is a great time to visit Zanzibar in December as the temperatures are steadily rising.
Conclusion: After reading up on what different months in Tanzania have to offer you can make a thoughtful decision on when to visit the country. Before visiting any country it is better to know about things concerning the country. Check out – Things to know before going on a Tanzania Safari so you will be well prepared for your trip.