When Is the Best Time for A Tanzania Safari?

Tanzania is one of the best safari destinations in Africa, with thousands of travelers visiting the country’s many parks each year. Before you book a safari, it’s a good idea to carefully research tour guides to learn more about your safari options! It’s also a good idea to learn about the Tanzania wildlife seasons to guarantee you’re traveling during the time of year when wildlife is active. An experienced guide, like the ones working with Gondwana Ecotours, can help you learn more about the seasonal wildlife highlights in Tanzania and how to plan your trip around them.

On Safari in Tanzania

Tanzania’s location near the equator makes it a year-round safari destination. However, there are some general guidelines to follow when planning your trip. Most importantly, remember that the best time for a wildlife safari in Tanzania is during the dry season, from June to October, especially if you want to see the Great Migration in the Serengeti National Park! Also, keep in mind that Tanzania wildlife seasons are dictated by the rains, so your safari experience will vary depending on what time of year you visit.

Here are five key tips to keep in mind when considering the seasonal wildlife highlights in Tanzania:

• Best time to visit: June to October (all parks); January to February (Serengeti National Park, to see wildebeest calving).
• High season: June to March in the Northern Circuit Parks, June to October in the Southern and Western Circuit Parks – high season is peak tourist season, with crowded parks.
• Low season: April and May (rainy conditions cause many lodges near the Southern and Western Circuit parks to close).
• Best weather: June to October (little to no rainfall across the entire country) – peak tourist season across the country.
• Worst weather: March to May, during the height of the rainy season. Many amenities, like lodges and campgrounds, are closed.

Chasing The Great Migration in Tanzania

One of Tanzania’s biggest tourist attractions is the Great Migration, which occurs year-round across the Serengeti. However, the best time of year to witness huge herds of wildebeest and zebra on the move is between July and September. And, if you want a front-row seat to this epic event, your best bet is to stick with game drives in the Northern Circuit Parks.

The four main game parks of the Northern Circuit are:

• Serengeti National Park
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area (which encompasses Ngorongoro Crater)
• Tarangire National Park
• Lake Manyara National Park

Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater offer visitors a year-round safari experience, with great game viewing during all the Tanzania wildlife seasons. The parks do tend to get crowded, however, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park as less well-known than the other parks of the Northern Circuit, but are still fantastic options for wildlife viewing. Visitors enjoy these quieter parks because they offer different landscapes, habitats, and animal concentrations than the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater.

4 Key Tanzania Wildlife Seasons

The Northern Circuit of Tanzania has a subtropical climate. This means it has warm, wet seasons and dry cooler seasons. Tanzania’s location near the Equator allows for 8 hours of sunlight every day, no matter the season. Keep reading for a year round safari guide tailored to the Northern Circuit!

Season	Time of Year	Description
Short Dry Season	January to mid-March	Migratory birds flock to all four of the Northern Circuit parks, making it a great time for bird watching. It is also calving season for antelope, wildebeest, and zebra. Certain areas of the Serengeti can get crowded during this time.
Long Wet Season	Mid-March to May	The off-season for tourism. This time of long rains closes many parks and makes many roads impassable. However, the rain does lead to lush landscapes and parks that are practically empty.
Long Dry Season	June to mid-October	Most popular time for safaris along the Northern Circuit. The dry days mean vegetation dries up and makes wildlife viewing easier. Cooler temperatures make game drives more pleasant for tourists, too!
Short Wet Season	Mid-October to December	Tourist numbers drop rapidly during this period. Migratory birds begin arriving, however, making Tarangire National Park a popular off-season safari location.

 A Year Round Safari Guide by Park

While you can enjoy an amazing Northern Circuit safari any time of year, Tanzania wildlife seasons do vary from park to park! It’s worth considering seasonal wildlife highlights in Tanzania before you finalize your travel plans!

• Serengeti National Park: Year-round safari destination, but the best time to see the Great Migration is from June to October. Calving season takes place in January to March.
• Tarangire National Park: June to October is the best time to visit, with elephants and other wildlife congregating around water sources.
• Lake Manyara National Park: June to October is the best time to visit, with opportunities to see wildlife, including the tree-climbing lions. However, November is a good time for birders to visit if they want to see migratory birds.
• Ngorongoro Crater: June to October is the best time to visit, with a high concentration of wildlife, including the popular Big Five, both in and around the crater.

Go South for More Seasonal Wildlife Highlights in Tanzania!

While the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater offer good wildlife viewing throughout the year, the Southern and Western Circuit Parks are best visited during the dry season, from June to October. During the wet season, from March to May, heavy rain often disrupts travel, and muddy roads can become impassable. Often, safari lodges and campgrounds will close because the weather is so severe and no one can move between locations.

The five main parks of the Southern Safari Circuit include:

• Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve)
• Ruaha National Park
• Udzungwa Mountains National Park
• Mikumi National Park
• Kitulo National Park

The three main parks of the Western Safari Circuit include:

• Katavi National Park
• Mahale Mountains National Park
• Gombe Stream National Park

The Western Circuit is very remote and often can only be reached by plane. These remote and untouched parks are famous for their chimpanzee treks, game drives, and walking safaris, although seasonal wildlife highlights in Tanzania – near the Southern and Western Circuit parks – are heavily dependent on the rainfall! However, they are very popular with tourists who have already experienced a Northern Circuit safari and are looking for a fresh take on Tanzania wildlife seasons in other areas of the country.

On Safari in Tanzania with Gondwana Ecotours

Tanzania wildlife seasons run all year long, depending on the location you choose to visit! Whether you are following the Great Migration across the Serengeti or venturing into the more remote locations along the Southern and Western Circuits, the sky’s the limit! An experienced tour operator like Gondwana Ecotours can help you plan the best time to see the seasonal wildlife highlights in Tanzania that you want to see, and to design a once-in-a-lifetime adventure you’ll never forget.