Last updated 12 August 2026 · 11 min read
Tanzania sits just south of the equator, so temperatures barely change through the year. Rain is the variable, not heat. Altitude matters more than season: Arusha is 1,400m, the Ngorongoro rim is 2,300m and the Serengeti plains sit around 1,500m, so mornings are cool everywhere in the highlands.
There are two rainy seasons: the long rains from mid March to May, and the short rains in November and early December.
Month by month in the safari parks
| Month | Days, Serengeti | Nights | Rain | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C | 15°C | Occasional showers | Green plains, calving begins at Ndutu |
| February | 29°C | 15°C | Short showers | Peak calving. Excellent light, warm days |
| March | 29°C | 16°C | Rising, long rains from mid month | Quiet, good value, some soft tracks |
| April | 27°C | 16°C | Wettest month | Lowest prices, greenest landscape, some camps close |
| May | 26°C | 15°C | Rain easing late in month | Green, empty, herds moving west |
| June | 25°C | 13°C | Dry | Dry season starts. Cool mornings, superb conditions |
| July | 25°C | 12°C | Dry | Peak season. Cold dawns, crossings begin |
| August | 26°C | 12°C | Dry | Peak season. Dusty, excellent game viewing |
| September | 27°C | 13°C | Dry | Prime crossing month, thinning crowds late |
| October | 28°C | 14°C | Dry, first storms late | Hot, dusty, dramatic skies |
| November | 28°C | 15°C | Short rains | Beautiful light, few tourists, herds returning south |
| December | 28°C | 15°C | Showers, easing | Green, festive-season pricing from around 20 December |
Ngorongoro crater rim runs roughly 8 to 10°C colder than these figures at night, and can be down to 5°C in July.
Zanzibar, for comparison
| Season | Months | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Hot and dry | December to February | 32°C, humid, best swimming |
| Long rains | mid March to May | Heavy afternoon downpours, many hotels discount |
| Cool and dry | June to October | 29°C, breezy, the best beach months |
| Short rains | November | Brief showers, still very usable |
What rain actually does to a safari
- Afternoon, not all day. Even in April the pattern is a heavy hour, then clearing. - Roads. Black-cotton soil in the western Serengeti and around Ndutu gets slippery. Our Land Cruisers handle it; itineraries just allow more time. - Wildlife. Animals disperse because water is everywhere, so sightings take more patience. Birding is at its best, with migrants present from November to April. - Prices. April, May and early June are the cheapest months of the year, often 30 to 40 percent below August.
Our honest picks
- Best overall weather: late June to October. - Best value with good weather: early June, and November. - Best photography: February for calving, and April to May for dramatic green-season skies. - Avoid if you hate rain: April.
“In April people cancel because of the rain. What they miss is that it rains for an hour in the afternoon, the plains turn green, the light is unbelievable and the park is empty.”
Ready to turn this into a trip?
FAQ
What are the rainy seasons in Tanzania?+
The long rains run from mid March to May, and the short rains fall in November and early December. Rain usually comes as heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day drizzle.
Is it cold on safari in Tanzania?+
Days are 25 to 29°C, but early mornings are cool: 12 to 15°C on the Serengeti plains and as low as 5°C on the Ngorongoro crater rim in July. Bring a fleece and a windproof jacket.
Is April a bad month for a Tanzania safari?+
It is the wettest month and some camps close, but it is also the cheapest, greenest and quietest. If your budget matters more than dry tracks, April is excellent value.
Which month has the best weather for a Tanzania safari?+
July through September: dry, sunny, cool mornings and warm afternoons. It is also the busiest and most expensive stretch of the year.
Does it rain in the Serengeti in August?+
Very rarely. August sits in the middle of the dry season, and the main weather issue is dust rather than rain.
