Seasonal guide · 6 min read
Best time to visit Tanzania
In Tanzania the month determines where in the Serengeti you should sleep, which matters more than almost any other decision you will make.
By the Citrus Tour Safaris team
The month decides the region
The Serengeti is nearly 15,000 square kilometres and the migration moves through it continuously. A camp in the south in August is in the wrong place; a camp in the north in February is equally wrong. Choosing the right sector for your dates is the single highest-leverage decision on a Tanzanian itinerary.
Central Seronera is the exception — it holds excellent resident lion, leopard and cheetah all year, and is the safest choice if your dates are fixed and the herds are not your priority.
June to October: the dry season
The main season. Tarangire is at its best as the surrounding country dries and elephant concentrate along the river, general game viewing is strong everywhere, and from roughly July the herds are in the northern Serengeti where the Mara River crossings happen.
This is also the most expensive and most heavily booked period, particularly for the northern Serengeti camps. Book six to twelve months ahead for July to September.
Late January to March: calving season
The herds are on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu, giving birth. Predator activity is at its most concentrated of the year, off-road driving is permitted in parts of the area, and the photography is exceptional.
Camps here are seasonal and mobile, so availability is limited. This is the window we most often recommend to travellers who have already seen a conventional circuit.
April and May: the long rains
Green, quiet and substantially cheaper, with some camps closed and roads harder. Tarangire in particular becomes unreliable as game disperses beyond the park boundary. It suits flexible, experienced travellers rather than a first trip.
The Crater is the constant
The Ngorongoro Crater does not follow this pattern. Its wildlife is resident rather than migratory and the viewing is excellent in any month, which is why it anchors essentially every northern circuit itinerary regardless of season.
What does change is the vehicle traffic on the floor. An early descent — down as the gate opens rather than after a leisurely breakfast — makes a substantial difference to the experience in any month.
