Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa but has far fewer inhabitants than, for example, Ethiopia or Kenya. This means plenty of open land, home to an incredible variety of wildlife. The country lies south of the equator and largely experiences a savannah climate.
Seasons
Tanzania has a long and a short rainy season. During the short rainy season, it generally only rains in the evening and at night, which can actually be quite pleasant as it cools things down a bit. In the long rainy season, you might experience some daytime rain, but even then, showers mostly occur after sunset. And even in these wet seasons, Northern Tanzania remains quite accessible due to its decent infrastructure. It’s much quieter during this time, and it certainly doesn’t rain all day—often just a few hours. Everything is young, fresh, and green. Perfect if you love: large numbers and herds, animals, creatures, wildlife, and organisms immersed in the vastness under the golden African sun, with the occasional refreshing shower during certain periods.
Northern Tanzania
Serengeti National Park – Lake Manyara – Lake Natron – Ngorongoro Crater The famous Serengeti enjoys a year-round enviable temperature of between 15 °C and 25 °C. So, which month is the best to visit?- March to May: The long rainy season in this part of Tanzania!
- October and November: The 'mango rains,' a short rainy season.
- June to October: These are the coolest months, with lower temperatures in the evening. In the southwest of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater rim sits at an altitude of around 2,300 metres. This elevation makes it cooler than the Serengeti, with more significant temperature drops at night.
Tanzania’s gem, Mount Kilimanjaro
For you thrill-seekers, you can climb the peak—Uhuru—of freedom pretty much all year round! So, when should you go?- In April and May, there’s a bit more snow and rain.
- In January, February, March, August, September, and October, you’ve got a better chance of clear views.
- In Arusha and Moshi, temperatures are pleasant, ranging from 20°C to 30°C. As you climb higher, it gets significantly cooler, especially at night.
- In the high mountains, daytime temperatures are around 5°C to 6°C, and at night they can drop to -10°C to -15°C.
Usambara Mountains
For the slightly less hardened climber, we organise trips to the Usambara Mountains in East Tanzania, where the temperatures are less extreme and unpredictable than on Kilimanjaro. Off the beaten track Tanzania, but with a pleasant rainforest climate in the lower regions. As you venture into higher altitudes, temperatures drop to around 12°C, but for us Dutch folks, that’s still pretty decent!Zanzibar
Zanzibar, with its tropical rainforest climate, is a true paradise island, where scorching heat is occasionally broken up by a refreshing shower. The ever-present easterly trade winds make it the perfect spot to chillax!- June to February: This is the ideal time to visit if you're all about soaking up the sun.
- March, April, May: Be prepared for a few rain showers.
