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When Is The Best Time To Do An African Safari?
If an African Safari is at the top of your Bucket List (and why wouldn’t it be?!), you might be wondering when the best time to head off on your dream trip is.
Tanzania, which is one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations, offers a wide range of wildlife, landscapes and delivers the full safari experience – and that’s true all year round.
Of course, the summer will be incredibly hot, so if you don’t cope well in serious heat, it might be worth thinking about travelling in cooler months. And it’s also worth knowing when the wet and dry seasons are – the last thing you want is to be caught up in rain (we can do that at home, minus the safari!)
When Is The Dry Season In Tanzania?
The dry season in Tanzania is over the summer, starting in July and ending in October.
It’s widely considered the best time to visit the country on safari, given that the weather is dry and mild, giving you the ideal climate to experience the best of the wildlife and landscape.
Some of the highlights include the Great Migration, where millions of zebras, wildebeest and other herbivores head off on a journey across the Serengeti into Kenya’s Masai Mara.
It’s a truly spectacular sight and one that’s a genuine bucket list must-do.
The peak of the great migration occurs between July and September with herds of animals embarking on a perilous journey across the Mara River, doing their best to dodge crocodiles and river-dwelling predators!
Your chances of spotting the Big Five (lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo and leopards) are higher during these months, although as ever, there’s no guarantee you’ll see them all.
The dry season is the peak season for tourism, so expect it to be busier than usual, though.
When Is The Wet Season In Tanzania?
The wet season in Tanzania runs from March to May – it’s generally not the best time for safaris but that’s not to say that you can’t have a good experience.
The landscape transforms into a lush, green paradise and gives a new lease of life to the vegetation, grass, and trees.
Birds can be seen migrating to Tanzania and East Africa during the wet season, so it can make for a spectacular trip if you’re a keen birdwatcher.
Heavy rain can make it difficult for travel, though, with roads and trails sometimes becoming impassable, meaning that safaris can be disrupted or delayed at times.
Many of the lodges and camps in Tanzania close during the rainy season as it tends to be much quieter, so if you are thinking about visiting during the wet season, it’s worth doing a bit of research on where you’ll be heading to check if places will be open.
How Do I Choose The Right Time For My Safari Trip?
Depending on what you want to see and when you want to be in Tanzania, we’d advise avoiding the rainy season and instead heading off during the dry season, between July and September ideally.
It’s the ideal time to get the most out of your safari experience as it gives you the best chance of seeing wildlife, as well as avoiding getting caught in heavy rain.
The shoulder seasons, from November to February, as well as June, can be good times to head off on your Tanzanian adventure, too.
It’s slightly different from the dry season but there isn’t the same risk as in the wet season – it’s somewhere in between the two!
Whatever you’re planning to do on your Tanzanian safari, it’s worth considering what you want to see, do, and achieve on your trip. Booking through a reputable travel company (ahem) means there’s nothing for you to worry about once you arrive – simply head off and enjoy every part of your trip.
Our itinerary includes more than just a safari adventure – we’ll also be visiting a coffee plantation, spending time exploring bustling towns and cities, seeing waterfalls and lakes, and ticking off a big visit to the Serengeti National Park.
That’s just to name a few things.See you between July and September? If you don’t book it now… Will you ever?
