Tanzania offers an astonishing diversity and concentration of wildlife, from the immense Serengeti and towering Mount Kilimanjaro to the remote national parks of Katavi and Mahale. The country is a year-round birding destination boasting over 1000 species, but it is particularly good at the height of the northern hemisphere's winter (December to February), when some 160 species of migrating birds make their way south.
For game viewing, the best time to visit Tanzania depends on your priorities. Much of Katavi National Park is accessible only during the dry season (June to mid-October), and this is also the best time to visit Tarangire. Tanzania is also a botanical treasure-trove, with habitats ranging from Afro-Alpine to semi-desert. January/February and June/July (the months after the bimodal rainy seasons) make for the best floral displays.
In the Serengeti, the wet season is the best time to see the enormous herds of wildebeest, though the migration patterns vary and are difficult to predict. The dry season is best for seeing predators. The months immediately after the two rainy seasons provide the best floral displays in other national parks like Lake Manyara and Tarangire. Typically, Tanzania offers excellent game viewing throughout the year as not all animals migrate and are year-round residents.
The best months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are from August to October and from January to March. CLIMATE
Summer: December – March Winter: March – May
Tanzania's climate is tropical on the coast, on the islands and in Selous. It is temperate inland. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru drop to below freezing. Late March – late May is traditionally the long rainy season and is considered the “winter period” in Tanzania. June – late October is the dry season. June, July and August can be very cold on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Mnemba Island is lovely at this time of year, the evenings are cool (not cold) and the daytime can be hot. Late October – mid December is when the short rains occur. These are usually in the form of daily thunderstorms. The Ngorongoro Crater rim has a wonderful climate at this time of year.
The Serengeti and Lake Manyara are quite warm and Mnemba is very hot. Mid December – March is summer weather. It is dry and very warm until March. Due to its altitude Ngorongoro Crater is much cooler than elsewhere. |
