Tanzania and Zanzibar is a great destination for most of the year. The rainy months of April and May are are worth avoiding.  Zanzibar follows a similar pattern to the mainland Tanzania and combining safari and beach has never been easier than here! 
Tanzania is on the equator and therefore has a very nice temperature year-round. The only place it ever really gets chilly is in the peaks of Kilimanjaro or on the rim of the mighty Ngorongoro Crater. When safari and beach is the aim of a trip here (which 9 times out of 10 it is), then the main thing to consider is when it rains. There are two main rainy seasons in Tanzania; the short rains and the long rains. The short rains are in November, and can trickly into the following months, but generally it turns nice and dry again before the long rains which erupt in late March/April and carry on through until the end of May.

The best time to go to Tanzania if you are looking to absolutely avoid rain is therefore their winter months of July, August and September… For your beach time this is definitely the best time to go. However, you can sneak in a winter break in December, January and February and have mostly clear sunny skies. It is also important to focus on when the wildlife is at it’s best when deciding when to go to Tanzania.

Generally speaking, across Tanzania the best time to see the most prominent wildlife is from mid-June to the end of October, when the weather is dry and the wildlife is more concentrated around the water in the parks. The bushes are also less dense to the wildlife is easier to spot, which is very true for the more seasonal parks of Southern Tanzania. The Great Wildebeest migration is also spectacular in Northern Tanzania in February as the herds congregate in their thousands for calving season… As you can probably tell, each park in Tanzania has it’s own microclimate and unique times to visit, so please see the breakdowns below for a more detailed review of each month.

However, don’t be put off by the green and shoulder season months – in these months the wildlife can be equally as thrilling, and for quite literally half the cost… Talking to an expert is definitely the best way to discover your perfect time to visit, aligning with your particular interests and priorities. 

Ruaha

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Ruaha

292929292828272830313230

Min Temp Night in Ruaha

191919181715141516181920

Hours of Sunshine in Ruaha

6777810910101097

Hours of Daylight in Ruaha

131212121212121212121213

Number Rainy Days in Ruaha

19171913400002719

Rainfall in Ruaha

149123133103171000744149

Ngorongoro Highlands

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Ngorongoro Highlands

232322211919192021222222

Min Temp Night in Ngorongoro Highlands

1010101110888891010

Hours of Sunshine in Ngorongoro Highlands

887677778877

Hours of Daylight in Ngorongoro Highlands

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Ngorongoro Highlands

1615182215766591718

Rainfall in Ngorongoro Highlands

108891362131002212151155114137

Pemba Island

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Pemba Island

323232312929282829303131

Min Temp Night in Pemba Island

232324242321202020212223

Hours of Sunshine in Pemba Island

998768889999

Hours of Daylight in Pemba Island

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Pemba Island

7511171911131312121312

Rainfall in Pemba Island

45261032582839577727110014598

Serengeti

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Serengeti

292929282727262728292828

Min Temp Night in Serengeti

161616161615141515161616

Hours of Sunshine in Serengeti

888788888888

Hours of Daylight in Serengeti

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Serengeti

13131621167677101615

Rainfall in Serengeti

79101130156893413285471117106

Ngorongoro Crater

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Ngorongoro Crater

232322211919192021222222

Min Temp Night in Ngorongoro Crater

1010101110888891010

Hours of Sunshine in Ngorongoro Crater

887677778877

Hours of Daylight in Ngorongoro Crater

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Ngorongoro Crater

1615182215766591718

Rainfall in Ngorongoro Crater

108891362131002212151155114137

Lake Manyara

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Lake Manyara

303030272625252628292929

Min Temp Night in Lake Manyara

161717181715141515161716

Hours of Sunshine in Lake Manyara

888777778988

Hours of Daylight in Lake Manyara

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Lake Manyara

1211151913433251214

Rainfall in Lake Manyara

6080114161362111167175

Mahale Mountains

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Mahale Mountains

282829292929293030302828

Min Temp Night in Mahale Mountains

202020201918171820202020

Hours of Sunshine in Mahale Mountains

66668101098765

Hours of Daylight in Mahale Mountains

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Mahale Mountains

1815181992335111920

Rainfall in Mahale Mountains

134115138167575121552130148

Selous Game Reserve

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Selous Game Reserve

323232313029292931323332

Min Temp Night in Selous Game Reserve

232322222018171719202223

Hours of Sunshine in Selous Game Reserve

787667778888

Hours of Daylight in Selous Game Reserve

131212121212121212121213

Number Rainy Days in Selous Game Reserve

14101616933324815

Rainfall in Selous Game Reserve

1431392193111232315123338110131

Arusha

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Arusha

293029262423232426282828

Min Temp Night in Arusha

151516171614131314151616

Hours of Sunshine in Arusha

888666678988

Hours of Daylight in Arusha

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Arusha

1110142014543251213

Rainfall in Arusha

6364144339169392116163812691

Tarangire

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Tarangire

293029272524242528292929

Min Temp Night in Tarangire

161717181614141415161717

Hours of Sunshine in Tarangire

888667778988

Hours of Daylight in Tarangire

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Tarangire

1311151912433251115

Rainfall in Tarangire

8597130166465001147199

Mafia Island

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Mafia Island

313232313030293030313232

Min Temp Night in Mafia Island

242423232220191919212223

Hours of Sunshine in Mafia Island

787678889998

Hours of Daylight in Mafia Island

131212121212121212121213

Number Rainy Days in Mafia Island

13815171266546813

Rainfall in Mafia Island

137962284672578651322334102186

Dar es Salaam

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Dar es Salaam

323232313029292930313132

Min Temp Night in Dar es Salaam

232323232220191919202123

Hours of Sunshine in Dar es Salaam

887568888988

Hours of Daylight in Dar es Salaam

121212121212121212121213

Number Rainy Days in Dar es Salaam

10412171466657912

Rainfall in Dar es Salaam

70491202291534026232549106114

Zanzibar

NumberNRainyNDays Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Max Temp Day in Zanzibar Beaches

323232302929282930313131

Min Temp Night in Zanzibar Beaches

232222232221201919202122

Hours of Sunshine in Zanzibar Beaches

887668888888

Hours of Daylight in Zanzibar Beaches

121212121212121212121212

Number Rainy Days in Zanzibar Beaches

105121716778891313

Rainfall in Zanzibar Beaches

86541503852547050485296216184



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