Best time to visit Tanzania for safari
When to go for the herds, the predators, the green or the quiet. Tanzania rewards every month, just differently.
When to go on safari in Tanzania
The dry season from June to October gives you the easiest game viewing and the river crossings. The green months bring newborns, softer prices and far fewer vehicles.
Decide what you most want to see, then build the trip around it. Below is how the year unfolds, what the wildlife is doing, and when each park is at its best.
Tanzania safari month by month
Green is ideal, gold is great, pale is quieter and cheaper.
Dry season, June to October
The classic safari window. Thin grass and shrinking water draw animals into the open and make them easy to find. This is when the big cats hunt in plain sight and the herds reach the Mara River. It is also the busiest and priciest stretch.
- The easiest game viewing of the year
- River crossings from July
- Cool mornings, dry afternoons
Green season, November to May
The plains turn emerald, the skies fill with drama, and the wildebeest give birth on the southern grass. Short rains fall around November, longer ones from March to May. Prices are at their lowest and you can have a sighting to yourself.
- Calving in January and February
- Lower prices, fewer vehicles
- Migratory birds and lush light
Where the migration is, month by month
Tap a phase to see where the herds are and what to expect.
Calving on the southern plains
The herds gather on the short grass around Ndutu, where roughly 8,000 wildebeest are born a day in February. Predators follow the newborns, so this is one of the most charged times of the year to watch.
- Where: Ndutu and the southern Serengeti
- Best for: newborns and predator action
Moving north and west
As the land dries, the columns push through the central and western Serengeti and the mating season begins. The Grumeti River is the first real test. It is greener, quieter and good value.
- Where: central Serengeti and the western corridor
- Best for: fewer crowds and the rut
The Mara River crossings
The moment everyone pictures. Tens of thousands of wildebeest throw themselves across crocodile water in the northern Serengeti. It is unpredictable and unforgettable, and the reason many people travel between July and October.
- Where: northern Serengeti, around Kogatende
- Best for: river crossings
Turning back south
The short rains pull the herds south again towards the calving grounds. It is a green, gentle shoulder month with good value before the December crowds arrive.
- Where: heading back to the south
- Best for: value and green scenery
Best time to see key wildlife
Newborns
Calving season fills the southern plains with young, and predators are never far behind.
River crossings
The herds gather to cross the Mara in the north, the most dramatic wildlife event in Africa.
Big cats
Open, dry country makes lion, leopard and cheetah easier to spot than at any other time.
Birding
Migratory birds arrive in their thousands and breeding plumage is at its brightest.
Best time to visit each park
| Park | Best months | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Serengeti, north | Jul–Oct | Mara River crossings |
| Serengeti, south (Ndutu) | Dec–Mar | Calving and heavy predator action |
| Ngorongoro Crater | Year-round | Resident wildlife stays put, Big Five most days |
| Tarangire | Jun–Oct | Huge elephant herds gather along the river |
| Lake Manyara | Jun–Oct | Easier game viewing, flamingos on the lake |
| Nyerere and Ruaha (south) | Jun–Oct | Wild dog denning and big lion prides |
Travelling on set dates?
Tell the planner when you can go and it will match you to the safaris that make the most of your window.
Best time to visit FAQs
What is the best month for a Tanzania safari?
July to September is the strongest single window. You get the easiest dry-season game viewing and a good chance of the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti. August is often the pick of the three.
When can I see the river crossings?
Usually between July and October in the northern Serengeti, though the herds keep their own schedule and timing shifts a little each year with the rains.
Is the green season worth it?
Yes, easily. November to May brings lush country, newborn animals, fewer vehicles and lower prices. Calving in January and February is one of the finest times of the year for predators.
When is the cheapest time to go?
April and May, during the longer rains, carry the lowest rates and the emptiest parks. See the Tanzania safari cost guide for figures.