Plan your dates
When is the best time to go on safari in Tanzania?
Pick your travel month below. You will see where the Great Migration is, what the weather does, how busy the parks are, what prices look like and which of our safaris fits best.
Step 1
When are you travelling?
Step 2 — optional
What matters most to you?
August
Peak dry seasonThe classic month for Mara River crossings and the busiest of the year. Tarangire's elephant gatherings are at their peak.
- Great Migration
- Mara River crossings in the far north of the Serengeti.
- Weather
- Dry, clear and cool, 22–26°C.
- Wildlife viewing
- Outstanding; huge concentrations on the Tarangire River.
- Crowds & price
- Crowds: High · Price level: High
Best safaris for August
The whole year at a glance
Every month works for a Tanzania safari — they just work differently. This table is the same information our guides use when advising on dates.
| Month | Season | Verdict | Great Migration | Crowds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Short dry season | Excellent | Herds spread across the Ndutu and southern Serengeti short-grass plains. | Medium | High |
| February | Short dry season | Excellent | Calving season at Ndutu — the densest concentration of the whole year. | Medium | High |
| March | End of calving / start of long rains | Good | Late calving at Ndutu; herds begin drifting west. | Low | Medium |
| April | Long rains | Mixed | Herds moving north-west through the central and western Serengeti. | Low | Low |
| May | End of long rains | Mixed | Herds massing in the western corridor towards the Grumeti River. | Low | Low |
| June | Dry season begins | Excellent | Grumeti River crossings in the western Serengeti. | Medium | Medium |
| July | Peak dry season | Excellent | Herds reaching the northern Serengeti and the first Mara River crossings. | High | High |
| August | Peak dry season | Excellent | Mara River crossings in the far north of the Serengeti. | High | High |
| September | Dry season | Excellent | Herds in the northern Serengeti, crossing back and forth over the Mara. | High | High |
| October | End of dry season | Excellent | Final Mara crossings; herds begin moving south again late in the month. | Medium | Medium |
| November | Short rains | Good | Herds moving south through the central and eastern Serengeti. | Low | Low |
| December | Short rains / festive season | Good | Herds arriving on the southern short-grass plains around Ndutu. | Medium | Medium |
Dry season: June–October
Thin vegetation, animals concentrated on water, cool mornings and the Mara River crossings. Peak prices and peak crowds from July to September — book six to nine months ahead.
Green season: November–March
Short rains clear the dust, migrant birds arrive and the calving season at Ndutu delivers the best predator action of the year. Excellent light for photography.
Long rains: April–May
The wettest and cheapest months. Some camps close and tracks get muddy, but you may share the crater with almost nobody. Best value on the calendar.
Your dates are fixed? Build the trip around the crater.
Ngorongoro's wildlife is resident and does not migrate, so it performs in every month of the year. Tell us your dates and we will position the rest of the itinerary around what the wildlife is actually doing that week.