The best time to go to Tanzania for general game viewing
Peak game viewing in Tanzania is in the dry winter season, between June and October – this is the ideal time to explore the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara because game is concentrated around water sources and the great migration river crossings take place in July/ August. If you’d prefer to avoid high-season crowds, we recommend combining Ruaha and the Selous with a beach break on the coast, or heading to Lake Victoria to combine chimp trekking in Mahale and Gombe with game viewing in the Katavi.
Game viewing is still excellent after the short rains in November but, for the best value, travel before 15 December to avoid the Christmas crowds (and prices!). During the traditional low season from January to March, there are baby animals everywhere, the days are deliciously hot, the dust is settled by afternoon thundershowers and, best of all, you’ll enjoy the very best value for money and crowd-free game viewing.
For keen photographers, this quiet period – known as the green season – offers very special advantages: expect lush green landscapes rather than the dull browns of winter; dramatic cloudy skies rather than winter’s endless pale blue skies; and much more relaxed game viewing conditions, which means more time to to get that winning shot.
