Tanzania & Kenya Safari by Month

A quick month-by-month read on Tanzania and Kenya — weather, where the migration is, and what each month is best for.

Month by month

Month	What to expect
January	Green season; Serengeti calving begins in the south. Warm, short showers. Great cats; good Kilimanjaro window.
February	Peak calving in Ndutu — thousands of wildebeest born, intense predator action. One of the best months for photography.
March	Tail of the green season; lush and quiet before the long rains. Good value, fewer vehicles.
April	Long rains; wettest month. Some camps close, prices lowest. Lush landscapes for the flexible traveller.
May	Rains easing; very green and quiet. Herds moving through the central/western Serengeti.
June	Dry season starts. Grumeti crossings begin in the west. Excellent all-round game viewing; Kilimanjaro season opens.
July	High season. Migration heading north; first Mara River crossings. Clear, cool, superb viewing.
August	Prime migration in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara — dramatic river crossings. Busy; book early.
September	Still excellent in the north; slightly quieter than August. Beautiful clear weather.
October	Last of the crossing season; herds begin moving south. Hot, dry, great wildlife. Strong Kilimanjaro month.
November	Short rains arrive; landscapes green up. Fewer crowds and good value; herds returning south.
December	Festive season; warm and green with the herds back in the south. Great cats and good beach weather in Zanzibar.

ℹ Migration moves, it doesn’t have a timetable

Wildlife is wild — crossings and calving shift with the rains each year. We position your camps for the best odds based on the latest movements.

Which month has the river crossings?+

Most reliably July–October in the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara.

Which months should beach-lovers avoid?+

Zanzibar is wettest in April–May; June–October and December–February are ideal.