Weather

General in Tanzania:

The climate in Tanzania is equatorial and mostly tropical. The coastal areas are usually hot and humid, but a light sea breeze cools the air at the beaches. Tanzania has two rain seasons, a big rain season from March up to the end of May and a short rain season between November and the middle of December. The hottest time is from December to March, the coolest months are from June to August. On high-altitude regions like Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Crater highlands the temperatures can fall below freezing.

Safari Seasons:
The best travel time depends of the region you want to visit and the animals you wish to spot. Certain reserves have a good game viewing around the whole year. But you will have particularly good animal viewing or other migratory animals during different seasons.

Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro):
All year, including the rain season. During the dry season (July - October) the animals are concentrated because of the water reservoir. The grass is shorter and the animals are better to see including the hunting activities. From November to June the land is more green and the grass is longer.

Southern Circuit (Selous, Ruaha):
Dry season from July to the end of October. During the rain season it's more difficult to find the big animals in the big plains.

Western Circuit:
All year without rain season

Zanzibar:
All year without big rains, the temperature and humidity is the best between July and September.

Kilimanjaro:
The Kilimanjaro can be trekked all year. Mid-December, January, February and March are the warmest months, almost clear of clouds. April and early May could get heavy rain or snow, but are good if you want a quiet and clear mountain. By late June, July and throughout August it can be very cold at night but the sky is clear above 3000 m so there are great views. Through September and October it gets steadily warmer. October is particularly good if you want little or no rain, mild weather and few people on the mountain. November to mid-December is the short rains season. Possibly you get afternoon thunderstorms but it tends to clear in the evenings with good views at night and mornings. There can be heavy snow towards the summit.

Full moon dates:
It's not necessary but very nice to be on a trekking with full moon. Here are the next full moon dates: