Best time to visit Tanzania

Safari in Tanzania

Check out Tanzania's wild animals in a spectacular natural surrounding

Best time: June–October

Safari
Safari
Safari
Safari
Safari
Safari

One third of Tanzania's territory is protected wildlife viewing space. It offers some of the best and most varied wildlife on the planet, stunning natural beauty, and amazing landscapes. This is a real paradise for all nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those who want to see some of the planet's largest animals in huge numbers.

A safari in Tanzania can be done in a number of ways. You can have a balloon safari, river safari, or camping safari. Even camping here has lots of different styles from simple mobile camps to luxurious ones with bathrooms, toilets, and hot running water. Tanzania's numerous national parks offer a wide range of possibilities suitable for any expectations. Here you can find giant parks that cover about 5% of the total country's territory as well as smaller and more remote parks. You can easily find elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, antelopes, giraffes, wildebeests, hippos, and a huge variety of birds during a one day trip.

The best chance to see millions of large animals is during the annual migration, which runs from June till October, but in different parks the period may be different. The best location is on the banks of the Mara River between the Serengeti in Tanzania and Masaai in Kenya. If lions and other big cats like leopards and cheetahs are on your wishlist, you'd better start your trip at the Serengeti National Park.

If you'd love to see big families of elephants go to the Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, and Manyara Lake. Big rivers like Ruaha and Rufiji provide a perfect opportunity for wildlife viewing, especially during the dry seasons when herds of animals roam in search of water. From July till September the concentration of migrating wild animals near the water is the highest. Wherever you go in Tanzania the wildlife is all around you, so just come and enjoy it in any way you like!

Practical info

What is the ideal period to explore Tanzania on a safari?

The dry season, which usually occurs between June to October, is the perfect time to explore Tanzania on a safari, as it's when wildlife congregates around watering holes, making it easier to spot them. Another advantage is that June to October is when the massive migration of millions of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles occurs in different areas of Tanzania. Show more

Where is the ideal location to witness the annual migration of animals in Tanzania?

To witness the annual migration of millions of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles, it is ideal to visit the Mara River banks, situated between the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Note that the precise location and timing can depend on the park you'll visit. Show more

What are the varied types of safaris one can experience in Tanzania?

Tanzania offers several types of safaris, such as the balloon, camping and river safari. There are also accommodations available ranging from mobile campsites to luxurious ones, providing hot water and private baths. A balloon safari, in particular, offers tourists with an uncommon view above the plains. Irrespective of the tour type, all experiences offer wondrous sights and sensations. Show more

Which national parks are ideal for observing herds of elephants?

Herds of elephants often gather around watering holes, and in Tanzania, you can spot them at the Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, and Lake Manyara. With these parks covering significant land masses, you're guaranteed to spot several herds and their offspring, for that ideal picture-taking opportunity. Show more

In addition to big cats and elephants, what other animals can be observed in Tanzania's national parks?

There is a wide range of animals to observe in Tanzania's national parks, aside from the big cats and elephants. Among them are giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, buffalos along with various antelope species like impalas, and dik-diks. There are also over thousands of different bird species in Tanzania, providing tourists with an unforgettable auditory and visual experience, showcasing the country's wildlife diversity. Show more

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Authors: Olha Savych