When to Visit Tanzania?

Famous for its vast wilderness, national parks, and the Zanzibar archipelago, Tanzania is a beautiful destination to explore in Africa. Choosing the right period is an important step in preparing your trip and fully enjoying its natural wonders With the rainy and dry seasons, it can be tricky to know when to go to Tanzania and which months are the most pleasant. If you're still unsure, this practical guide analyzes the temperatures and climate by time of year, as well as activities to do for each season.

Tanzania is clearly one of the trendiest vacation destinations, known for its exceptional landscapes, unique wildlife, and the stunning white-sand beaches of Zanzibar Even if you don't know yet when to go, know that you've already made the right choice!

Among the most impressive sites in Tanzania, visiting the Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the ultimate activity. Its immense plains are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five that you may have the chance to encounter on a nature safari

If you prefer sporty hikes like trekking, Mount Kilimanjaro is obviously one of the most popular sites. This majestic mountain, towering at 5,895 meters, offers several routes leading to its summit. Better yet, the more daring can climb the 25-kilometer diameter Ngorongoro Crater!

For travelers in search of relaxation, you can explore the Zanzibar archipelago, known for its white-sand beaches lined with palm trees and breathtaking turquoise waters... Culturally speaking, I highly encourage you to explore Stone Town for its historic architecture and markets. And if you decide to stay for several days, be sure to check out my article on the best places to stay where to stay in Zanzibar

Overall, the country has warm temperatures year-round. You will need to simply adapt your activities based on the weather forecast. If you're not sure how to proceed, keep reading!

Considering all the information shared in the previous section, the dry season is clearly the best time to visit Tanzania. Temperatures are warm but very bearable, the days are sunny, and the chance of rain is low, if not almost nonexistent. Of course, it still depends on what you want to do during your trip, but when in doubt, opt for the dry period!

Obviously, the highlight activity for travelers in Tanzania is a safari! Among the most visited sites, Serengeti Park is undoubtedly the most impressive, home to numerous species including the Big Five!

When deciding to visit Serengeti National Park, thoughts immediately turn to discovering savanna animals during a safari To have a chance to spot the Big Five, the dry season presents much less dense vegetation for easier wildlife observation. The perfect time to explore the park is from June to October, but if you can, especially prioritize late July to witness the annual Serengeti festival!

For many travelers, the dry season is an ideal time to visit Tanzania. As explained in the previous section, the days are sunny and temperatures are truly pleasant. This time of year offers plenty of possibilities in terms of activities, so here are my suggestions

Naturally, it's impossible to go to Tanzania without making a stop in Zanzibar ️ If you want to make the most of this beautiful archipelago nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, really prioritize the dry season. This way, you'll enjoy sunny days, clear skies, warm temperatures, and no rain! The best months to enjoy the exoticism of Zanzibar are January, February, June, and October, so go for it!

Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater conservation area is one of the most beautiful activities to do in Tanzania. If you want to enjoy this experience under the best possible conditions, the dry season is definitely the optimal time for such an excursion. Why? Well, you'll have a better chance to encounter local wildlife and observe them during a safari... Additionally, temperatures are much less stifling than during the rainy season.

If you're athletic and passionate about trekking, a hike up Kilimanjaro might be one of your biggest goals! In this case, know that the dry season is the ideal time to undertake the ascent of the mountain without being hindered by heavy showers. Although temperature fluctuations are common at high altitudes, going in January and February provides the best conditions.

If you're interested, you can for example combine a safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro on a 4-day guided tour starting around €830 per person. On this occasion, you'll spend 3 nights camping in nature and be accompanied by a guide who will help you learn more about the local flora and fauna. The trip also includes all camping equipment, camping accommodations, and all meals.

If you're considering visiting Tanzania during the rainy season, it's not necessarily a bad idea, as many activities are available during this time. Rain showers mainly occur in the morning and evening, and despite their intensity, they never last very long ️

So to reassure you, you can still enjoy sunny and dry days. Many people think the rainy season means unending daily downpours.

Furthermore, it must be noted that this period has its advantages: nature receives enough water to fully thrive, resulting in lush landscapes of truly extraordinary beauty

Even if I've mentioned many advantages to going during the dry season, you can certainly do the same activities during the rainy season.

National parks like Serengeti Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, or even a visit to Lake Manyara in the north of the country are entirely accessible, you will just need to prepare different gear and clothing.

As for the Zanzibar archipelago, however, I strongly advise against visiting. The rainy season averages 14 days of rainfall per month, which could compromise your vacation...

Unsurprisingly, flying is the preferred means of transportation to get to Tanzania ✈️ The country has three main airports: Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International Airport, and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport located on the Zanzibar archipelago.

Before booking your flight tickets, it's important to choose the arrival airport based on what you plan to do in Tanzania:

As for prices, it depends on the arrival airport and the time of year. Generally, expect to pay between €700 and €1,000 per person for a round trip flight from France. Regarding duration, the same criteria apply, but to give you an estimate, it takes about 10 hours of flight time for a journey between Paris and Kilimanjaro Airport, non-stop.

Finding accommodation is a crucial step when going on vacation. If you've already booked your flight tickets to Tanzania, have you found a hotel to stay at? To ensure you set your bags down in the right place, you will find below 3 great addresses to rest your head, including one in Zanzibar:

To enter Tanzania, the procedures are quite simple with a European passport. For French citizens, a valid passport is all that is required. However, it must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date.

You will also need to obtain a visa. For this, you can complete the formalities online via the official site. The fee for the procedure is $50, or about €44. With the online process, you should allow 2 to 3 weeks for visa processing. For added precaution, I recommend doing this at least a month in advance. It is also possible to obtain the visa directly at the arrival airport, but this may extend your trip as the procedure can take a few hours.

Regarding vaccination recommendations, you should, of course, be up to date with mandatory vaccinations. You must also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A with an injection at least 15 days before your departure. Additional vaccinations may be recommended depending on the duration of your stay and your medical history, such as vaccines for yellow fever, malaria, or rabies. In any case, I recommend consulting your doctor a few months prior to departure to anticipate the administration of suggested vaccines.

Once on site, also remember to protect yourself from mosquitoes with repellent and covering clothing. Also, be cautious of the sun and heat-related illnesses. Don't forget to stay hydrated!

In Tanzania, the currency used is the Tanzanian shilling. Although some tourist spots or hotels accept payments in U.S. dollars, I recommend paying in local currency to avoid issues once you arrive.

I also suggest having enough cash on hand since card payments are less common than in Europe. Don't hesitate to carry extra cash for tips to drivers or guides once on site!

We have now reached the end of this article, I hope it has helped you understand the different seasons in Tanzania better! If you have any other activity or accommodation suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below this article Safe travels to Tanzania