Seasons
and Climate
SUMMER:
December - March
WINTER: March - May
The climate is tropical on the coast, on the
islands and in Selous. It is temperate in the
other parks. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro
and Meru drop to below freezing. Late March
- late May is traditionally the long rainy season
and is considered the "winter period"
in Tanzania. June - late October is the dry
season. June, July and August can be very cold
on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Mnemba Island
is lovely at this time of year, the evenings
are cool (not cold) and the daytime can be hot.
Late October - mid December is when the short
rains occur. These are usually in the form of
daily thunderstorms. The Ngorongoro Crater rim
has a wonderful climate at this time of year.
The Serengeti and Lake Manyara are quite warm
and Mnemba is very hot. Mid December - March
is summer weather. It is dry and very warm until
March. Due to its altitude Ngorongoro Crater
is much cooler than elsewhere.
What to pack
Generally,
casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout
the year. The most practical items to pack are:
» Khaki, brown, white and beige colours
» Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts
in summer
» Long sleeved blouses/shirts for game
drives, they will protect you from the sun and
from mosquitoes
» Safari trousers for evenings and cooler
days
» Fleece or sweater and a warm jacket
for game drives (and at Ngorongoro Crater)
» Swimwear is a must for the beach and
at Kleins and Grumeti which have a pool
» A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
» Comfortable walking shoes
» For climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru,
thermal underwear, light layers, sweater, warm
jacket, good socks and sturdy boots
When visiting Zanzibar, it is important for
women to dress modestly out of respect for Muslim
cultural beliefs, men should not wear shorts
on the main island and women should wear dresses
that cover their shoulders and knees. This does
not apply on Mnemba Island.
When to go
Tanzania
offers an astonishing diversity and concentration
of wildlife, from the immense Serengeti and
towering Mount Kilimanjaro to the remote national
parks of Katavi and Mahale. The best months
for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are August to
October and January to March. Tanzania boasts
over 1 000 bird species, with Lake Manyara alone
being home to more than 400. It is a year round
birding destination, but at the height of the
northern winter, some 160 species of migrating
birds make their way south. Botanically, Tanzania
is a treasure-trove, with habitats ranging from
Afro-Alpine to semi-desert. The months immediately
after the two rainy seasons provide the best
floral displays. See under National Parks and
Tourist Attractions for information on the migration.
Tanzania offers excellent game viewing throughout
the year as not all animals migrate and are
year-round residents.
