Best Time to Visit Serengeti According By Our Local Experts

What is the best time to visit Serengeti? This is a query frequently posed by travelers planning once-in-a-lifetime trips to the park. The best periods to visit the park are between January and February or June and September, but you should plan your trip around The Great Migration.

However, we cannot emphasize this enough: Serengeti National Park is an excellent safari destination throughout the year due to its optimal climate and abundance of wildlife, which allows for excellent game viewing throughout the year. The average daytime temperatures remain comfortable, while evenings are only slightly cooler, necessitating at most a cardigan or light jacket. In general, these conditions provide superb game viewing throughout the year. Similar to other locations in Tanzania, the reserve has two rainfall seasons that each last two to three months: April to May and September to November. Seasonal precipitation influences vegetation and water sources, thereby influencing animal movement and concentration.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK IN TANZANIA

June and July are the best months to witness the Wildebeest Migration and a potential crossing of the Grumeti River due to the large number of tourists who visit during this time. The most famous river crossings of the Mara River occur in September in the park’s northern region. As previously mentioned, the timing of the migration varies marginally from year to year due to varying rainfall patterns. In order to ensure that your plans to visit Serengeti meet your expectations, you may want to consider the weather, the wildebeest migration, and seasonal price fluctuations.

Things to Consider When Visiting Serengeti National Park

In order to ensure that your plans to visit Serengeti meet your expectations, you may want to consider the weather, the wildebeest migration, and seasonal price fluctuations.

Weather:

The climate in Tanzania is pleasant year-round, with warm days and cool evenings. The minimum and maximum temperatures vary with the seasons, with the highest temperatures occurring during the wet season. In the Seronera region, a hot afternoon in the wet season rarely exceeds 37C, and a chilly morning in the dry season rarely falls below 13C.The average daily maximum temperature varies with altitude, ranging from 15C near the crater highlands to approximately 30C near Lake Victoria. Serengeti National Park is a “cool island” in a much hotter region due to its elevation.

	DECEMBER – FEBRUARY	MARCH – MAY	JUNE – MID SEPTEMBER	MID SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER
	Generally drier & warmer with clearer skies and lower rainfall. Excellent for Photography	Pleasant temperatures but with higher rainfall. Despite the rain, several hours of daily sunshine & clear skies still encountered.	Cloudier & cooler but drier with little rainfall but more overcast days	‘Short’ rains are a possibility but sky also tends to be clearer with sunny days possible

Weather patterns in the Serengeti are less predictable than in previous decades, and climate fluctuations may occur at the last minute.

Wildlife & Migration:

Serengeti National Park is one of the most well-known parks in Tanzania for its year-round wildlife viewing. Large populations of herbivores such as the wildebeest, zebra, and Thompson’s gazelle as well as the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and bufallo) dominate the park’s mammal population. It is also home to the Nile crocodile, the largest reptile on the continent. Over 500 species of birds have been identified as inhabiting the region.

June and July are the ideal months to see the great wildebeest migration and a possible crossing of the Grumeti River for those who wish to observe it. The most famous river crossings of the Mara River occur in September in the park’s northern region. The timing may differ from year to year due to variations in precipitation patterns.

	JUNE – AUGUST	SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER	REST OF THE YEAR
	Higher wildlife numbers due to annual Wildebeest migration typically between early June to late August	Good time to spot game with large herds of plains game as they migrate back to Serengeti from the Mara	There is always a good amount of wildlife in Serengeti through the year

Prices:

The cost of your Serengeti Safari Packages is determined by a number of variables. These include:

• The number of passengers: Obviously, traveling in a group is inexpensive for everyone, as costs are shared, compared to when only one or two individuals travel. Also, the cost will be affected by the ages of the children who are traveling. Children under the age of 12 will be charged a reduced rate compared to adults.
• The season of your travel: During the prime season, which is typically during the wildebeest migration, when more people visit the reserve, rooms are typically more expensive. July through October is the peak season. If you have a limited budget, you should avoid prime season.

The most expensive months to travel to Serengeti are July and August. September and October are equally costly, but due to increased room availability, it is possible to find slightly more affordable accommodations. April and May are the least expensive months to visit Serengeti, excluding the Easter holiday.

Transportation:

Costs will vary depending on whether you choose to travel by air or by road. Air travel to Serengeti is more expensive than driving there. Safaris typically use two types of vehicles for road transport: Toyota Land cruisers and safari tour buses that seat up to seven people. Land cruisers are more expensive than tour vehicles, but they are more comfortable. The roughness of the road is hardly felt as you travel.

Type of Accommodation:

Depending on your inclination, you have the option of booking lodges or tent camps for your accommodation. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from accommodations ranging from the most basic to the most luxurious.

Number of days on the safari:

The expense of your safari is proportional to the number of days you intend to spend on safari. The longer your stay, the more you will pay.