If you are planning your next trip and have been thinking about having an unforgettable and unique experience in Tanzania, you can’t help but consider all the aspects that can make your trip truly unique, helping to give you an adventure that won’t disappoint and that you will never forget.
In fact, when planning a trip (which also involves expenses and sacrifices in this regard) it is really important to be sure that you have thought of everything, because as much as improvising can sometimes be an interesting way to experience an adventure trip, planning helps you not to be disappointed, especially when there is so much to see and so many experiences to be fully enjoyed.
In this sense, one of the aspects that it is good to take into consideration if you want to visit Tanzania and experience one of the unforgettable safaris, is the climate and temperature part: wondering what is the best period to face such a long and also expensive trip is the minimum to be sure to give yourself a truly enchanting and surprising trip (in a positive way).
Temperatures, climate and rainfall of Tanzania
As is the case with all locations, Tanzania is subject to some variability in temperature, climate, and the amount and frequency of rainfall, which clearly varies with the seasons and time of year.
In addition, temperatures also vary depending on the area in which one is located, since this country in Africa offers a lot of variety of territories, as there are mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and coastal areas that also affect the drop or rise in temperatures for the same period.
The climate present in Tanzania is, in fact, typically tropical especially on the coasts, and the temperatures present range between 20°C and 32°C, with considerable variations, as we have said, depending on altitude and terrain: the coast has more humidity, with an average between 26 and 28°C, which contrasts with a warmer and drier climate in the inland areas, with lower averages, especially in the high mountains (such as on Kilimanjaro, where temperatures can even reach zero).
The seasons, as we shall see, are reversed from our own.
It is also important to consider seasonal and rainfall patterns, which generally greatly affect the choice of the best time to visit Tanzania: animal movements and migrations also depend on this aspect, which is why it is good to know these characteristics to be really sure of making the right choice.
If, in fact, you wish to see the Great Migration (a truly unique and unforgettable phenomenon, as it allows you to witness the movement of thousands of animals, especially wildebeest and zebra), the best time is during the rainy season, which runs from late March to late May, when the lands are significantly greener and more prosperous.
Seasons of Tanzania: climatic characteristics
Because Tanzania’s seasons differ significantly from, for example, those in Italy, this aspect must be evaluated and taken into consideration when planning a vacation n this location. In fact, the seasons are reversed: unlike in Italy, for example, the hottest months are from December to March, while the coolest are from July to September, with climatic characteristics more similar to ours.
The long rainy season is called masika and runs from the end of March to the end of May: during this period the soils become greener and more flourishing and, as a result, are also much more welcoming to animal migration; however, there is another rainy season, which is called vuli or short rainy season, which runs from the end of October to early December.
Instead, July, August and September are those of a drier and drier season, while from late December to February there is a cooler and sunnier period with less rain.
Best time to visit Tanzania
Because Tanzania is very much affected by weather patterns and both seasonal and rainfall patterns (and this also affects the experiences you can have) we cannot point to an absolute best time to visit this country, not least because it is so vast and rich in opportunities and it would be difficult to point to a single good time for anyone.
We can, however, provide some general guidelines, depending on the type of experience you want to have and the type of trip you want to take (but also the weather conditions you are willing to face). As mentioned, the period of the long rains runs from late March to late May, and although it is not ideal for those who, for example, want to go to the sea, it becomes so for those who want to see animal migrations.
For a beach vacation, the best times are definitely July, August and September, which have higher temperatures and thus allow for a more relaxing stay along the coast.
Depending on when you are visiting the country, you may consider different clothing, which, however, should always include simple and preferably sporty clothes, both because of the type of adventure you will be going on and because this way you will feel more in the mood of the trip, for an experience in close contact with nature in the true sense of the word.
Do not be fooled by the presence of the rains or the Tanzanian winter: in fact, the clothing you will need to bring with you is mostly summer, with preference given to cotton pants (both long and short), light T-shirts and a light windbreaker: it is useful to include a fleece sweatshirt in your clothing as well, for cooler evenings or for when doing anything at altitude.
Because it is important to protect yourself from the sun, you should always wear a hat and carry sunglasses and sunscreen.
As for shoes, again it is good to prefer comfortable footwear that will allow you to cope with any walk, such as classic sneakers. Very useful is the advice to carry with you not only any medications that you use on a daily basis, but also broad-spectrum antibiotics that may prove useful, as well as intestinal disinfectants, antipyretic drugs and antihistamines.
