Climate guide for Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Best Time to Visit
Serengeti National Park

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
UnfavorableGoodOptimal

About Serengeti National Park

June-October is the sweet spot: time drives for herds and crossings, then night skies from camps. Dry-season movement windows define the classic safari calendar.

Did you know?

Travel Tips

Migration Timing
Wildebeest migration routes shift with rains - ask your operator where herds are during your dates. Book lodges and balloon safaris months ahead for peak months.
Park Fees & Guides
Park fees are usually bundled in safari packages - confirm what is included versus tips for guides and cooks. Carry USD cash for tips in small bills.
Dust & Layers
Dry-season game drives are dusty - bring a scarf, sunglasses, and zip bags for cameras. Mornings are cold in the open vehicle; afternoons heat up fast.
Balloon Morning Reality
Hot-air balloons launch before dawn and fly only in suitable wind - keep a buffer day. Transfers from camp start very early; pack a warm layer.

Things to do in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Serengeti National Park: the short answer

The best time to visit Serengeti National Park is June, followed by July, September. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: June averages 19°C with 19 mm of rain and about 24 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, January. If budget matters more than perfect weather, February is the strongest of the low-rate months at 8.3/10.

Across the year Serengeti National Park swings from 19°C in June to 23°C in October, a 3-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 19 mm in June to 151 mm in December. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Serengeti National Park is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 1.9 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: October (23°C). Coolest: June (19°C). Driest: June (19 mm). Wettest: December (151 mm).

Serengeti National Park month by month

January in Serengeti National Park — reliably good (11th best month)

Good · 8/10

January averages 20°C (68°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 143 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 25 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 8/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Serengeti National Park — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.

February in Serengeti National Park — reliably good (8th best month)

Good · 8.3/10

February averages 21°C (69°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 124 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 26 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 8.3/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Serengeti National Park — 1.5 points higher on the same scale.

March in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.7/10

March averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 91 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 sunny days and 12 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 8.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

April in Serengeti National Park — reliably good (9th best month)

Good · 8.2/10

April averages 20°C (69°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 120 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 24 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 8.2/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Serengeti National Park — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.

May in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.2/10

May averages 20°C (68°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 52 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

June in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

June averages 19°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 19 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 24 sunny days and 11.9 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

July in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

July averages 19°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 20 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 25 sunny days and 11.9 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

August in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.5/10

August averages 20°C (68°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 48 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

September in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.8/10

September averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 32 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 28 sunny days and 12 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

October in Serengeti National Park — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.6/10

October averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 28 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 30 sunny days and 12.1 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Serengeti National Park at 9.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

November in Serengeti National Park — reliably good (10th best month)

Good · 8.2/10

November averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 145 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 8.2/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Serengeti National Park — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.

December in Serengeti National Park — reliably good (12th best month)

Good · 7.9/10

December averages 21°C (69°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 151 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 25 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 7.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Serengeti National Park — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Serengeti National Park, Tanzania?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Serengeti National Park are June, July, September, October, August, May. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.8/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Serengeti National Park year-round?
Serengeti National Park has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 19°C in June to 23°C in October, with Ideal Weather scores between 7.9 and 9.8 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Serengeti National Park?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Serengeti National Park are December (7.9/10), January (8.0/10), April (8.2/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Serengeti National Park?
December is the wettest month in Serengeti National Park, averaging about 151 mm of rainfall. June is the driest, at roughly 19 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Serengeti National Park?
March sees the most sun in Serengeti National Park, with about 30 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Serengeti National Park a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Serengeti National Park is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, July, September, October, August, May) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Serengeti National Park calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Serengeti National Park: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Serengeti National Park

Tickets & experiences

More destinations in Tanzania