Kenya & Tanzania Safari Month by Month Guide: Complete East Africa Wildlife Calendar

East Africa’s Kenya and Tanzania form the heart of the safari world, offering the planet’s most spectacular wildlife viewing across iconic destinations—Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti hosting the Great Migration, Amboseli’s elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater’s concentrated wildlife, and countless other parks each with unique character. Understanding the seasonal rhythms governing weather, wildlife movements, and visitor experiences across both countries enables strategic safari planning that maximises your investment and aligns your visit with personal priorities. This comprehensive month-by-month guide examines conditions across Kenya and Tanzania simultaneously, revealing how the Great Migration cycles between countries, how weather patterns affect different regions, and when each destination shines brightest.

Best For: Tanzania (Serengeti calving), Kenya (excellent dry season)

January-February delivers Tanzania’s premier wildlife spectacle—wildebeest calving season in the southern Serengeti around Ndutu. Approximately 500,000 calves are born within 2-3 weeks, attracting massive predator concentrations. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas converge, creating constant predator-prey drama. This represents one of nature’s most extraordinary events.

The weather is excellent with minimal rain, warm temperatures (25-30°C), and lush green landscapes from December rains. Visibility is superb on the flat southern plains. Photography conditions are outstanding with vibrant scenery and incredible wildlife action.

Kenya enjoys its shorter dry season with excellent conditions across all parks. Maasai Mara offers superb resident wildlife viewing (Migration herds are in Tanzania). Amboseli offers exceptional elephant viewing, complemented by clear Kilimanjaro views in the mornings. Samburu showcases unique northern species. Laikipia conservancies offer exclusive experiences.

Weather mirrors Tanzania—warm, dry, and pleasant. Landscapes are attractively green from recent rains while visibility remains excellent.

Both countries attract large numbers of tourists and experience peak season pricing. Tanzania’s Ndutu region becomes busy but less crowded than Kenya’s Mara during Migration. Booking 2-3 months in advance is vital, especially for Ndutu camps. Costs peak annually, but the calving spectacle justifies premium prices for most visitors.

Who Should Visit: Wildlife photographers focusing on calving drama, first-time safari-goers, families with winter break constraints, and anyone seeking guaranteed spectacular viewing

Best For: Flexible travelers seeking value

Wildebeest herds begin moving north from Tanzania’s southern Serengeti toward the central regions. March often features the wildebeest rutting (mating) season, with territorial bulls fighting and calling. Herds are dispersing from concentrated calving grounds, becoming more spread out.

Unpredictable across both countries as long rains approach. Early March typically experiences dry conditions; late March sees an increase in rainfall. Landscapes transform rapidly from brown to green when rains begin.

Tourist numbers decline, particularly in late March. Pricing transitions to shoulder season (10-25% below peak). Wildlife viewing ranges from excellent early months to more challenging late months as the rains disperse animals

Variable weather requires flexibility. Some roads become challenging. Wildlife disperses once water becomes abundant. Many travelers avoid March’s uncertainty.

Who Should Visit: Budget-conscious travelers, flexible adventurers, photographers interested in rutting behavior and storm photography.

Best For: Extreme budget travellers, serious birders

April-May brings East Africa’s primary rainy season with heavy, sustained rainfall. April is the wettest. Expect frequent afternoon thunderstorms, high humidity, and muddy conditions. Many seasonal camps close, particularly in Tanzania’s southern parks.

Challenging but rewarding for patient travellers. Abundant water disperses wildlife across vast areas. Vegetation grows lush, obscuring visibility. However, birth seasons for various species create newborn animals that attract predators. Birdlife is spectacular with migrants in peak numbers and breeding plumage.

Herds continue moving north through Tanzania’s western Serengeti (Grumeti region by late April/May). They’re highly dispersed following fresh grazing.

Dramatic cost savings (30-50% below peak), virtually no tourists, lush landscapes, excellent birding, and genuine wilderness atmosphere. Those willing to embrace uncertain weather find rewarding experiences

Frequent rain affects activities, roads are challenging, many facilities are closed, and wildlife is dispersed. Photography is complicated by cloud cover.

Who Should Visit: Serious birders, adventurous budget travellers, experienced safari enthusiasts comfortable with difficult conditions.

Best For: Value-seekers wanting good conditions without peak crowds

June marks the longer dry season with improving weather throughout the month. Early June may see occasional rain; late June offers reliably dry conditions. Temperatures are comfortable (22-28°C) with cool mornings

Tanzania: Herds reach the western Serengeti’s Grumeti region. The famous Grumeti River crossings begin, typically late June, though timing varies. These crossings, while less famous than the Mara River crossings, offer spectacular drama with fewer viewing vehicles.

Kenya: Migration herds begin arriving in the Maasai Mara, typically late June, though main concentrations arrive in July. Early crossings of the Mara River from Tanzania sometimes occur in late June.

Tourist numbers increase through June but remain moderate. Booking 2-3 months ahead suffices. Pricing transitions from shoulder to high season, particularly in Kenya’s Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti. June offers good value—excellent conditions at not-quite-peak pricing.

Who Should Visit: Those seeking a balance between excellent conditions and manageable crowds, photographers wanting dramatic subjects without congestion, and budget-conscious travellers finding better value than peak months.

Excellent across both countries. Dry conditions concentrate wildlife near water. Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli, Tarangire, and Samburu all offer superb viewing. Vegetation remains relatively green early month while visibility improves.

Best For: First-time safari-goers, guaranteed spectacular viewing

These months deliver East Africa safari’s pinnacle. Over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles spread across Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s northern Serengeti, creating extraordinary wildlife density.

Mara River Crossings: Frequent throughout both months at multiple crossing points in both countries. Thousands of animals plunge into crocodile-infested waters in desperate bids to reach fresh grazing. The drama—panicked herds, patient crocodiles, and high-stakes survival—ranks among nature’s greatest spectacles.

Tanzania Northern Serengeti: The Kogatende region hosts massive herds and regular crossings. Vehicle numbers are significant but typically less congested than in Kenya.

Kenya Maasai Mara: Peak Migration presence with spectacular wildlife density. However, vehicle congestion at popular crossing points can be intense, with dozens of vehicles at prime locations.

Consistently excellent across both countries. Clear skies, minimal rainfall, comfortable temperatures (21-27°C), and cool nights (10-16°C). July-August represents East Africa’s coolest period. Vegetation is dry and brown, maximizing visibility but reducing landscape aesthetic appeal.

All parks across both countries offer outstanding dry season viewing. Amboseli, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Samburu, and Tanzania’s southern parks (Ruaha, Selous) provide excellent wildlife concentrations

Peak tourist season brings maximum crowds and highest prices (40-60% above low season). The Maasai Mara is extremely busy; northern Serengeti is busy but more manageable. Ngorongoro Crater sees heavy traffic. Booking 4-6 months ahead is essential for premium properties

Guaranteed spectacular viewing, reliable river crossings, excellent weather, superb wildlife concentrations, and ideal conditions for first-time safari visitors

Maximum crowds and costs, vehicle congestion at crossings (especially Mara), and very dry landscapes reduce photographic appeal outside wildlife subjects.

Who Should Visit: First-timers seeking guaranteed excellence, families with summer holidays, wildlife photographers accepting crowds for dramatic subjects, anyone prioritizing experience quality over budget.

Best For: Experienced safari-goers, photographers, value-seekers

September arguably offers East Africa’s best overall balance—excellent wildlife viewing, favourable weather, and decreasing crowds as peak season ends.

Herds remain distributed between Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s northern Serengeti through mid-September. Mara River crossings continue, though frequency decreases from August peaks. Late September sees herds beginning their southward return to Tanzania.

Weather remains excellent with minimal rain and comfortable temperatures (23-28°C). Wildlife concentrations stay at peak levels. Vegetation remains dry, maintaining excellent visibility.

Tourist numbers decrease notably after mid-September as European summer holidays end. Both Kenya and Tanzania become quieter. Pricing transitions from peak to shoulder season (10-20% below peak rates), particularly late September. Booking 2-3 months ahead suffices.

September is often considered optimal for wildlife photography—peak subjects with manageable vehicle numbers allowing better shooting angles and less crowded compositions.

Who Should Visit: Experienced safari enthusiasts seeking optimal conditions without peak crowds, photographers prioritizing image quality, value-conscious travelers wanting excellence at better prices.

Best For: Flexible travelers, budget-conscious visitors

October’s character varies dramatically within the month. Early October maintains dry season conditions; late October sees short rains beginning.

Most herds depart Kenya for Tanzania in October, moving south through eastern Serengeti. This southward migration receives less attention but offers excellent viewing with minimal tourists.

Early months feature dry, warm conditions (25-30°C). Short rains typically begin mid to late October, bringing afternoon thunderstorms and rapid landscape greening. Conditions become variable and unpredictable.

Decreasing crowds, lower costs (15-30% below peak), excellent resident wildlife viewing, and dramatic landscape transformation when rains arrive.

Unpredictable weather late month, Migration departed from Kenya, and potential rain affecting activities.

Who Should Visit: Flexible travellers comfortable with uncertainty, budget-conscious visitors, and those interested in southward Migration movements.

Best For: Extreme budget travelers, birders

November brings moderate rainfall across both countries—less intense than April’s long rains but regular nonetheless. Expect rain on roughly half of the days, typically as afternoon thunderstorms.

Herds continue moving south through Tanzania’s eastern and southern Serengeti, dispersing widely as water and fresh grazing become abundant everywhere.

Challenging as animals disperse across vast areas. However, birding is spectacular with migrants arriving and breeding plumage emerging. Newborn animals from various species attract predators.

Significant cost savings (25-40% below peak), minimal crowds, lush green landscapes, excellent birding, and genuine wilderness solitude.

Regular rain, dispersed wildlife, reduced visibility in vegetation, and challenging photography due to clouds.

Who Should Visit: Serious birders, budget travelers, adventurous souls embracing rain, those prioritizing solitude over optimal viewing.

Best For: Families with holiday constraints

Early December maintains November’s rainy character. Mid to late December sees rains ending and dry conditions returning. By Christmas week, conditions approach dry season quality.

Herds reach Tanzania’s southern Serengeti plains by late December, positioning for the January calving season. Large concentrations reform, signalling the cycle’s completion.

Christmas week through New Year brings substantial tourist influx despite variable early-month weather. Top lodges book out 6+ months ahead for holidays. Some properties charge premium holiday surcharges.

Early December offers low season pricing; late December reaches peak season rates. The month spans the year’s widest pricing range.

Who Should Visit: Families with Christmas/New Year holiday constraints, those wanting festive safari atmosphere, travelers comfortable with early-month weather uncertainty for cost savings.

Kenya and Tanzania together offer year-round safari excellence, with each month presenting distinct advantages. Peak seasons (July-October for Migration, January-February for calving) deliver guaranteed spectacular viewing but bring crowds and premium costs. Shoulder seasons (June, September) offer excellent balance. Rainy seasons (April-May, November) reward flexible, adventurous travelers with solitude and savings.

Choose timing based on priorities: witness specific Migration events, maximize wildlife viewing reliability, minimize costs, avoid crowds, or capture optimal photography. Whatever month you choose, East Africa’s extraordinary wildlife, professional guides, and diverse landscapes ensure unforgettable experiences. These legendary safari destinations have captivated travelers for over a century—proper timing simply ensures your visit aligns perfectly with your vision of the ultimate African adventure.