4 curated seasonal guides — static guidance, not a live forecast.
Coastal Tanzania is warm and humid all year, with daytime temperatures typically between 28C and 33C. The long rains fall from March to May and the short rains in November and December; outside those windows the city is mostly sunny with a sea breeze. The best months for a city visit are June to October, when it is drier and noticeably less humid.
Kilimanjaro stacks five climate zones on one mountain. The forest belt from 1,800 to 2,800 m is warm and damp. The moorland from 2,800 to 4,000 m is cool and often misty. The alpine desert from 4,000 to 5,000 m swings from blazing daytime sun to below freezing at night. Above 5,000 m, on the summit night, expect -10C to -20C with wind chill. Climbing in the dry seasons of June to October and December to February gives the clearest conditions; the long rains fall from March to May.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro region has one long dry season from June to October, when the grass is short and wildlife concentrates around water. The short dry window in January and February is excellent for the calving season on the southern Serengeti plains. The green season from November to May brings afternoon showers, lush scenery, lower prices and superb birding, though some tracks become difficult.
The south, covering Nyerere, Ruaha and Mikumi, is hot and dry from June to October, which is the best window for game viewing and for boat safaris on the Rufiji. From November to April the region is warmer and greener with occasional heavy showers; roads in Ruaha can become impassable, so check conditions before travelling in the wet months.