PLAN YOUR TIMING
When to Visit
East Africa
East Africa rewards every month — but each season has a very different character.
January
Dry & warm
Calving season — Serengeti south. Baby wildebeest. Predator action.
February
Dry, excellent
Peak Serengeti calving. Best Tanzania month. Quiet, fewer tourists.
March
Long rains begin
Green season begins. Lush landscapes. Bird migration starts.
April
Long rains
Low season. Best rates. Fewer vehicles. Still good for gorilla trekking.
May
Long rains end
Shoulder season. Rivers flood. Dramatic landscapes. Great photography.
June
Cool & dry
Migration moves north to Masai Mara. Wildebeest columns forming.
July
Cool, dry, perfect
River crossings begin. PEAK season. Book well in advance.
August
Dry, cool
Peak Migration. Most river crossings. Busiest — book 12 months ahead.
September
Warming, dry
Migration still in Mara. Leopard sightings excellent. Rhino in Laikipia.
October
Short rains possible
Migration returns south. Quieter. Good gorilla trekking season opens.
November
Short rains
Short rains — green, beautiful. Birdwatching excellent. Lower rates.
December
Rains ease mid-month
Festive safari. Serengeti south for Christmas. Excellent overall.