The Best Time for East Africa Safaris : Tanzania and Kenya are popular safari tour destinations for safari travellers. The best time for East Africa Safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda is therefore during the dry seasons, to put it simply. There are two season for East Africa Safaris -The wet seasons and the dry season, East Africa has a climate that is largely similar. The short rains which occur during the month of November and the long rains which are mostly experienced in mid-March to mid-May. There are two dry spells in between, which are said to be the greatest times for game drives safaris.
Animals require sustenance, water and as the season progresses, animals are forced to visit rivers and waterholes throughout the dry months in order to obtain water. They also tend to stay around to eat in these regions because the area is much greener and the availability of water nearby to quench their thirst. In order to find new pastures, the animals will have to depart these region which would be overgrazed and the region surrounding the waterholes once the rains arrive.
East Africa Safaris during the months of May to August
This marks the beginning of the long, dry season, which is also said to be the best time of year to go on East Africa Safaris. It is at this period that Animals require sustenance and water. Sometime between mid-July and August, they cross over into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve(But since many animals have territoriality, they continue to exist in Tanzania. Similar to Rwanda and Uganda, trekking to view gorillas and other primates is most convenient during the comparatively “dry” seasons.It is the best time of year to go on a safari in Kenya, safari in Tanzania, Uganda safaris , and safari in Rwanda because of all these reasons.
The Negative effects of this is that this will be the most busiest season for most safari tour operators , safari tour companies and most great safari destinations since it’s commonly considered to be the greatest time to witness the Great migration and perfect time for wildlife tours particularly in the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National park, and Masai Mara National Reserve which are safari tour hotspot areas, during these time there are significantly higher fees and a greater number of cars.
All of East Africa except in northern Uganda and northern Kenya there are two distinct rainy seasons experienced .There is only one rainy season in the northern Ugandan park of Kidepo Valley National Park which begins in April and intensifies throughout the wet season, peaking in July and August. It isn’t too intrusive, though, because it manifests as afternoon thunderstorms. Murchison Falls National Park experiences two rainier seasons, same like the rest of East Africa, while it also gets less rain in the winter. Consequently, summertime is regarded as the ideal season to travel.
East Africa Safaris during the month of September to early October
All the benefits of dry season game viewing during September and October are enhanced since the animals become more reliant on water as the temperature rises and most streams dry up. Because of the increased animal populations around the springs ,rivers and water holes, it makes game viewing easy and enjoyable as the water sources attracts large concentration of animals making it the best time to go on game drives safari. With the arrival of the brief rains in September and October, the temperature begins to rise and become more humid. It’s hotter to go on safari right now. It is at this time that Masai Mara National Reserve make up the majority of the Great migration safaris.
East Africa Safaris during the short rains
There are regional variations in the precise onset and duration of the brief rains. See our particular region’s best time to travel statistics. It usually arrives sooner inland, in Rwanda and Uganda, for example, more around mid-September. Additionally, later on when you approach the coast—for example, in Tanzania and Kenya, more like November. The second rainy season, which consists of shorter, less heavy rainfall from mid-October to November, is signalled by a shift in the prevailing winds. Even so, there is still plenty of sunshine because the rain falls in the afternoon or at night. Due to the availability of nutrient-rich grasslands elsewhere, some game, similar to that seen in Southern Africa, escapes the (unfenced) parks and disperses throughout the entire biosphere.
The brief downpours signal the beginning of the wildebeest migration’s southerly return into Tanzania, mostly into the Serengeti’s Loliondo region. However, it is typically more dispersed and irregular. The skies, particularly at sunrise and dusk, are incredibly stunning and burst with colour. So, the brief rainy season is typically a photographer’s dream. Additionally, the afternoon showers bring a little bit of cooler weather, which is nice in Ruaha and Selous, in Southern Tanzania.
Given the unpredictable start to the rainy season, October is regarded as High Season for safaris. However, October is when some safari camps enter their shoulder season. Although rates are low, November isn’t the best time to go on a safari in Tanzania or Kenya. Furthermore, game viewing is still possible because the late afternoon and night time sees more concentrated rainfall.
December to Early March ,East Africa Safaris
In East Africa, the summer months are the hottest and most arid. Nonetheless, considering its proximity to the equator, there isn’t much of a year-round difference. It is hot and muggy along Tanzania’s and Kenya’s coast. But inland, the majority of East Africa’s greater heights moderate the heat, resulting in comfortably mild temperatures rather than oppressive heat. Overall, now is a great time to go on an East African safari. Since there are lots of resident games. It’s also a gorgeous season, full of greenery. All migrating birds have their full breeding plumage on. The Great migration in the Serengeti moves southward, eventually arriving back in the Ndutu plains at the onset of the summer dry season.
Southern Tanzania has a year-round summer rainy season and a climate that is relatively similar to that of Southern Africa. The little showers combine seamlessly with the heavier downpours of March and April. During this period, which is also hot and muggy, some camps in the Selous even close in the late summer, until May. (The rain had ceased by May, but re-establishing the camps and rebuilding the roads takes time.) Suggestions With slightly lower visitor numbers and safari pricing than during the busiest months, now is also a fantastic time to come. For gorilla trekking, it’s an excellent season to visit Rwanda and Uganda due to the drier weather.
East Africa Safaris during the Long rains from Mid March to Mid May
The precise beginning and ending times of the long rains vary from year to year and from certain places, just like with the short rains. The Indian Ocean brings in cooler, wetter weather due to a shift in the prevailing winds. This marks the beginning of the “long rains” in mid-March, which is East Africa’s wettest period. During this time, many camps close because it can prove challenging to navigate the game park roads, particularly in the Serengeti National Park’s black cotton soil, where getting stranded is a real risk.
In general, we advise against visiting in the month of April. This is the wettest month by far, it is not the best time to go on a safari because it rains almost every day and cold fronts can bring with them lower temperatures. But late May is usually quieter and drier than the later peak months, so it would be a nice time to visit. The plains are at their most breathtaking at this time of year, vibrant with wildflowers and teeming with wildlife.
