The Weather
Tanzania is located just south of the equator. It has a sunny, tropical climate. Your safari will take place between 3,000 and 8,000 feet of elevation, giving you warm days and cool nights. From December to March, temperatures average in the 80's and 90's during the day and 60's and 70's at night. You might need a sweater or sweatshirt when riding in the safari vehicle early in the morning, but it warms up quickly. April brings long periods of rain, but during the rest of the year the weather is glorious for safaris. When staying on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, it gets chilly in June, July and August - as low as forty degrees at night, so bring warm clothing. The cool air is perfect for viewing sunsets, though, while sitting at the campfire with a cup of warming tea or cocoa.
Tanzania: Average Temperature (ºF) - Average lows and highs
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
Arusha |
50/84 |
51/84 |
53/81 |
57/77 |
52/72 |
48/70 |
Dar Es Salaam |
80/88 |
80/89 |
80/87 |
78/85 |
76/83 |
74/82 |
Mahale |
68/81 |
68/81 |
67/81 |
67/80 |
67/80 |
65/79 |
| Manyara (h) | 82 | 84 | 84 | 79 | 77 | 73 |
| Mt. Kilim. base | 63/90 | 64/92 | 65/89 | 65/84 | 67/79 | 61/77 |
| Ngorongoro (h) | 68 | 70 | 70 | 64 | 63 | 59 |
| Ruaha | 56/77 | 59/77 | 58/77 | 59/76 | 57/75 | 53/73 |
| Serengeti | 81 | 82 | 82 | 77 | 75 | 71 |
| Zanzibar | 76/80 | 76/91 | 77/91 | 77/86 | 75/84 | 74/83 |
|
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Arusha |
49/69 |
48/72 |
47/76 |
51/80 |
51/81 |
50/81 |
Dar Es Salaam |
73/81 |
73/82 |
74/83 |
75/84 |
77/85 |
79/86 |
Mahale |
63/82 |
65/80 |
68/81 |
69/81 |
68/79 |
67/79 |
| Manyara (h) | 70 | 66 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 82 |
| Mt. Kilim. base | 59/77 | 59/79 | 60/83 | 61/87 | 63/88 | 63/88 |
| Ngorongoro (h) | 55 | 52 | 59 | 64 | 64 | 68 |
| Ruaha | 53/74 | 53/74 | 54/77 | 56/81 | 58/82 | 59/79 |
| Serengeti | 68 | 64 | 71 | 77 | 77 | 81 |
| Zanzibar | 72/82 | 72/83 | 72/84 | 73/86 | 75/89 | 76/89 |
Tanzania: Average Rainfall (inches)
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
Arusha |
2.6 |
3.0 |
6.3 |
14.0 |
7.1 |
1.3 |
Dar Es Salaam |
2.8 |
2.5 |
5.0 |
10.6 |
7.2 |
1.3 |
Mahale |
4.7 |
4.8 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
2.3 |
0.3 |
| Manyara | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Mt. Kilim. base | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.6 | 12.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 |
| Ngorongoro | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| Ruaha | 6.6 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Selous | 4.4 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 0.5 |
| Serengeti | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Zanzibar | 3.0 | 2.4 | 5.9 | 13.8 | 9.9 | 2.1 |
|
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Arusha |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
4.9 |
3.9 |
Dar Es Salaam |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.9 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
Mahale |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.8 |
2.0 |
5.3 |
5.8 |
| Manyara | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Mt. Kilim. base | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Ngorongoro | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| Ruaha | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 5.1 |
| Selous | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| Serengeti | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Zanzibar | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 7.9 | 5.7 |