Holidays in Tanzania

Comprising the largest chunk of East Africa, it’s hardly a surprise that Tanzania itself is a land of superlatives. It has Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro, the continent’s biggest lake, Lake Victoria, and the wild Serengeti, which derives from the Maasai term for ‘endless plains’. Nearly all corners of Tanzania bristle with places fit for a luxury safari holiday.

The locations in its north are of bucket list-worthy proportions. Your first trip to the rolling grasslands of the vast Serengeti National Park is one that will stay with you forever, not to mention the epic spectacle of millions of wildebeest charging towards the Masai Mara in Kenya. Elsewhere, the green vistas of the Ngorongoro Crater are studded with stalking lions, while flamingos add a blush tinge to the lakes which pool the lush Great Rift Valley.

Western Tanzania is a safari dream, too, with Katavi National Park’s rivers and swamps brimming with crocodiles and hippos. The south is more off-the-beaten-track and on a good day, you’ll likely see more wildlife than humans among the rivers, plains and forests of Selous Game Reserve and neighbouring Ruaha National Park bustles with the country’s largest elephant population and over 400 species of bird. So, the question you’ll likely ask yourself when planning a holiday to Tanzania is not when to visit, but where?

The entire country of Tanzania is like a patchwork of many different wildlife experiences, from the well-known national parks and game reserves in the north (including the Serengeti) to the more off-the-beaten-track wildlife encounters you can have in the south and the west. A range of lodges and camps offer a blend of authentic Swahili living with a taste of luxury amid the African bush.

In truth, there’s no bad time to plan a safari holiday to Tanzania. Wildlife spotting is excellent year-round but your best chances are from January to March and June to October.

January to March are the hottest months of the year, with thirsty animals congregating around watering holes. It’s also the calving season, with wildebeest giving birth to their young in the southern parts of the Serengeti. The calving also attracts predators, leading to exciting game viewing!

April to May brings the long rains, often referred to as the green season. The weather can make the access to camps difficult but birdlife is abundant and it’s a time when the flora blooms into life.

June to October is the dry season and a fantastic time to visit Tanzania, especially as the wildebeest start to make their way north to the Masai Mara in Kenya as part of the extraordinary Great Migration spectacle. Wildlife is rife, the scenery is stunning following the rains and it’s also a great time to visit the coast, which is peak season – a great time for honeymooners!

November and December sees the ‘short rains’ arrive but don’t let that put you off. It’s quieter than Tanzania’s peak seasons, the game viewing is still good and the scenery is lush, making it an ideal time for photography.