When to go
The best time to visit Tanzania as a whole runs from
July to August, since it is the coolest, the sunniest and driest of the year.
June is a good month almost everywhere, but in the north-east and on the island of Pemba, the long rains can linger until this month.
September is also a good month, but at lower elevations it can be hot during the day.
In October, the season of the short rains begins in the north, though there is usually little rain in the first half of the month, however, it can get hot at low altitudes.
In January, the south is in full rainy season, so it rains a lot. If you want to visit the country in the Northern Hemisphere winter (
January and February), you can choose the northern areas, which, in this period, are in the short and hot dry season, remembering that on the coast and at lower altitudes it's hot, and that some showers in the afternoon may still occur, especially on the shores of Lake Victoria and in high mountains like Kilimanjaro.
In the
Serengeti, you can go from June to September, with a preference for June, in the period of the wildebeest migration through the rivers, before the animals move to Kenya, or even in January and February, to watch them in the southern part, towards the Olduvai Gorge.
What to pack
In
inland areas, in general, it's better to dress in layers, and to bring warmer clothes at high altitudes, and lighter at low altitudes and in the warm season. You can also bring a sun hat and sunscreen, and a raincoat for the rain showers in the rainy periods. In parks and reserves, bring neutral-colored clothes, and comfortable canvas shoes.
When going
mountain climbing, bring hiking shoes. For the summit of Kilimanjaro, throughout the year, bring cold weather clothing, synthetic, thermal long underwear, a fleece, a parka, a wind jacket, warm boots, sunglasses,and sunscreen.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
In
winter (June to August): on the coast (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar), bring light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, a light scarf for the breeze. On the shores of lakes Malawi and Tanganyika, light clothing, a sweatshirt and a light jacket, and a light scarf for the breeze. In Arusha, Dodoma, the Serengeti and Lake Victoria, light clothes for the day, a sweater and a jacket for the evening. In Ngorongoro and the plateau above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), spring/autumn clothes, with a jacket and a sweater; above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), a warm jacket and a hat.
In
summer (December to February): on the coast (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar), bring light clothing, made of natural fibers, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella, especially in the south (see Mtwara). In Dodoma, and on the shores of lakes Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria, light clothing, made of natural fibers, a sun hat, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella. In Arusha, the Serengeti and the plateau at intermediate altitudes, you can add a jacket and a sweater for the evening. In Ngorongoro and the plateau above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), spring/autumn clothes, with a jacket and a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella; above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), a down jacket and a hat.
Back to the climate of
Tanzania