Best Time to Travel & Climate
Summer: |
September - April |
Winter: |
May - August |
Rainfall: |
April - May (long rains), November - mid-December (short rains) |
Tanzania's hottest months are from October to February, and the main rain season from mid-March to late May. Heavy downpours during April and May are often accompanied by violent thunderstorms, particularly in the highlands. There is also a short rainy season in November and December. The coolest months, June to September, are also very pleasant.
Coastal areas are hot and humid, and the central plateau has hot days and cool nights. Mt Kilimanjaro and the northern and southern highlands register low temperatures in May - August. Mt Kilimanjaro is snowcapped year-round, although climate changes are melting more ice each year.
The central plateau experiences hot days and cool nights. The hilly country between the coast and the northern highlands has a pleasant climate from January to September, with temperatures averaging around 20°C. For the whole country the hottest months are from October to February. The main, long rainy season is from mid-March to late May.
