This is the weather in Tanzania by month, the same reference we reach for when a guest WhatsApps us a travel date. It holds the data for the mainland parks, the Zanzibar coast and the mountain. The decision about when to come lives in our separate guide to the best time to visit Tanzania; read that for the verdict, keep this page for the facts.
How do Tanzania’s seasons work?
Not by summer and winter; what Europeans call summer in Tanzania is our cool, dry season. The year turns on rain instead: long rains from around March to May, short rains around November, and a long dry stretch from June to October. Warm is the default all year, and altitude, not the calendar, is what makes you cold.
Tanzania weather at a glance
| Month | Mainland and parks | Zanzibar coast | Kilimanjaro and Meru |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Warm, mostly dry | Hot, humid | Clear mornings |
| February | Hot, dry | Hot, humid | Clear, hot lower slopes |
| March | Long rains begin | Rain building | Wet, cloudy |
| April | Long rains, wettest | Wet, humid | Wet trails |
| May | Rain easing, green | Showers easing | Wet, clearing late |
| June | Dry, cool | Warm, breezy | Clear, cold nights |
| July | Dry, coolest | Warm, windy | Clear, coldest |
| August | Dry, warm days | Warm, breezy | Clear, cold nights |
| September | Dry, warming | Warm | Clear, mild |
| October | Warm, dry, late showers | Hot, humidity building | Mostly clear |
| November | Short rains | Short rains, hot | Afternoon cloud, showers |
| December | Showers fading, green | Hot, humid | Clearing, green foothills |
January
Warm and mostly dry across the parks, in the green pause after the short rains. Zanzibar’s January climate is hot and humid, and the mountain gives clear morning summit views.
February
Often the hottest stretch of the year. The mainland stays largely dry and the coast is hot, softened by a sea breeze.
March
Weather in Tanzania in March starts fair and turns. The long rains usually arrive within the month, bringing heavy afternoon downpours.
April
The heart of the long rains and the wettest month. Everything is green and quiet, and some safari lodges close.
May
May weather in Tanzania is rain easing into freshness. Temperatures in May are comfortable rather than hot, and the land is at its greenest.
June
The long dry season opens. Days are sunny, mornings are cool, and nights at altitude turn properly cold.
July
July weather in Tanzania is the coolest and driest of the year. Tanzania in July means sunny days, cold highland nights and steady winds on the coast.
August
Tanzania in August stays dry and warms slowly. Big skies, dusty roads and excellent visibility on the mountain.
September
Dry and warming further. One of the most settled months, on the mainland and the coast alike.
October
Warm and dry for most of the month. The first short-rain showers can arrive near its end and settle the dust.
November
The short rains. Brief, mostly afternoon showers that green the land without, in a normal year, getting in travel’s way.
December
Showers fade and the warmth builds over green landscapes. If you are weighing a safari in December, the weather side rarely argues against it; whether the month suits you overall is answered in our best-time guide.
What time zone is Tanzania on?
Tanzania keeps East Africa Time, three hours ahead of UTC, all year round; there is no daylight saving. For most visitors from Europe the difference is an hour or two, so jet lag is barely a thing here.
We are a locally owned company in Arusha and we live inside this weather all year; planning around it is most of our job. Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly what the sky is likely to do with them.
