Serengeti, Tanzania Weather and Climate

General & Geography

According to abbreviationfinder, the Serengeti is an animal-rich savannah area in the north of Tanzania and is usually described by experts in the same breath as the Okavango Delta as the best safari area in Africa.

The reserve extends over an area of ​​more than 30,000 square kilometers to the south of Kenya, where it merges directly into the Masai Mara in a shared ecosystem.

The vast, almost treeless steppe was also made possible by the German natural scientist Professor Dr. Grzimek and his documentary “Serengeti Must Not Die” are very well known to the general public.

The seemingly endless grass plains are the scene of one of the greatest natural spectacles on earth, when up to two million wildebeest and more than 250,000 zebras and gazelles migrate every year.

This great migration in search of nutrient-rich grasslands culminates between December and February with the massive births of young animals, mostly in the southern corridor of the Serengeti. A real feast for countless lions, leopards, cheetahs and many other predators!

The Serengeti ecosystem, which inspires year-round with unforgettable animal encounters, includes smaller protected areas such as Mazwa, Grumeti and Ikorongo as well as the neighboring Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The world-famous Ngorongoro Crater is part of the Serengeti National Park and is home to the highest density of predators on the African continent. According to the latest counts, around 3,000 lions can be found in the entire Serengeti.

Most of the safaris along the Northern Circuit in Tanzania start in the city of Arusha, which can be reached via Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) with KLM from Amsterdam or with Condor from Frankfurt.

Climate in the Serengeti

A tropical climate is predominant in the Serengeti, with only minor temperature fluctuations over the course of the year. In the warmest month of October, an average of 29 ° C is measured during the day in the shade, in the coolest month of July it is 25.5 ° C. At night the temperatures are between 14 and 17 degrees.

There are no classic four seasons in Tanzania, rather a distinction is made between the dry season and the two rainy seasons in the north of the country. The great rainy season begins around the middle of March and extends to around the end of May. A smaller, weaker rainy season runs from the beginning of November to mid-December.

Especially between June and October, rainfalls are the absolute exception. As the dry season increases, the landscape becomes more and more barren, and the vast plains of the Serengeti are bone-dry in September and October. The animals then gather at the few remaining water holes.

When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?

While the small rainy season in November and December has only minor restrictions, during the large rainy season from mid-March to the end of May many camps in the Serengeti are even closed or advertise with strong green season discounts. The wildlife observation is now much more difficult, some areas are impassable.

The best travel times for safaris in the Serengeti are particularly the periods from mid-December to mid-March and June to the end of October. A particularly large number of young animals (both wildebeest and zebras as well as numerous cats) can be found in the southern corridor at the beginning of the year, especially in January and February.

The African winter from June to August is particularly popular when the herds in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti try to cross the Grumeti River, where countless crocodiles lurk for a nutritious catch. The temperatures are now a little cooler, but the air is very clear and the conditions are ideal.

Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Seronera (Serengeti)

	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daytime temperature	28 ° C	28 ° C	28 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	26 ° C	26 ° C	27 ° C	28 ° C	29 ° C	28 ° C	28 ° C
Night temperature	16 ° C	16 ° C	16 ° C	16 ° C	16 ° C	15 ° C	14 ° C	14 ° C	15 ° C	16 ° C	17 ° C	17 ° C
Precipitation in mm	73	81	134	139	92	25	13	21st	46	68	112	104
Rainy days	6	7	12	14	10	5	3	4	6	8	11	10
Hours of sunshine	8	8	7	6	7	7	7	8	8	7	7	8
Sunrise	6:45	6:50	6:45	6:40	6:35	6:40	6:45	6:45	6:35	6:20	6:20	6:30
Sunset	18:55	19:00	18:55	18:40	18:35	18:40	18:45	18:45	18:40	18:30	18:30	18:45

Temperatures

The annual average temperature in Seronera is 21.4 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is October (22.5 ° C), coldest month of July with averages of 19.8 ° C.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 908 mm on 96 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Seronera.

Sunshine

As our climate table shows, January is the sunniest month with an average of 8 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 7.3 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.

What is the best way to combine the Serengeti with other areas?

With its location, the Serengeti is perfect for a combination on the so-called Northern Circuit, probably the most spectacular safari tour of your life. From Arusha, it is worth visiting Lake Manyara National Park and, during the African winter (elephant migration), a detour to Tarangire.

Then it goes over the world famous and breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater in the southern corridor of the Serengeti. Especially in spring, the herds stay here and give birth to their offspring. The central Serengeti around Seronero (also accessible by small aircraft) must not be missing on your trip.

A visit to the north, especially to the adjacent Grumeti Reserve, can be a unique addition to your safari, as special rights (e.g. for off-road trips and night safaris) also apply in the private concessions. Possible extensions could be climbing Kilimanjaro or relaxing days on Zanzibar.

Serengeti weather in March, April and May

Daily temperatures averaging 27 to 28 ° C can be expected over the next three months. The temperatures hardly fluctuate during this time.

The expected rainfall is around 12 days in March, around 14 days in April and around 10 days in May.

In the period from March to May, the sun shines an average of 6 to 7 hours a day. The sunniest weather is in March in Seronera, with a little less sun you will have to get by in April.