Best Time to Visit Serengeti – Weather, Great Migration and Calving
The best time to visit Serengeti is late January and February for the calving season and from June till September for the Wildebeest Migration and a unlimited definitive safari. But these are also the most common and touristy months. The less crowded and cheaper period is from November till May, known as the Green Season.
For utmost tourists, the best time to visit the Serengeti rotates profoundly around the movement of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Though, with all-year-round chances for wildlife encounters and lower off-season rates, the Serengeti National Park has so much more to offer. The best time to visit Serengeti will rest on what you hope to gain most from your Serengeti safari.
General Weather and Seasons in the Serengeti
June to September: The best time to visit Serengeti for the Great Wildebeest Migration is from June till September.
During these months you might be able to catch the herds crossing the Grumeti River or Mara River.
Late January to February: The best time to visit Serengeti for calving season
For somebody who finds the wildebeest calving period captivating and jumps at the chance of extraordinary predator action sightings, then late January-February would be the perfect time for a Serengeti safari.
November to May: The best time to visit Serengeti on a budget, Green season
A tourist considering visiting the Serengeti on a smaller budget, captivating benefit of the rainy season in the Serengeti from November-May would usher in the best deals and discounts. This time of year is also the best for travellers that prefer to avoid large crowds, particularly in April and May.
November to April: The best time to visit Serengeti for migrating bird species
Knowledgeable birdwatchers would find November-April the best time of year to visit the Serengeti as European and North African migratory bird species make this landscape their winter home.
Additionally, this is how the weather in the Serengeti National Park is normally classified as follows:
Dry season: from late June to October, this time of year is also known as peak season and is considered the best time to visit the Serengeti
Rainy season (November – May):
Short rains: November to December
Long rains: March to May
Peak tourist seasons:
January to February (calving or birthing season)
June to October (classic safari)
The dry season (June-October) is measured to be the best time to visit Serengeti National Park because the Serengeti’s rainy periods often make road conditions very poor and restrict access to the plains filled with the wildebeest herds.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the benefits of various times of the year.
January – February (Classic safari)
While the exact timing is unpredictable, January-February generally marks the dry spell between the short and long rains.
March-May (Season of the Long Rains)
The long rainy period is accompanied in from March-May, which are the highest rainfall months. While it may still be a good time to visit Serengeti National Park, your trip will be impacted by the amount of rain and type of conditions the Serengeti receives that year. Tourists who find hot, humid conditions unpleasant should preferably avoid these months.
June – October
There is tiny to no rainfall from June-October, which makes it Serengeti’s dry season. Spotting wildlife is more likely during these months as the vegetation thins out and animals gather around waterholes and rivers.
While early mornings and evenings might be cold, the temperature during this period is fairly predictable and often reaches up to 25C (77F). Many tourists wish this over the hot, humid rainy months.
There is, however, the risk of an occasional cold front in July when temperatures can reach close to freezing. Another benefit to consider is that during this time of the year there are fewer mosquitos and a smaller chance of catching malaria.
November – December
The Serengeti’s wet season takes place from November-May with two types of rainy periods. The changeable ‘short rains’ take place from November-December and draw the herds back to the Southern grasslands. While wildlife is easier to spot in the dry season, the Serengeti never fails to offer wildlife viewings throughout the year.
The short rains are not as prolonged as the long rainy spells in the Serengeti, but they are less predictable. Afternoon thunderstorms are usually predictable to take place, but safaris are unlikely to be impacted. For this reason, the short rainy season is still considered an excellent time to visit the Serengeti.
Tip: To minimize the risk of malaria during the wet season, anti-malaria precautions must be taken and it is highly advised to pack repellent and takes the necessary anti-malarial medication. See our article on vaccinations and medications for more information.
Off-Peak Season Advantages: Cheaper, Quarter and Just as Amazing (April-May)
Cheaper Safari
While the dry season is considered the best time to visit the Serengeti, visitors who brave the wet season (November-May) have the advantage of better safari and accommodation prices.
Fewer Crowds
For knowledgeable safari-goers, a major draw-card of the off-peak Serengeti season is smaller crowds. Serengeti safaris offer spectacular wildlife viewing throughout the year, and fewer tourists usher in discounted safari rates and the opportunity to stay at lodges that would have otherwise been unaffordable. The safari experience is also heightened by the fact that you don’t have to navigate through the peak-season crowds.
It might come as a surprise to discover that some tourists plan a trip to the Serengeti to avoid the Great Migration altogether. The Serengeti National Park has so much more to offer beyond the great wildebeest trek.
Great Birdwatching
Bird watching enthusiasts will be delighted to discover that the Serengeti is home to more than 500 bird species, five of which are found nowhere else on earth. While bird watching is considered to be good all year round, the ideal season is from November-April. During this time European and North African migratory bird species make the Serengeti their home.
The Great Wildebeest Migration Seasons
Understanding the pattern of the Great Migration will help you choose the best time of year to visit the Serengeti. In general, the migration tends to be in the Southern Serengeti for the calving season from February to mid-March. At the same time, during the period between December and March the hurds head out in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater.
The best months to see the migration are from June-September as animals concentrate around watering holes and rivers.
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