East Africa comprises of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. It is actually an all year round destination to visit and whichever season you will travel; you will have something to experience.
To give you an idea of what to expect to assist you make a decision of when to travel, we have given you a summary as below. However, based on your personal safari needs, we will be more than happy to listen to you and work out what will suit you but understand seasonal trends will really be of help.
December – March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkeling conditions and by end of March it gives way to the April rains.
This is good time for game viewing in the Serengeti, diving in Zanzibar and gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Where to go?
It is a good time to be in Serengeti as you will come close to the predators following the wildebeest as they move onto the southern and eastern plains and Northern Ngorongoro for calving.
Mount Kenya & Kilimanjaro the warm and dry months of January and February are ideal to go mountain climbing
Gorilla Trekking -late December to early March has the driest weather in Uganda and Rwanda- Gorilla treks are easier and the views better.
Mombasa and Zanzibar experience little higher temperatures between late December and early March.
It will be less crowded than the cooler months.
APRIL TO JUNE
This is a period for long rains with heavy showers. You can still have a good time in Masai Mara, Serengeti and Lake Manyara or even Amboseli. These are low season period and the safaris are less expensive and less crowded.
This is the time the wildebeest are forming huge herds in Southern and Central preparation for their trek to Masai Mara towards the end of June.
Around this time, it will be lush and green in Ngorongoro Crater which is generally and all year round destination.
JULY TO NOVEMBER
These are months with mild temperatures and dry-season which are the most popular safari months in East Africa.
Early July, visit to Western Serengeti and the Grumeti Reserves is good as the wildebeest will have arrived on this area as they make their way to Masai Mara.
By early August, Kenya’s Masai Mara will be flooded with wildebeest where they remain until early October making this a good time for game viewing in Masai Mara.
If you would like to do an East Africa complete tour, this period you can visit Serengeti, Masai Mara and Uganda & Rwanda for the gorillas. Zanzibar The coolest and driest time to visit Zanzibar is between late June and October – great for families – but this is also when the island is at is busiest and accommodation rates and air fares are at their peak.