Serengeti National Park Weather

Serengeti National Park weather is something to put into consideration when planning your Tanzania safari in Serengeti National Park. Serengeti National Park weather and climate is usually moderate and pleasant, never getting very hot but consistently cool and cold especially in the night and early morning. With this in mind, carrying warm clothing for your much anticipated Serengeti safari is very important lest you got really cold in your light clothing.

The weather and climate of Serengeti National Park is basically tropical. Although it popularly dictated that Africa and the Serengeti are very hot places, Serengeti National Park weather is actually pleasant and moderate; seldom gets very uncomfortably hot and the temperatures do drop during the night and early morning hours. Serengeti National Park receives two seasons of both the dry season and the wet season. With the park generally experiencing cool and dry season from May to August, a dry and warmer season in September and October while the wetter and the hot season falling from the month of November to April, Serengeti National Park is a great destination for wild game viewing all throughout the year.

The minimum and maximum temperatures in Serengeti National Park Tanzania vary with seasons, with the wet season actually being the warmest. The Seronera Area in particular does not exceed a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius on a hot afternoon and seldom falls below 13 degrees Celsius on cold mornings or nights. The average maximum daily temperature of Serengeti National Park changes with elevation, with the crater highlands having about 15 degrees Celsius.

Serengeti National Park Weather — Seronera Area

The dry season in Serengeti National Park

The dry season in Serengeti National Park is considered by any as the best time to visit Serengeti National Park, and is also the time when the park is most visited by tourists given it is the peak season of travel around the world. The dry season in Serengeti National Park falls in the months of June, July, August and September, as well as October. During the dry season in Serengeti National Park, the afternoon temperatures are usually 25 degrees Celsius with the temperatures dropping to about 14 degrees Celsius in the night and early morning. Day time in Serengeti National Park have clear blue skies in the dry season, with a night filled with stars. The months of June to September may have cold occasions with temperatures close to freezing especially in the morning, while the month of October may have short rains especially towards the end if they are to come early.

The wet season in Serengeti National Park

The temperatures during the wet season in Serengeti National Park are usually moderate, with the afternoons receiving temperatures of about 27 degrees Celsius with the nights having temperatures at 15 degree Celsius. November and December are wet season months in Serengeti National Park, and do receive short rains which are most unlikely to interfere with your safari in Serengeti National Park. March, April and May receive the longer rains and definitely the wettest months. The months of March, April and May tend to have rains falling almost every day but seldom for the entire day. It is often cloudy, and cold temperatures tend to shoot up especially in the early mornings.

When to visit Serengeti National Park

Given the Serengeti National Park weather and climate, the question of when the best time to visit Serengeti National Park comes into play. Serengeti National Park can be visited any time of the year, with the best time to visit Serengeti National Park being the dry season according to a number of travellers. Below however are the pros and cons of travelling to visit Serengeti National Park according to season;

The Dry Season

Pros/Advantages of visiting Serengeti National Park then

Wildlife is easier to spot given the savannah bush is thinner during the dry season
Animals in Serengeti National Park gather around the waterholes present and thus much easier to see them in one area
The dry season gives a higher chance of spotting the great wildebeest migration especially the iconic Grumeti River and Mara River crossing
Lesser chances of getting malaria since there are fewer mosquitoes in the dry season

Cons:

Expect crowds, especially around the Seronera area!
Nights and early mornings are specially really cold with temperatures dropping as low as 14 degrees Celsius

The Wet Season

Pros/Advantages of visiting Serengeti National Park then

It is a great time to see the calving in the southern Serengeti during the wildebeest migration, in the months of late January and February which are wet season months. Travelers get an opportunity to see predators preying on the calves of the wildebeests
The landscape is especially lush and green giving great scenic views and photography.
Best time for birding in Serengeti National Park, especially in November
Rains in the months of November and February are especially shorter and seldom interfere with your Serengeti wildlife safari
Fewer tourists recorded then, as well as lower accommodation rates

Cons:

January and March though are rainy season months do attract crowds especially in the Seronera area
March to May are the peak wet season months, with rains falling on most days though seldom the whole day.
Often cloudy and so dull and reflects in your photos as well.

Serengeti National Park weather and climate should be seriously considered as an important aspect in the planning stages of your much anticipated Serengeti safari. During the dry sunny season be sure to have Serengeti glasses or any other kind of sunglasses to protect your eyes, and have some warm clothing for yourself irrespective of the season of travel. Reach out to a knowledgeable and trusted tour operator like Focus East Africa Tours for Serengeti safari packages or as for a tailor made Serengeti safari fit for just you and get to enjoy Serengeti National Park anytime of the year, for as long as you are available for an African safari experience.