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When to go · Tanzania

Tanzania in January

Great month. Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Tanzania
Prices
Medium
Tanzania

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Tanzania

Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.

Is another month better than January?

No other month rates higher than January for Tanzania in this guide.

Weather in January

  • Northern circuit · Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengetibest weather

    Short rains Nov–Dec are light; long rains Apr–May close some camps. Migration position changes month to month.

  • Kilimanjaro · Moshi, Marangu, the mountainbest weather

    Summit nights below −10 °C (14 °F) all year; best climbing Jan–Mar and Jun–Oct.

  • Zanzibar and the coast · Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje, Dar es Salaam, Pembabest weather

    Humid; the masika rains Apr–May are heavy and several resorts close.

  • Southern parks · Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Mikumirainy

    One long wet season Nov–Apr; many camps open only June–October.

  • Western lakes · Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Lake Tanganyikarainy

    Chimp trekking is easiest in the dry season when chimps come down the slopes.

  • Central Tanzania: Central plateau (Dodoma, Singida) · Interior plateau, 1,000–1,500 mrainy

    Hot days, cool nights year-round because of the elevation; the dry months May–October are the comfortable window.

  • Central Tanzania: Morogoro and the southern parks · Eastern edge of the plateau toward the coastrainy

    Wetter than Dodoma; Mikumi and Udzungwa are green and humid in the rains, dry and clearer from June.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Arusha, Moshi, Karatu · Northern highlands, 1,000–1,500 mfine

    Long rains March–May; short rains in November. Days are mild year-round, nights cool.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Usambara Mountains (Lushoto) · Eastern Arc range, 1,200–1,800 mfine

    Wettest March–May; mist and mud on trails. Cool enough for a jacket most evenings.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Tanga coast · Indian Ocean striphot

    Hot and humid most of the year; the long rains bring heavy afternoon downpours.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Victoria shore (Mwanza, Bukoba) · Northern lakeshore and Kagera hillsrainy

    Two wet seasons: long rains roughly March–May, short rains November–December. Drier, cooler months June–September are the easiest for lake trips.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Tanganyika shore (Kigoma, Mahale) · Western lakeshorerainy

    Dry season roughly May–October is best for Mahale chimp tracking; the wet months make forest trails harder.

  • Pembwe and the Southeast: Dar es Salaam and the coast · Indian Ocean coastlinehot

    Hot and humid year-round; long rains March–May, short rains November–December. Diving visibility is best in the drier months.

  • Southern Highlands: Iringa and Njombe plateau · 1,500–2,000 m highlandsrainy

    Cool nights year-round; June–October is dry and clear, November–April brings afternoon rain.

  • Southern Highlands: Ruaha and the low south-west · Park and rift floor, 700–1,000 mrainy

    Hotter and drier than the plateau; game concentrates near the Great Ruaha River in the dry season.

  • Zanzibar: Zanzibar island · whole islandhot

    Long rains March–May (the three wet months); short rains in November (the single wet month). June–October is drier and cooler; December–February is hot and humid. The east coast is windier and better for kite surfing June–September.

  • Arusha27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days
  • Bagamoyo32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days
  • Biharamulo27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days
  • Bukoba27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 12 rain days
  • Chake Chake30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Dar es Salaam32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Dodoma30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 12 rain days
  • Iringa25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 15 rain days
  • Jambiani30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Karatu30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Katesh28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kendwa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kigoma30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kilwa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kondoa30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days
  • Lagosa27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Lindi32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Lushoto28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mafia Island31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Makambako25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 15 rain days
  • Masasi32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Matemwe32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days
  • Mbeya25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 18 rain days
  • Mikindani30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Morogoro30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 14 rain days
  • Moshi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days
  • Mpanda30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mpwapwa30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mto Wa Mbu28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mtwara31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mwanza28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 13 rain days
  • Njombe24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 18 rain days
  • Nungwi32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Paje32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Singida30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Sirari30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Songea27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days
  • Stone Town33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Sumbawanga28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tabora30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tanga31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tukuyu27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • New Year's Day

    1 Jan

    Zanzibar busy.

  • Zanzibar Revolution Day

    12 Jan

    Holiday; events in Stone Town.

  • Southern Serengeti calving season begins check

    Through February · Arusha

    Peak safari demand; Arusha hotels and vehicles book up.

  • Peak safari season start

    December–February · Arusha

    Southern Serengeti calving season draws safari traffic through Arusha; book lodges and vehicles early.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Tanzania
Medium
Prices · Tanzania
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Tanzania, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jan: Great

    Jun: Great

  • Crowds

    Jan: Medium

    Jun: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 4

    Jun: 2

January: Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.

June: Dry season starts; Grumeti River crossings in the Western Corridor (variable).

Tanzania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

Rated best or good this month

  • Northern circuit

    Best weather of the year (Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti)

  • Kilimanjaro

    Best weather of the year (Moshi, Marangu, the mountain)

  • Zanzibar and the coast

    Best weather of the year (Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje, Dar es Salaam, Pemba)

  • Arusha

    Short dry spell; warm.

  • Bagamoyo

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Bukoba

    Best months: Jun–Sep, Jan–Feb

  • Chake Chake

    Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season, cooler sea breezes)

  • Iringa

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, cool nights); also Dec–Feb

  • Jambiani

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Karatu

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Kendwa

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Mafia Island

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, calm) and Dec–Feb (hot, clear water)