When to go · Tanzania
Tanzania in July
Great month. Herds reach the northern Serengeti; first Mara River crossings around Kogatende; Kilimanjaro busy.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Tanzania
- Prices
- High
- Tanzania
Verdict
Herds reach the northern Serengeti; first Mara River crossings around Kogatende; Kilimanjaro busy.
Is another month better than July?
No other month rates higher than July for Tanzania in this guide.
Weather in July
- 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.Summit nights below 14 °F (−10 °C) 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, Mikumibest weather
One long wet season Nov–Apr; many camps open only June–October.
- Western lakes · Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Lake Tanganyikabest weather
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 mbest weather
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 coastbest weather
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 mbest weather
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 stripfine
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 hillsbest weather
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 lakeshorebest weather
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 coastlinefine
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 highlandsdry
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 mdry
Hotter and drier than the plateau; game concentrates near the Great Ruaha River in the dry season.
- Zanzibar: Zanzibar island · whole islandfine
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.
- Arusha23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
- Bagamoyo26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Biharamulo26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
- Bukoba26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
- Chake Chake30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 20 rain days
- Dar es Salaam30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
- Dodoma27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days
- Iringa23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
- Jambiani26 °C (79 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 12 rain days
- Karatu24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
- Katesh24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 3 rain days
- Kendwa29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 10 rain days
- Kigoma25 °C (77 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 13 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 13 rain days
- Kilwa28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Kondoa26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 15 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 15 rain days
- Lagosa27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
- Lindi29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
- Lushoto22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Mafia Island25 °C (77 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
- Makambako23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
- Masasi28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 4 rain days
- Matemwe28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Mbeya20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 2 rain days
- Mikindani29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
- Morogoro24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
- Moshi23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Mpanda27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
- Mpwapwa26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
- Mto Wa Mbu23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Mtwara28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Mwanza29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
- Njombe22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
- Nungwi29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
- Paje28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
- Singida23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
- Sirari27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
- Songea24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Stone Town29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
- Sumbawanga24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 9 rain days
- Tabora30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 15 rain days
- Tanga26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 14 rain days
- Tukuyu23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 3 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.
Saba Saba
7 Jul
Trade fair in Dar es Salaam.
Northern dry-season safari and climbing peak
June to September · Arusha
The busiest, most expensive months for hotels, safari vehicles and Kilimanjaro permits.
Karibu Travel and Trade Fair check
Late June or early July, moves yearly · Arusha
Tourism trade event; hotel rooms tighten for the week.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Tanzania
- High
- Prices · Tanzania
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Tanzania, side by side.
Verdict
Jul: Great
Jan: Great
Crowds
Jul: High
Jan: Medium
Prices
Jul: High
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Jul: 3
Jan: 4
July: Herds reach the northern Serengeti; first Mara River crossings around Kogatende; Kilimanjaro busy.
January: Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.
Tanzania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in July
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)
Southern parks
Best weather of the year (Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Mikumi)
Western lakes
Best weather of the year (Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Lake Tanganyika)
Dry; book early.
Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
Best months: Jun–Oct (dry)
Best months: Jun–Sep, Jan–Feb
Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, cooler)
Best months: May–Nov (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, cool nights); also Dec–Feb