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When to go · Tanzania

Tanzania in October

Great month. Herds start south; dry and dusty; mandatory mainland insurance applies from 1 Oct 2026.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Tanzania
Prices
High
Tanzania

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Tanzania

Herds start south; dry and dusty; mandatory mainland insurance applies from 1 Oct 2026.

Is another month better than October?

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

Weather in October

  • 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, 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 mfine

    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 coastfine

    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 mbest weather

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

  • Northeast Tanzania: Tanga coast · Indian Ocean stripbest weather

    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 hillsfine

    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 lakeshorefine

    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 coastlinebest weather

    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 highlandsfine

    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 mfine

    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.

  • Arusha27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days
  • Bagamoyo29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days
  • Biharamulo28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 9 rain days
  • Bukoba27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 16 rain days
  • Chake Chake31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dar es Salaam32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Dodoma31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days
  • Iringa27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days
  • Jambiani28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Karatu27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 9 rain days
  • Katesh28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kendwa30 °C (86 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Kigoma27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days
  • Kilwa29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kondoa28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Lagosa29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Lindi31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Lushoto26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days
  • Mafia Island28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days
  • Makambako27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days
  • Masasi32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Matemwe30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Mbeya26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mikindani30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Morogoro28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days
  • Moshi27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mpanda29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Mpwapwa31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 4 rain days
  • Mto Wa Mbu27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Mtwara30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 4 rain days
  • Mwanza29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days
  • Njombe26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days
  • Nungwi31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Paje30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Singida27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 7 rain days
  • Sirari29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days
  • Songea29 °C (84 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 4 rain days
  • Stone Town31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Sumbawanga26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days
  • Tabora31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Tanga28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tukuyu28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 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.

  • Nyerere Day

    14 Oct

    Public holiday.

  • Nane Nane (Farmers' Day) check

    Around 8 August in most of Tanzania, with regional shows into October · Arusha

    Agricultural show draws regional crowds; some road congestion.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Tanzania
Medium
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

    Oct: Great

    Jan: Great

  • Crowds

    Oct: Medium

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    Oct: High

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Oct: 2

    Jan: 4

October: Herds start south; dry and dusty; mandatory mainland insurance applies from 1 Oct 2026.

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.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in October

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)

  • Arusha

    Dry, warming; short rains start late.

  • Bagamoyo

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Biharamulo

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry)

  • Chake Chake

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

  • Dodoma

    Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

  • Iringa

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

  • Jambiani

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb