Best time to visit Kenya & Tanzania
Wildlife, wonderful landscapes and Maasai culture await almost year-round – just take a waterproof from March to early May.![]()
Kenya and Tanzania are year-round destinations. The rains come March-early May, but there’s still wildlife around, particularly in the Ngorongoro, where the crater keeps animal in one place! You might bag a bargain now, too. Unlike in Kenya, the Great Migration can be seen most of the year somewhere in Tanzania, but to catch it at its most dramatic, the best time to go is late June-Sept, when animals cross the Mara River, with the weeks outside August school vacations quieter. The short rains Nov-Dec don’t cause much disruption, while Jan and Feb is green and babies are born. Feb is hottest, at max 25°C, July is coolest, around 20°C.
Nairobi, Kenya Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
12
25
57
FEB
12
26
49
MAR
13
26
93
APR
14
24
244
MAY
13
23
186
JUN
11
22
42
JUL
10
21
22
AUG
10
21
27
SEP
11
24
29
OCT
12
25
67
NOV
13
23
151
DEC
13
24
99
Our Kenya and Tanzania Vacations
Kenya safari and Zanzibar beach vacation
Safari in the Masai Mara & paradise beaches on Zanzibar
From
£5450
13 days
ex flights
Kenya & Tanzania safari vacations
Some of the best wildlife spots in Tanzania and Kenya
From
£5030 to £6030
14 days
ex flights
Kenya & Tanzania Safari vacation
Explore the world's best safari locations with expert guides
From
£7250
20 days
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Kenya and Tanzania small group safari vacation
Kenya & Tanzania tour with all the highlights!
From
£4420 to £6375
13 days
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Family cycling vacation in Kenya & Tanzania
Family Biking and camping adventure in Kenya and Tanzania
From
NZ $4900 to NZ $6500
16 days
ex flights
Biking vacation in Kenya & Tanzania
16 day biking and wildlife adventure in Kenya and Tanzania.
From
NZ $6500
16 days
ex flights
Things to do in Kenya & Tanzania
Things to do in Kenya & Tanzania…
Things not to do in Kenya & Tanzania…
Kenya & Tanzania travel advice
When to go to East Africa
Brad John-Davis, from our supplier Intrepid Travel, has tips on when to visit:
“East Africa is very lucky to be a year-round destination and game viewing is great all year. In any given month there will be the chance to see the migration at some point in the Mara/Serengeti/Ngorongoro ecosystem, and there aren’t really any times of year where visitors are more or less likely to miss any of the most exciting sightings. April, May and November are the wetter months and usually the quietest, but the plus side to this is fewer crowds giving a more exclusive feel and slippery tracks in the game parks lending a real sense of adventure! A personal favourite of mine is February – a quieter month with great weather for European visitors, hot and dry!”)
“East Africa is very lucky to be a year-round destination and game viewing is great all year. In any given month there will be the chance to see the migration at some point in the Mara/Serengeti/Ngorongoro ecosystem, and there aren’t really any times of year where visitors are more or less likely to miss any of the most exciting sightings. April, May and November are the wetter months and usually the quietest, but the plus side to this is fewer crowds giving a more exclusive feel and slippery tracks in the game parks lending a real sense of adventure! A personal favourite of mine is February – a quieter month with great weather for European visitors, hot and dry!”)
What to expect from a vacation in Kenya and Tanzania
Brad John-Davis, from our supplier Intrepid Travel:“If delivered correctly, a great vacation to Kenya and Tanzania should be about city, countryside, wildlife, people, history, tribal life, landscapes and the beach – as long as you include a trip that features Zanzibar.”
Viewing the Great Migration
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus, explains why this is such an extraordinary spectacle: “For me, it is one of the top five wildlife sights in the world, it’s quite unbelievable. You can see the migration from miles away as there’s a huge spiral of vultures in the sky where the river crossings are. You’ve got the huge Nile crocodiles there which only actually eat twice a year – during the river crossings. They have one of the lowest metabolism rates of any animal. They’ll bury the wildebeest or zebra in log jams in the river so they nicely soften up, then just tear the meat off. You can actually smell it from quite a long way off – all the carcasses on the river.”
Unmissable sights
Brad John-Davis, from our supplier Intrepid Travel, on his favourite place:“There’s nothing quite like the view from the crater rim at Ngorongoro. It’s one of the most fantastic views on the planet. Personally, I prefer the colder months of the year (July, August) where due to the elevation and the exposure, it can get seriously chilly. Not at all what one would expect in Africa!”
Our top Kenya and Tanzania Vacation
Kenya safari and Zanzibar beach vacation
Safari in the Masai Mara & paradise beaches on Zanzibar
From
£5450
13 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
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Tips from our travelers in Kenya & Tanzania
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Kenya and Tanzania travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Kenya and Tanzania travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
Travel light, take a good camera. Be prepared for some long bumpy journeys, basic camping and facilities!![]()
– Eileen Emery
"Research, research, research and find the right safari for you. Get exact information/itineraries. Check all prices and facts. Safaris are expensive vacations and with so many variations to choose from, it is worth talking personally to operators, rather than relying on looking online.” – Sally Moir
“Read the itinerary carefully and be prepared for long, dusty truck journeys, fondly referred to as having an ‘African massage’, as roads are very bumpy and have more craters than hard sections. Perhaps choose a vacation which centers at one place for 2-3 days and journey out from that center.” – Lesley Halliday
“Don’t forget your bug spray and put it on! Space in the truck is fairly limited but you don’t need too many clothes, you’ll have opportunities to wash clothes most days, one of the campsites even has dry cleaning. Remember to bring some warm clothes and a waterproof top.” – Nick Walker
“Read the itinerary carefully and be prepared for long, dusty truck journeys, fondly referred to as having an ‘African massage’, as roads are very bumpy and have more craters than hard sections. Perhaps choose a vacation which centers at one place for 2-3 days and journey out from that center.” – Lesley Halliday
“Don’t forget your bug spray and put it on! Space in the truck is fairly limited but you don’t need too many clothes, you’ll have opportunities to wash clothes most days, one of the campsites even has dry cleaning. Remember to bring some warm clothes and a waterproof top.” – Nick Walker
Bring something thoughtful to share with the school in Tanzania. It is such a special experience.![]()
– Dan Cobley, on a family cycling vacation
“The safari camps are quite basic, so although camping means you get very much closer to nature –we had jackals and zebra actually come through our camps at night – and although the support team did a great job making us as comfortable as possible, some experience of camping is probably an advantage.” – Marie Lenstrup
“Be in good condition, have a bit of biking practice beforehand and go for some uphills. Otherwise you will struggle a bit... Bring a camera with a decent zoom. If you want luxury this is not for you!” – Roman Holderbach on a biking vacation
“The environment is very fragile and visited by many tourists. Make sure to travel with agencies which you can be sure comply with the highest possible standards in terms of responsibility towards nature and the local community. Double check if possible any reference.” – Tomas Gregersen
“Be in good condition, have a bit of biking practice beforehand and go for some uphills. Otherwise you will struggle a bit... Bring a camera with a decent zoom. If you want luxury this is not for you!” – Roman Holderbach on a biking vacation
“The environment is very fragile and visited by many tourists. Make sure to travel with agencies which you can be sure comply with the highest possible standards in terms of responsibility towards nature and the local community. Double check if possible any reference.” – Tomas Gregersen
More about Kenya and Tanzania
Find out more about combining two East African countries in a single trip, in our Kenya and Tanzania travel guide, discovering double the wildlife and twice as many sights.
Combining Kenya and Tanzania on a budget makes a lot of sense.
Cycling through Kenya and Tanzania feels like a voyage of discovery. On the quiet back roads, plains game (gazelle, zebra, other nervous herbivores) spills out of the national parks in front of your peloton. You’ll never know what will cross your tracks next.
