Long dry season
Late June through October is prime time. Grass is short, animals gather near water and the migration reaches the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara for the river crossings. Mornings are cool and the best camps book a year out.
East African safari
Lions at breakfast, elephants under Kilimanjaro, a million wildebeest on the move. Safari is a Swahili word, and in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda it feels right at home.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Best time to go
- Late June to October, and January to February
- Trip length
- 8 to 12 days, longer with gorillas or Zanzibar
- From Atlanta
- About 20 to 24 hours, with one connection
- Time difference
- Kenya and Tanzania 7 hours ahead of Eastern (8 in winter), Rwanda one hour less
- Entry
- Kenya eTA; visas for Tanzania and Rwanda, online or on arrival
- Currency
- Kenyan and Tanzanian shillings, Rwandan francs. Bring a plug adapter
Why East Africa stays with people
There is a moment on every safari when the guide cuts the engine, the dust settles and you realize the lion is close enough to hear breathing. Nobody forgets it.
Kenya and Tanzania share one great ecosystem, the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, where the wildebeest migration circles year-round. Around it sit very different parks: Amboseli’s elephants under Kilimanjaro, Samburu’s rare northern species, the wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater and baobab-studded Tarangire.
Small planes connect the camps, so a week can cover two or three regions without long drives. Finish barefoot on Zanzibar’s beaches, or fly to Rwanda to sit with mountain gorillas for an hour you’ll talk about for years. For more wildlife ideas, see our safari and wildlife trips.
Getting around
- Nairobi to the Maasai MaraAbout 45 minutes by light aircraft
- Nairobi to Amboseli or SamburuAbout an hour by light aircraft
- Arusha to TarangireAbout 2 hours by road
- Arusha to Ngorongoro CraterAbout 3 hours by road
- Arusha to the Serengeti1 to 1.5 hours by light aircraft
- Nairobi to KigaliAbout 1.5 hours by air
- Kigali to Volcanoes National Park2 to 2.5 hours by road
When to go
There’s good game viewing every month. The long dry season is the classic choice, the calving months are a close second, and the green season brings lush landscapes and quieter camps.
- JanDry spell, calving begins
- FebCalving in the southern Serengeti
- MarWarm, rains build late
- AprLong rains, lush and quiet
- MayRains ease, green season rates
- JunDry season begins, Grumeti crossings
- JulMara River crossings begin
- AugHerds in the Mara, cool and dry
- SepRiver crossings, prime game viewing
- OctDry, herds start turning south
- NovShort rains, landscapes turn green
- DecHerds head south, holiday weeks
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan2.3″
Feb1.4″
Mar2.9″
Apr5.1″
May4.3″
Jun1.1″
Jul0.4″
Aug0.7″
Sep0.7″
Oct2.0″
Nov5.1″
Dec3.4″
Jan3.3″
Feb3.1″
Mar5.8″
Apr6.2″
May2.4″
Jun0.5″
Jul0.4″
Aug0.4″
Sep0.4″
Oct1.5″
Nov4.4″
Dec4.7″
Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches. Both cities sit above 4,000 feet, so mornings and evenings are cooler than you might expect so close to the equator.
Short rains
November into early December brings brief afternoon showers that turn the plains green. The herds start moving south, prices soften and you share sightings with fewer vehicles. The holiday weeks fill early.
Calving season
From late January through February, the herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ndutu, and thousands of calves are born each day. Predators follow, and the action can be extraordinary.
Long rains
April and May are the wettest months. Some camps close, but those that stay open offer lovely rates, dramatic skies and empty roads. It’s also a good moment for a beach week on Zanzibar to wait out the rain.
Where to go
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Maasai Mara
Big cats, open savanna and the Mara River crossings from about July to October. The private conservancies around the reserve limit vehicles and allow night drives and walks.
Best for Big cats, migration, first safaris
Amboseli
Big-tusked elephants crossing the swamps with Kilimanjaro on the horizon. Clear mornings bring the classic view of the mountain’s snowy summit.
Best for Elephants, photography
Samburu
Dry, rugged northern country along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, home to species you won’t see farther south, like reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and gerenuk.
Best for Rare species, return visitors
Serengeti
Endless plains and the stage for most of the Great Migration. Camps move with the seasons, so where you stay depends on the month you travel.
Best for The migration, sheer scale
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano filled with wildlife, including lions, buffalo and one of the best chances in the region to see black rhino. Lodges on the rim have spectacular views.
Best for Rhino, a full day of game in one place
Tarangire
Ancient baobabs, big elephant herds and a river that draws wildlife in the dry season. An easy first or last stop from Arusha.
Best for Elephants, a gentle start
Zanzibar
White sand, turquoise water and the winding lanes of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The perfect place to slow down after the early starts of safari.
Best for Beach time, honeymoons, culture
Volcanoes National Park
Misty bamboo forest on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda, where small groups trek to spend an hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family.
Best for Gorilla trekking, once-in-a-lifetime moments
In depth
The Great Migration
More than a million wildebeest, joined by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel a great loop through the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara every year, following the rain and fresh grass. It never really stops; it simply moves.
Nature sets the timetable, so the herds can run a few weeks early or late. River crossings are thrilling but unpredictable, and the best way to catch one is to give yourself several days in the right area with a guide who knows the river.
Where the herds are, month by month
- January to MarchSouthern Serengeti and Ndutu, calving peaks in February
- April and MayMoving north and west through the central Serengeti
- JuneWestern Corridor, with Grumeti River crossings
- July to OctoberNorthern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, Mara River crossings
- November and DecemberHeading south through the eastern Serengeti
Good to know
The small things that make a big difference once you land.
Pack soft and light
Bush flights have strict weight limits and need soft-sided bags. We’ll confirm your allowance. Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda all ban plastic carrier bags, so pack toiletries in reusable pouches.
Dress for the bush
Neutral colors and layers work best. Early game drives can be chilly in an open vehicle, then warm up fast by midday. A fleece, a hat and good sunscreen cover most days.
Tipping and cash
Tipping guides, trackers and camp staff is customary, and we’ll give you guidelines before you go. Bring small, crisp, recent U.S. bills; older or marked notes are often refused.
Health and vaccines
Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic well before your trip about yellow fever, malaria and routine vaccines, and check the CDC’s pages for each country. Keep your yellow fever card with your passport if you have one.
Zanzibar’s insurance rule
Zanzibar requires visitors to buy its own inbound travel insurance, separate from any policy you already carry. We’ll take care of it with the rest of your arrangements.
Book early for peak weeks
Small camps in the Mara and northern Serengeti fill nine to twelve months ahead for July to October, and gorilla permits are limited each day. Green season trips can come together more quickly.
Questions we hear a lot
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda?
Kenya requires an electronic travel authorization (eTA), applied for online before you fly. Tanzania requires a visa, which you can apply for online in advance or get on arrival, and Rwanda issues tourist visas on arrival or online. Your passport should be valid for at least six months, with blank pages for stamps. Rules change, so check current requirements before you travel; we’ll walk you through each one.
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
For river crossings, July to October in the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. For calving, late January through February in the southern Serengeti. The herds are somewhere in the ecosystem all year, so we match your camp to the month you travel.
Do we need vaccines or malaria pills?
Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic well before your trip, and check the CDC’s travel pages for Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. All three can ask for proof of yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, which matters when you combine countries, so ask about that too.
How long should a safari be?
Eight to twelve days covers two or three parks without rushing. Add three or four nights for Zanzibar, or two to three for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Light aircraft between camps keep the travel days short.
Is a safari a good fit for families?
Very much so, and it’s one of our favorite family trips. Many camps welcome children, with family tents, private vehicles and junior ranger activities, though some set minimum ages for game drives or walks. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is open to ages 15 and up.
Should we choose Kenya or Tanzania?
Both are wonderful, and many travelers combine them. Kenya pairs the Maasai Mara’s private conservancies with Amboseli and Samburu. Tanzania offers the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and an easy beach finish on Zanzibar. Your travel month often decides it, and an advisor can help you choose.
Let’s plan your safari
Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.