BEST TIME TO VISIT ARUSHA PARK FOR A NORTHERN TANZANIA SAFARI

As you plan your trip to Arusha National Park, you should consider the time of year that you plan to visit as this greatly affects the wildlife experiences, activities and your personal comfort with the climate. In general, the best time to visit Arusha National Park is from June to October – the dry season when the animals are easier to observe as the congregate near fresh water sources, rainfall is minimal, foliage is less dense and mosquito levels are reduced.

From November to December and March through May, the rains transform the landscape as lush, green grasses emerge, and this is also the time when migratory birds arrive in the park. Arusha National Park is one of Tanzania's hidden gems, so the park is never crowded. January and February are also semi-dry months as they are set in between the two rainy seasons i.e. short and long. Like other wilderness areas in Tanzania, Arusha National Park experiences wet and dry seasons. The dry season is from June to October, and the two wet seasons are mid-March to May, the period of long rains, and November to December, the period of short rains.



The weather is pleasant year-round, with cooler temperatures at night and in the early mornings. During the dry season, the daytime temperature averages 75 F (24 C) and nighttime temperatures average 50 F (10 C). You may be chilly during your early morning game drives, so a warm fleece and long pants are recommended. The park's elevation tends to keep humidity levels lower than other parts of Tanzania, and the average humidity levels are lowest from May through September.

During and in between the wet seasons, temperatures are slightly higher, ranging from 79-84 F (26-29 C) during the day and 53-57 F (11-14 C) at night. During the short rains, it does not typically rain throughout the day, so your Arusha safari activities should not be affected. The long rains, though, bring cloudy skies, occasional colder temperatures and more soil moisture, so road and path conditions may be affected in addition to the inability to safely canoe at Momella Lakes.



The weather also affects the views and climbing opportunities. The clear skies from December through February give you the best views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. Trekking these iconic mountains requires a high level of physical fitness and weather conditions may place a greater strain on your abilities. Although you may climb the mountain year-round, the warm, dry months are generally the best time to trek Mount Meru and also Kilimanjaro. Photography safari in Tanzania is a popular reason that people visit Arusha National Park due to the diversity of varied terrain and wildlife opportunities without the tourist masses like in Ngorongoro Crater.

If you want to capture iconic images of the wildlife on your first time stay during your travels in Africa, the best time to visit Arusha National Park is during the dry season. During the wet seasons, there is abundance of birdlife but the land fauna tend to remain deeper in the vegetation where water and dietary foliage is plenty so more days are required in the park, but in the dry season, the animals are in the more open, less dense areas especially in expanses near water sources.

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