Best Time to Visit Arusha

June to October: dry and cool

This is the best stretch, and it's the one most people book. Days are warm but not hot, and the evenings at 1,415 metres get properly cool. July is the chilliest, with lows around 12°C. You'll want a fleece for early game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater, where it's colder still.

Rain is rare and the skies are clearer. September is the sunniest month, with about 7 hours of sun a day. Dry grass makes animals easier to spot around waterholes in Tarangire National Park. Ngorongoro and the Serengeti are good all through this period. Climbers heading for Mount Meru, the volcano that looms over town, get their best trail conditions now too.

November to May: the rains

There are two wet spells. The short rains come in November and December, and the long rains run from March to May. April is the worst, with rain on 23 days and a "Poor" rating. Red dirt roads turn to mud, some safari camps close, and clouds often hide Meru.

The short rains are gentler than the long ones. Showers often come in the afternoon, and mornings can be bright. If you're happy with a few wet hours, you'll find green hills, fewer vehicles at sightings and lower lodge rates.

January and February sit between the two. They're warm and fairly dry for the season, and both rate "Good". This is a smart pick if you want the Serengeti's calving season in the southern plains, which usually peaks around February. Travelling then also avoids the July and August crowds.

Crowds and events

July and August are high season, along with the Christmas and New Year weeks. Safari lodges fill up, and Arusha's Central Market and Clock Tower area feel busier. If you hate crowds, aim for June or late September and October. You'll still get dry weather with fewer minibuses at each sighting.

Arusha doesn't have a big festival calendar like some cities. Many visitors time trips around the wildlife instead. Still, you may catch Kilimanjaro Marathon fans passing through in late February or early March, since Moshi is a short drive away. Eid and Christmas bring family travel on local buses, so expect fuller roads and stations.