Planning

The Best Time to Visit, Month by Month

There is no single “best month” for East Africa — there’s a best month for what you want to see. Pick a month below for what’s actually happening on the ground, from Mara River crossings to gorilla trekking’s dry seasons.

JanuaryHigh

Calving Season Begins in the Serengeti

Calving SeasonWarm Coast

FebruaryHigh

Peak Calving — The Year's Densest Predator Action

Calving SeasonPredator Sightings

MarchModerate

Calving Winds Down as the Long Rains Approach

Shoulder Season ValueBirdlife

AprilLow

The Quietest Month — Long Rains in Full Swing

Lowest RatesSolitude

MayLow

Rains Tapering, Landscapes at Their Greenest

ValueGreen Season Photography

JuneHigh

Dry Season Begins — Grumeti Crossings Start

Grumeti CrossingsGorilla Trekking

JulyPeak

The Mara River Crossings Begin

Mara River CrossingsGorilla Trekking

AugustPeak

Peak Mara Crossings — The Busiest, Most Dramatic Month

Mara River CrossingsBig Five

SeptemberHigh

Crossings Continue, Slightly Thinner Crowds Than August

Mara River CrossingsGorilla Trekking

OctoberHigh

Late Crossings, Dry Season Winding Down

Late Mara CrossingsBig Five

NovemberModerate

Short Rains — The Herds Begin Moving South

Value After Peak SeasonSouthbound Migration

DecemberPeak

Short Rains Ease — Festive Season Safaris

Festive SeasonGorilla Trekking