Long rains, the quietest month
Tanzania in April
The long rains are at their heaviest. Some camps close, roads can be slow and Zanzibar is wet, but for flexible travellers it is the best value of the year.
- Quiet and wet
- For a safari
- Quiet and wet
- For Kilimanjaro
- Quiet and wet
- For Zanzibar beaches
- Lowest prices
- Main draw this month
Tanzania in April at a glance
The quietest month
The weather
Usually the wettest month. Rain tends to arrive in heavy afternoon bursts, with mornings that can still be bright, and cloud may hide Kilimanjaro.
Where the herds are
The plains dry out and the herds begin to stream north and west through the central Serengeti. Long columns can stretch for kilometres around Seronera.
The parks
The country is a rich, glowing green. Some camps close for the wettest weeks and a few tracks become slow or impassable.
Kilimanjaro
A wet and cloudy month on the mountain, with muddy trails and colder nights. The Rongai route sheds the heaviest rain if you must climb now.
Zanzibar and the coast
The long rains make April and May the wettest time on Zanzibar.
Crowds and rates
The quietest month of the year, with the best value for travellers who are flexible.
Planning a trip in April
Good for
Lowest prices, Solitude, Adaptable travellers
Watch out for
Closed camps, slow roads and cloud. If April is your only option, choose a lodge with an all-weather road and add a spare day.
What to pack
A proper waterproof jacket, quick-drying clothes and a dry bag for your camera.
Our verdict on April
April rewards relaxed, adaptable travellers with empty parks and low rates, and suits those with a single week and a long wish list less well.
Safaris that suit April
Itineraries from our collection that list April among their best months, from the lowest starting price.
Nyerere Fly-In Escape from Zanzibar
One night on the Rufiji River, by air, between two days of beach.
2 days · From $1,665
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Seven Days
Baobab elephants, a pair of Serengeti days and a full morning-to-evening descent into the crater.
7 days · From $1,891
Fly-In Serengeti Escape: Five Days, No Long Drive
Be on the plains by lunchtime, then finish with the crater and Lake Manyara.
5 days · From $2,575
Compare with other months
Choose another month to see how it differs. The bars show how good each month is for a safari.
January
Calving on the southern plains
Mixed
February
Peak calving and big cats
Mixed
March
Lush landscapes, lower prices
Showery
April
The quietest month
Quiet and wet
May
Green, calm and affordable
Showery
June
Dry season begins
Very good
July
Classic big-game safari
Best
August
Mara River crossings
Best
September
Crossings with fewer crowds
Best
October
Last of the dry season
Very good
November
Short rains, fresh green
Showery
December
Herds return south
Mixed
Questions answered
What travellers ask us
April rewards relaxed, adaptable travellers with empty parks and low rates, and suits those with a single week and a long wish list less well.
The plains dry out and the herds begin to stream north and west through the central Serengeti. Long columns can stretch for kilometres around Seronera.
A wet and cloudy month on the mountain, with muddy trails and colder nights. The Rongai route sheds the heaviest rain if you must climb now.
A proper waterproof jacket, quick-drying clothes and a dry bag for your camera.
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