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Lemala Safaris: honey badger crossing golden hills
Elephants walking close to an open safari vehicle beneath cloud-topped mountains

Dry season, peak begins

Tanzania in July

Peak dry season. Animals gather around water, the grass is short and sightings are superb. Herds head for the northern Serengeti, so book early.

Best
For a safari
Best
For Kilimanjaro
Best
For Zanzibar beaches
Peak season
Main draw this month

Tanzania in July at a glance

Classic big-game safari

  • The weather

    Dry, clear and cool at night, with warm days. Dust rises on the tracks, and mornings at altitude are cold.

  • Where the herds are

    The herds move through the western corridor and on toward the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. Crossings can begin in July, though the most reliable weeks come later.

  • The parks

    Tarangire is among the best places in northern Tanzania for elephants, and the northern Serengeti is worth adding. The animals gather near the remaining water.

  • Kilimanjaro

    One of the best months on Kilimanjaro, with clear skies, though also one of the busiest.

  • Zanzibar and the coast

    Cool, breezy and dry on Zanzibar on the southeast wind, a comfortable month for the beach.

  • Crowds and rates

    Peak season. Lodges fill early, rates are at their highest and popular sightings attract several vehicles.

Planning a trip in July

  • Good for

    Classic dry-season safari, Elephants at Tarangire, Climbing Kilimanjaro

  • Watch out for

    Book well ahead, and expect vehicles at the best-known sightings.

  • What to pack

    Warm fleece and hat for dawn, light clothes for midday and a scarf or buff for dust.

Our verdict on July

July is classic safari weather with the herds heading north, best for travellers who book early and do not mind company.

Safaris that suit July

Itineraries from our collection that list July among their best months, from the lowest starting price.

Compare with other months

Choose another month to see how it differs. The bars show how good each month is for a safari.

Questions answered

What travellers ask us

July is classic safari weather with the herds heading north, best for travellers who book early and do not mind company.

The herds move through the western corridor and on toward the northern Serengeti and the Mara River. Crossings can begin in July, though the most reliable weeks come later.

One of the best months on Kilimanjaro, with clear skies, though also one of the busiest.

Warm fleece and hat for dawn, light clothes for midday and a scarf or buff for dust.

Keep planning

Where to go next

Free guides

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A free PDF to read at your own pace: where to go, when, and what each park is best for. Tell us where to send it.

  • Cover of The Tanzania Safari Planning GuideFree PDF

    Free guide

    The Tanzania Safari Planning Guide

    Where to go, when, and what each park is best for: a clear primer before you choose a safari.

    • The best months for every park, park by park, on one page
    • A profile of each destination: the landscape, the wildlife to expect and the size of the park
    • The ways to travel, from classic game drives to walking, beach and combination trips

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