Weather Climate Serengeti National Park: A Guide to Tanzania's Conditions

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Serengeti’s Weather and Temperature Patterns

Despite the common belief that Africa is intensely hot, the Serengeti enjoys a surprisingly temperate climate. Sweltering heat is uncommon, and temperatures often dip during the night and early morning hours. Seasonal shifts affect temperature ranges, with the rainy months generally being the warmest. In the Seronera region, daytime highs can occasionally peak at 37°C during the rainy season, while the chilliest early mornings in the dry season rarely fall below 13°C.

Temperature also changes with elevation—areas near the crater highlands average around 15°C, whereas regions closer to Lake Victoria experience warmer conditions, nearing 30°C. Thanks to its higher elevation, the Serengeti serves as a cool oasis within a broader, hotter region.

Seasonal Rainfall in the Serengeti

Rain in the Serengeti typically arrives in two phases. The first, known as the short rains, takes place between November and December. These early showers break the long dry spell and are generally light and scattered, making them unlikely to disrupt travel or wildlife viewing. The second phase, called the long rains, occurs from March through May and brings the most substantial rainfall of the year. While it doesn’t usually pour all day, expect rain on most days during this period. These showers turn the landscape a vibrant green, earning this time the nickname “green season.” In some years, the two rainy periods blend into one prolonged stretch, especially in the northern Serengeti, while in the southeast, the short rains may not arrive at all.

Variation in Rainfall Across the Region

Rainfall amounts vary widely across the Serengeti, forming a gradient from the arid southeast to the much wetter northwest. The southeastern plains typically receive around 400 mm of rain each year, while areas near the Kenyan border and the Masai Mara can get up to 1,200 mm annually. This difference is largely due to the rain shadow effect created by the Ngorongoro highlands and the Meru-Kilimanjaro range. Moist air from the Indian Ocean rises over these highlands, cools, and releases rain before it can reach the plains. However, winds shifting inland from Lake Victoria can bring additional moisture that reduces this drying effect and enhances rainfall in parts of the region.

Serengeti Climate Charts

Minimum and Maximum Monthly Average Temperatures