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

Enquire About Serengeti Safari

We hope this information will help you to decide that Serengeti National Park is the ideal destination for your next adventure. Still have questions? Or perhaps you need more specific details about the park? Please fill in the contact form, and we will get back to you soon! Alternatively, email us at safarioffers@ajkenyasafaris.com or james@ajkenyasafaris.com. You can also reach us via WhatsApp or phone at +254 748 258880.

Serengeti National Park Temperature

Contrary to popular belief, Africa is not always scorching hot. The average temperature in Serengeti National Park is around 22°C (71°F), providing a comfortable climate for visitors. The climate in Serengeti is quite pleasant and moderate. It rarely becomes excessively hot, with temperatures dropping during the night and early mornings. The minimum and maximum average temperatures fluctuate with the seasons, with the wet season being the warmest. In the Seronera area, minimum and maximum temperatures rarely exceed 37°C on a hot afternoon during the rainy season and seldom drop below 13°C on a cold early morning in the dry season.

During the warmer season in September and October, temperatures are generally higher and the weather is drier, making it an ideal time for wildlife viewing. The average maximum daily temperature varies with elevation: from 15°C near the crater highlands to about 30°C crater highlands near Lake Victoria. Due to its altitude, Serengeti National Park is a ‘cool island’ within a much warmer region.

Serengeti Rainfall Periods – Rainy Season/Wet Season

There are two rainy periods in Serengeti National Park. The short rains occur from November to December and are the first to break the dry season. These rains are unpredictable and unlikely to disrupt your safari. The long rains follow from March to May, marking the peak rainfall months. It rarely rains all day, but it does rain on most days during hot season, transforming the landscape into a lush green, often referred to as the ‘green season’. Occasionally, the rains merge into one extended period, especially in the north, or the short rains may fail entirely, particularly in the southeast of the Serengeti.

Rainfall Gradient – Dry and Warmer Season

A rainfall gradient exists from the dry southeastern serengeti plains (400 mm annually) to the much wetter northwest near the Kenyan border and the Masai Mara (up to 1,200 mm annually). The low rainfall on the Serengeti plains results from the rain shadow effect of the Ngorongoro Crater Area and the Meru-Kilimanjaro mountain range. Prevailing south-easterly winds carry moisture from the Indian Ocean, rising over these highlands. As the air cools, moisture condenses, leading to rainfall. However, shifting winds can redirect moisture from Lake Victoria, counteracting this effect and inducing the rainfall gradient.

Serengeti Climate Charts

Minimum and Maximum Monthly Average Temperatures