Best time to visit Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania
Best time to visit Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania – Dry or wet season?
Game viewing with in the Ngorongoro crater is perfect all year round , however the best time to visit Ngorongoro crater is in the dry season that starts in June, July, August, September and December to February as the ideal time you can see several animals in the crater.in this blog post, we give you details on what to expect month by month.
June to October-Dry season
It is very easy to see wildlife since the vegetation is not very thick and the animals gather around the various waterholes plus rivers. The rains are little and even may not rain at all, although there is plenty of sunshine. The chances of getting malaria are minimal as there are few mosquitos during the dry season but still you have to carry a repellant with you. The Ngorongoro crater is crowded with tourists and expect cold mornings and nights, and chilly during day. We recommend those going for morning game drives to take warm clothes with you.
November to May- the wet season
The crater provides tremendous game viewing all year round, with beautiful green scenery and landscape. The low season is during the months of April and May, at this time, there are fewer tourists and perhaps lower accommodation rates. This is also the best time to see birds as there are several migratory birds in the park. The peak of the wet season starts in March to May.
The Ngorongoro highland ‘s leeward side has the lasting Oldonyo Lengai whch is an active volcano as well as the third highest peak following mountain Meru and Mountain Kilimanjaro. At the bottom of this mountain you will find the stunning lake Natron a main breeding area for the beautiful flamingos.
Ngorongoro conservation area general weather and climate
June, July, August, September and October
The temperatures in the Afternoon are normally approximately 19°C and 66°F on the floor of the crater. It is really sunny, and the skies are usually however in case the ‘short rains’ begin early they may start in October. It becomes really cold in the night and may even freeze on the edge of the crater. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you carry warm clothes if taking a game drive in the early morning.
Wet season – November up to May
The days are really warmer compared to those in the dry season, however mornings are similarly cold. The Afternoon temperatures are normally about 23°C/73°F at the bottom of the crater and at they drop to about 6°C/43°F on the edge of the crater. You may even occasionally experience some freezing temperatures.
November and December –Short rains
These rains are mostly likely not to affect at all your safari since it doesn’t rain for the entire day. Showers normally come in the afternoon. These ‘short rains’ take approximately a month and may occur between the month of October and December.
January and February
During the wet season, there is a dry spell that falls, however it is really unpredictable when this will happen.
March, April and May – ‘The Long rains’
During this time, wetness is at its peak. The majority of the days will be rainy; however this won’t last for the whole day. The average highest and lowest temperatures are 21°C or 70°F on the floor of the crater and 6°C or 43°F on the edge of the crater. Because of the cold front, in April and May you could experience cooler weather.