Tanzania · Tanzania
September
Migration begins returning — excellent conditions, slightly cheaper than peak, and fewer vehicles at crossings.
Best match
#4 of 12 months
There are better months for Tanzania — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
25°C
Low
11°C
Rain
28mm
Sun
8.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How September scores in Tanzania
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Average
Crowds
Average
Events
Excellent
Atmosphere
Excellent
What you gain in September
- ↑September continues the Mara River crossing season but with the wildebeest herds beginning their southward return — the dynamic changes from the frenzied northward crossings of July–August to a more spread-out return movement; crossing activity continues but the vehicle density at popular points begins to ease, and some crossing positions that were inaccessible with 40 vehicles now have 6–8 vehicles for a full session
- ↑Prices ease from the July–August peak: while still expensive, September's camp rates are 10–25% below the August ceiling, and availability at the best properties that was impossible in August becomes possible for late bookers with flexibility; September–October are the best months for late-decision safari planning
- ↑Kilimanjaro in September combines the tail of the prime climbing season with the approaching short rains — summit conditions remain excellent in September, the mountain is somewhat quieter than July–August (slightly shorter queues at the crater rim), and the air begins to warm on the lower slopes
What you sacrifice
- ↓The drama of the northward crossing migration — the massed herds pressing against the riverbank, the leaders plunging under duress, the chaos of thousands crossing simultaneously — is less likely in September as the return crossing is more spread out and opportunistic; the Great Migration is still occurring but the concentrated spectacle is past its peak
- ↓Some northern Serengeti migration-season camps begin to demobilise or move south for the calving season in September–October; confirm specific camp dates of operation before booking, particularly for late-September visits
- ↓The first signs of the short rains (vuli) can appear in late September in some years — while actual rain is minimal (28mm), occasional afternoon cloud build-up can affect photographic light quality in the late afternoon
How September compares to February (best month)
| Factor | September | February ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 8 |
| Value | 4 | 5 |
| Crowds | 4 | 5 |
September in other destinations
Lisbon (24.6°C)Barcelona (25.5°C)Tokyo (28.1°C)Bali (30.4°C)Santorini (24.1°C)Paris (21.6°C)New York (23.9°C)Marrakech (31.6°C)Amsterdam (18.8°C)Maldives (30.2°C)Rome (26.5°C)Bangkok (31°C)Istanbul (24.2°C)Vienna (22.1°C)Seoul (25.1°C)Dubrovnik (24.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (27.3°C)Kyoto (28.6°C)Phuket (31°C)Cape Town (19°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (27°C)Mexico City (22°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (27°C)London (20°C)Sydney (20°C)Iceland (10°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (39°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (31°C)Chiang Mai (31°C)Miami (32.8°C)Florence (26.3°C)Queenstown (12.5°C)Madrid (28.7°C)Porto (25°C)Edinburgh (16°C)Copenhagen (18°C)Budapest (23°C)Kraków (19°C)Tbilisi (26°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (31°C)Osaka (29°C)Goa (30°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (18°C)Mykonos (27°C)Zanzibar (27°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (24°C)Cancun (31°C)Krabi (31°C)Athens (29°C)Seville (31°C)Cartagena (31°C)Siem Reap (31°C)Havana (31°C)Split (26°C)Taipei (31°C)Kuala Lumpur (32°C)Valletta (29°C)Ho Chi Minh City (32°C)Hawaii (31°C)Cappadocia (27°C)Dominican Republic (31°C)Jamaica (32°C)Seychelles (27°C)Nepal (26°C)Jordan (32°C)Azores (25°C)Bora Bora (27°C)Los Angeles (28.1°C)Cairo (35.9°C)Kenya (25.3°C)Jaipur (32.1°C)Las Vegas (36.2°C)San Francisco (20.8°C)Madeira (26.5°C)Vancouver (19.2°C)Muscat (38.1°C)Lima (17.8°C)Cinque Terre (25°C)Kotor (27°C)Tel Aviv (30°C)Santiago (18°C)Bogotá (18°C)Bruges (19.2°C)Penang (31.8°C)Lombok (31°C)Cape Verde (29.2°C)Fez (32.8°C)Kerala (30°C)Kigali (27°C)Hong Kong (29°C)Oslo (18°C)Auckland (16°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Tanzania, not across destinations. Methodology →