By February is a wonderful time for safari in Tanzania
Tanzania Safari in February is one of the most popular months in Tanzania and marks the middle of the green season. The Serengeti plains are a beautiful shade of green, dust levels are minimal and most wildlife species are easy to spot. February is the warmest month of the year and the famous migration is concentrated in massive numbers on the Serengeti plains, which in turn attracts large numbers of predators. February is the time of plenty and many animals time the birth of their families to coincide with the green season.
Northern Tanzania: The various famous northern attractions such as the Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Lake Victoria, and the Ngorongoro Crater, as well as Arusha, have warm to hot temperatures and moderate to low rainfall in February. It is a wildebeest birthing month. Conditions are good to see the animals.
Southern Tanzania: February is further along in the south’s wet season with heavy rainfall. In general, it is not a good month to tour the south because the popular southern natural parks such as Ruaha and Nyerere are hot, humid, and have heavy rainfall. Mosquitoes are a problem.
Tanzania Safari Weather in February
Temperatures are pleasant with an average high of 83 degrees and an average low of 60 degrees. However, the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater can get quite cold at night and in the early morning. Visitor numbers will be moderately high in February. This is a popular time to visit the parks as it coincides with the wildebeest calving season. February is certainly an excellent time to visit but there other months do offer equivalent or better game viewing. The good news is that the vast majority of people are on package tours staying at the main lodges and zipping around the main roads in only a few popular areas. With careful planning we can customize your safari so you will encounter more lions than people.
The Best Places to Visit in Tanzania in February
Top things to do in February include enjoying savanna and wilderness areas and watching the baby animals, going to the beaches, and touring in Dar Es Salaam.
Dar Es Salaam — Tour the Highlights
Dar Es Salaam is the capital with 6 million people and has the largest airport in Tanzania. Many tourists use its airport as a convenient way to access the natural parks in the south. It’s sunny and hot with moderate rainfall, and the rainfall increases at the end of the month.
Places to go in Dar Es Salaam: The National Museum explains Tanzanian history and culture. Bongoyo Island is a protected island offshore that offers a natural getaway.
Natural highlights within driving distance of Dar Es Salaam: Pugu Hills Forest Reserve (1 hour drive). Further afield, there are Mikumi National Park (4½ hours’ drive), Udzungwa Mountains (5 hours), Nyerere National Park (6½ hours), and Ruaha National Park (10 hours).
Serengeti — Spot the Wildlife
February is a good time to see the animals give birth and graze in the lush green Serengeti. The weather is good for a safari. It is warm, sunny, comfortable at night, and only moderately rainy.
Like the adjacent Maasai Mara, the Serengeti National Park is where the Maasai people live, and you could experience Maasai culture. The Serengeti is about 20 times bigger with a more diverse habitat. Many people want to tour both parks, however crossing the border is somewhat difficult.
Transport: It takes about 7 hours to drive to Serengeti from Nairobi. It takes about 3½ hours to drive there from Maasai Mara plus additional time at the border. From Arusha Airport, it takes about 9 hours.
Ngorogoro Crater — Safari
If you want to see a distinct ecosystem dense with wildlife to watch in the biggest volcanic crater in the world, Ngorogoro is the place, and it is easy to go to since it is only 180 km (110 miles) west of Arusha City (a 3-hour drive). Think of it as a big mammal aquarium in volcanic mountains.
February is a good month to go safariing there, since there is a short, somewhat dry, season in the crater in January and February. Expect comfortable weather in the crater, but freezing temperatures at night on the rim since the bottom is about a mile high at about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) and the rim is about 2,300 meters (8,530 feet) above sea level.
A favorite thing for tourists to do other than stay at hotels on the rim is to take a safari ride to get up close to the trumpeting elephants! There is 260 square kilometers (100 square miles) to safari.
Arusha National Park — Hike, Sightsee, Safari
Arusha National Park is in the middle of a stretch of beautiful national parks across Kenya and Tanzania. February is one of the best months to go due to less rainfall and sunny skies, and you can watch the newborn animals in the 500 square kilometer (200 square mile) preserve.
You could also hike on the second highest mountain in Tanzania, Mount Meru. It is a volcano 4,566 meters (14,980 feet) tall with an easy slope for hiking, and there is great scenery. People usually hike it in 3 or 4 days. The first half of the month has less rainfall.
You could hike through extensive forests and see giraffes and other wildlife. Mount Meru is 70 km (44 miles) from Kilimanjaro. The park is an hour and a half from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Driving from Nairobi to Arusha National Park takes 5 hours.
Arusha — Resting, Food, and Excursions
Arusha is a little town called the Safari Capital. People visiting the region like to stay and rest there and use it as a base for northern excursions. It has luxurious lodges and hotels and a domestic airport and is close to Kilimanjaro Airport. The weather is mild in February, temperatures range from 17°C (63°F) to 30°C (85°F), and the average rainfall is a low/moderate 7 cm (2 inches).
There is a large expat population. There are many things to do there such as going to the nearby huge natural preserves for excursions and dining at gourmet restaurants.
Transport: Driving from Nairobi takes 5 hours and driving from Kilimanjaro International Airport takes an hour.
Recommended Tours for Tanzania Safari in February
A private tour is recommended. Our travel experts know the local conditions and are good at optimizing your trip for comfort, enjoyment, safety and speed of travel and so are our local guides and private drivers. February in Tanzania presents a remarkable safari opportunity, from witnessing the Wildebeest birthing season in Serengeti to exploring the diverse ecosystems of Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. Escape to the tranquil paradises of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Islands for a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Check out our Tanzania safari itinerary of different durations during the month of February
