Tanzania Safari in June: Travel Tips, Weather & More
Tanzania safari in June marks the beginning of the dry season in Tanzania and the start of the northward migration season. Dry conditions prevail and the occasional afternoon or evening thundershower is a welcome relief. Wildlife viewing can be tremendous in June when the migration is on the move and the great herds pour through the Central and Westerns regions of the Serengeti. Additionally, resident animals become concentrated around the remaining sources of water making many species easy to spot.
Northern Tanzania: June through October is a comfortable time to go on safari because temperatures are warm, humidity is lower, and there are fewer bothersome mosquitoes. Most of the north receives either low rainfall or becomes arid, especially at the end of the month. The conditions become great for seeing animals.
Southern Tanzania: In June, there is low rainfall. Ruaha and other regions may be arid and dusty because the dry season begins earlier there. We recommend you try touring Ruaha or Nyerere for an other-worldly, wild experience of animals in swamps and rivers, rugged arid scrub lands, and jungles where few tourists venture.
Tanzania Weather in June
Early June marks the beginning of the dry season, which lasts from about the end of May to the end of October. By early June, the skies have cleared and all the parks have begun their season of change. The landscape changes dramatically as the parks dry out starting first with the plains and last with the woodlands. The weather will be mostly sunny with only a slight chance of rain.
Temperatures are pleasant with an average high of 81 degrees and an average low of 56 degrees. However, the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater can get quite cold at night and in the early morning. Visitor numbers drop off dramatically at the beginning of March and during April and May the parks are completely empty of tourists. Visitor numbers are still low in the beginning of June but begin to rise to moderately high numbers at the end of June.
The Best Places to Visit in Tanzania in June
Top things to do in June include enjoying the urban highlights, seeing wildlife, and spending time in the wildernesses.
Dar Es Salaam — Tour the Highlights
The capital city of Tanzania is Dar Es Salaam. It is a big city of 6 million people. Dar Es Salaam airport (DAR) provides many tourists with access to the central and southern regions of the country. It is the main international airport. In June, the skies are mostly sunny, the weather is hot, and the rainfall is low.
You could shop in a street market such as Kariakoo and go to the National Museum and learn about Tanzanian history and culture. Pugu Hills Nature Reserve is about an hour’s drive away. Beaches around the city include South Beach that has hotels and guesthouses. The beaches on Bongoyo Island offshore are cleaner.
Western Serengeti — Safari
The Serengeti is generally considered the best wilderness park in Tanzania, and June and July are the best months for seeing the migration of millions of animals as you are camped out in the western part of the Serengeti and follow them in vehicles. The weather is warm and semi-arid.
By June, most of the herd animals cross the Grumeti River. Millions of other animals, including big cats, stay within their territories. The Maasai people who live there help to manage the park so well that the animals are not even afraid of vehicles and humans, so you can get close to them.
Lodges and hotels in the Serengeti, especially the western part, will have peak-season prices throughout June. Ticket price per adult is about 71 USD. There are direct flights from Arusha airport and other airports. It takes about 9 hours to drive from Arusha airport.
Ngorongoro Crater — Safari
For a very different safari experience than the Serengeti, you could go to this nearby huge volcano crater. Both the rim with its forests and bush lands and the crater itself are worth visiting. People like doing rim hikes, and there are fine hotels on the rim with amazingly scenic views.
There is a drier and milder micro-climate on the floor of the crater that measures 260 square kilometers (100 square miles). Though weather conditions are usually adequate for safari all year around, in June they become optimal. There are a great number of animals enclosed in this crater space about a mile high, about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet).
Expect freezing temperatures, more precipitation and maybe snow on the rim that is at an elevation of 2,300 meter (8,530 feet). Driving from Arusha takes about 3 hours, and from the Serengeti, driving takes perhaps 5 hours depending on conditions.
Arusha — Resting, Dining, Shopping, and Doing Excursions
The Safari Capital of Tanzania is Arusha because people going on wilderness excursions in the north use it as a base. Luxurious lodges, hotels, and spas, interesting places to go, and a domestic airport all make it a tourist base. The weather in June is comfortable during the day, chilly at night, and there is low rainfall.
You could visit the Tanzanite Museum, the Natural History Museum, or the Snake Park. Tanzanite, a unique and beautiful gemstone that changes colors based on viewpoint, is mined only near Kilimanjaro. It would be an excellent souvenir, and you can buy it locally. Arusha NP is about an hour away, and Ngorongoro is about 3 hours away.
Transport: Driving from Nairobi takes 5 hours. Driving from Kilimanjaro International Airport takes an hour.
Ruaha National Park — Wild Safari, Less People
June is one of the best months for seeing Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania. Since it is dry, hot and arid, it is a good time for hiking. Ruaha is the place to head to if you want a safari experience away from the crowds. Balloon rides are available. Hiking with an expert local guide can be a memorable experience.
Ruaha is Tanzania’s second largest national park. It measures 20,226 square km (7,809 square miles), and it is one of the country’s wildest and most pristine game reserves. The rugged landscape is full of large animals such as 12,000 elephants along with large populations of other large animals. There is great bio-diversity.
Many experienced East African safari-goers say that Ruaha is the most rewarding of all East African wildernesses. A drive from Dar es Salaam takes about 10 hours. Your tour guide will pick you up from the airport. There are direct flights available.
Recommended Tours for Tanzania Safari in June
June is the beginning of Tanzania’s high tourist season. It is a good relatively dry time to go before the peak of tourism season in July. Conditions are excellent for a wide range of activities, and the hotels and lodges around the popular national parks in the north, south, and west will likely be open.
There are higher prices for accommodations and tours and possible crowding at the popular hiking and safari places especially by the end of June. Check our Tanzania safari itinerary of different durations during the month of June
