Being so close to the equator, Tanzania's temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year. The best months for game viewing are generally the dry seasons, which are January to March and June to September. At these times, vegetation is light and there is no surface water created by the rains that disperses the animals -- instead they congregate around the remaining rivers and waterholes. The best months for watching the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti are from May to July when the plains are fresh and green, and November to March when they return to calve. The coast can be visited at any time of year.
Weather
Tanzania's coast and Zanzibar enjoy a tropical climate with average daytime temperatures of 30?C (86?F) and long hours of sunshine, making it a perfect destination for a beach vacation. It can get humid; during the day the humidity is tamed by sea breezes, but it can feel sultry at night. Temperatures away from the coast average 20? to 25?C (68?-77?F) year-round, though June through August can be very cold on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. There are two rainy seasons in Tanzania. The short rains occur in November and December, when the rain usually pounds down for a few hours each afternoon after which the sun shines brightly again. There are heavier showers during the long rains from March to May, which is best avoided as it's difficult to get around on the roads in the parks and game reserves. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru drop below freezing, and there is permanent snow on the highest peaks.
Holidays
Zanzibar and the Tanzanian coast are predominantly Muslim, and many Islamic holidays are determined by the lunar calendar that shifts from year to year. These include Eid El Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), Ras El Sana (Islamic New Year), Moulid El Nabi (Prophet's Birthday), and Ramadan (a fast during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar). Public holidays include: New Year's Day (Jan 1); Zanzibar Revolution Day (Jan 12); Good Friday (Mar/Apr); Easter Monday (Mar/Apr); Union Day (Apr 26); Labor Day (May 1); Industry's Day (July 7); Farmer's Day (Aug 8); Nyerere Day (Oct 14); Jamhuri (Independence) Day (Dec 12); Christmas Day (Dec 25); and Boxing Day (Dec 26).
