Dramatic wildlife moments, fewer crowds, and the Serengeti at its most expansive
When most travelers think of a Tanzania safari, they probably imagine golden savannas, clear blue skies, and massive herds of wildebeest and zebra making their way across the Mara River. Peak safari season is typically between June and October, but seasoned safari-goers and guides know a secret: the “green season” (December through March) is one of the very best times to visit Tanzania and Serengeti National Park.
Also known as “calving season,” this is when the southern Serengeti transforms into a lush haven for wildlife—wide open plains filled with newborn wildebeest and zebra, prowling predators, and dramatic skies. We like to think of it as the “secret season” because there are far fewer visitors in the parks during this time, and safari-goers feel like they have the migration all to themselves.
If you want space, action, and unforgettable wildlife encounters, this is your season.
What Is Tanzania’s Green Season?
The green season (or calving season), which spans from December through March, occurs after seasonal rains transform the Serengeti into a vibrant green landscape. Temperatures are a bit warmer during this time—ranging from the low 70s to the mid 80s—and you might find occasional short, scattered showers. The green landscape becomes the perfect backdrop as the thick grasses provide vital nutrients for pregnant migrating herds to graze and later produce nutrient-dense milk for their calves. But it also adds a sense of drama as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and more are on the prowl after these newborn calves. Learn more about when to see the Great Migration.
The Best Place to Experience Tanzania’s Green Season: The Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro
During the green season, the Great Migration herds gather in the southern portion of Serengeti National Park and nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Unlike the central and northern Serengeti, where grass can grow waist-high or even taller, the southern plains are covered in short grass, often just about a foot high, giving your guides and spotters sightlines that stretch for miles. They can track wildlife activity from a distance, then move in for a closer look, which brings us to another major green season advantage: off-road driving. This is the only time vehicles are permitted to leave the tracks, allowing your guide to position you right alongside the action rather than watching from the road.
Off-Road Driving
During peak season in the central and northern Serengeti, safari vehicles are required to stay on established roads, which means you may not get as close to wildlife, animals can remain partially obscured by thicker grass or forest, and you’re often within sight of other vehicles (you can even experience traffic jams during your safari!).
But in the green season, when the herds have migrated south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you can explore widely across the plains rather than sticking to roads, and approach wildlife safely and respectfully for extraordinary viewing. It’s like having a front-row seat to nature’s greatest show. Sometimes lions will even seek shade beneath safari vehicles—an unforgettable experience!
The flexibility of driving off-road creates more exclusive and intimate wildlife encounters, transforming your trip into a once-in-a-lifetime safari.
Fewer Crowds, More Freedom
Serengeti National Park on its own is larger than Yellowstone National Park, and when you account for the greater Serengeti ecosystem (including Kenya’s Maasai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area) the amount of land spans nearly 15,000 square miles—about the size of Maryland and Delaware combined!
When you visit the Serengeti during the green season, it can feel like you have this entire area to yourself. Some of the wonderful benefits of being among the few visitors here is:
Ideal Photography Conditions
For photographers, the green season offers some of the most beautiful conditions of the year. Golden plains transform into vibrant emerald landscapes dotted with wildflowers, and changing skies create exceptional depth and mood, especially during sunrise and sunset when shafts of light break through towering clouds. Migratory birds are in brilliant breeding plumage and wildlife look extra dramatic against lush background. The best part, the reduced number of vehicles allows for quieter sightings and cleaner compositions.
Young Wildlife Haven, Plus Predator-Prey Interaction
The lush savannas during the green season create the perfect habitat for young wildlife to thrive in great numbers. And with new additions to the massive migratory herds, predators are far more active during this time.
Wilderness Travel’s Guided Great Migration Safari
For those who want to experience the best green season safari in Tanzania, expert safari guides, perfectly placed camps, and custom safari vehicles will make a world of difference.
Wilderness Travel’s Tanzania: Great Migration Safari spans 13 days and visits three extraordinary areas that are far from the crowds and close to wildlife. This itinerary especially shines during the green season, when migrating herds gather in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here are some highlights that set this safari apart:
If you’ve dreamed of a Serengeti safari that feels immersive, intimate, and filled with epic wildlife experiences, consider looking beyond the traditional peak season. The green season might just be Tanzania’s best-kept secret.
Frequently Asked Questions
December through March is a great time for a Tanzania safari because it’s the green (calving) season in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildlife density is extremely high, predator activity increases, and crowds are lower compared to peak months.
Calving season (January–March, especially February) in the Serengeti is when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest (as well as zebra) give birth on the southern Serengeti plains. This creates extraordinary wildlife viewing, particularly of predators.
Yes, you will see the Great Migration during the green season. The migrating herds are concentrated in the southern Serengeti during this period, spread across vast open plains, making for spectacular wildlife viewing as well as fewer visitors so you’ll feel like you have the entire area to yourself.
The weather isn’t bad during the green season as rains are typically short and refreshing. The landscape turns lush and green, skies can be dramatic, and wildlife activity remains excellent.
Yes, there are fewer tourists in Tanzania during the green season. Compared to peak season, which is concentrated in the northern Serengeti during the river-crossing months, the green season is far less crowded. You may go long stretches without seeing other vehicles.
Yes, it’s easier to get closer to wildlife during the green season. In parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, off-road driving is permitted during this time, allowing for more flexible positioning and closer viewing opportunities when on the open plains.
February is one of the best and most exciting times to visit Tanzania—it’s peak wildebeest calving season and a prime time for predator activity.
