Serengeti climate
Serengeti climate
Serengeti climate( climate in Serengeti) is generally warm throughout the year, subtropical with two rainy seasons and long dry but relatively cool season. Serengeti national park is located at the altitude between 1,100 to 2,000 meters above sea level with all the park being flat with dotted Acacia shrubs but mostly covered by the savannah grassland making the temperatures high and more hot during day and cold during night and morning hours. It’s mostly advisable for all our guests to move with a combination of both warm and light clothes when coming for the trip to Serengeti. Warm clothes are used during late evening hours and early morning game drives while light clothes are put on during mid-day time
Even if the park is located on the southern part of the Equator the area it receives strong sunshine especially at mid-day when the sun passes through the Zenith on March to late September. The temperatures range from 15 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius around Ikoma Area while the central Seronera area the temperatures range from 10 degrees Celsius at night to 28 degrees Celsius during the day time.
The Serengeti climate varies from sector to sector due to the difference on the altitude at the park. The temperatures keep varying as they drop by 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters you climb.
Serengeti climate is characterized by two rainy seasons with one long dry season at the middle of the year. It’s out of these climatic conditions that have attributed most to the annual wildebeest migration whose movements are determined by the weather of the time. They move from one area to another as they predict the rainfall patterns looking for water and fresh grass to feed on.
The park receives relatively high rainfalls during the first rainfall season of around 900 to 1,00 millimeters per year distributed throughout Serengeti national park with the Northern part of Serengeti national park receiving more rainfall than the rest of the other sectors of the park. More rain is received in April and May while short rains are received in November and partly December
Like all other parts of Africa Serengeti National park experiences both dry and wet season as detailed below:
Dry Season
The Serengeti climate is characterized by a long dry season of 4 months from June to October. It’s funnier that the park is always cooler at night during dry months than wet months while the day time the park is hot hence making the vegetation go dry. Dry months are considered to be the best months of visiting Serengeti national park due several reasons like dry vegetation that makes game drives more enjoyable since the park is clear and you can spot as many animals as possible in the greatest distances you eye can see. During these dry periods, animals can be easily spotted at the water catchment areas hence making the game drives rewarding and stress free and the most famous experience of the world the wildebeest migration happens during this time hence attracting more and more tourists to the park.
Serengeti national park has small short dry spell around January to February that follows after short rains of November to December making the Serengeti climate to favor the movement of the wildebeest as they prepare for their calving season in South Serengeti in Ndutu Area. This period is also the best time for birders, one can sport over 300 species of birds at ease during this time of the year, the grass will be short but green from the short rains.
Wet Season
Serengeti climate has two rainy seasons in a year. The long rainy season that starts from March to May. They are the wettest months in Serengeti and most of the parts of the park are inaccessible during this time as few tourists come to Serengeti national park at this time of the year. Most camps are also closed during this time as a result of water affecting the accessibility of the camps and the season is also characterized by thunderstorms.
The second rainy season also known as the short rain season are experienced from November to December, the short rains are unpredictable always but they mostly rain for a short time and does not affect the daily activities at the park. In fact this is the best time for budget and private travelers to travel to Serengeti. Serengeti climate plays a great role in the determination of the park experiences, getting the Serengeti climate pattern helps one to plan his or her trip for the best dream experience.
