Serengeti climate
Climate of Serengeti National Park
The climate in Serengeti is generally warm throughout the year, subtropical with two rainy seasons and a long dry but relatively cool season. Serengeti National Park is located at an altitude between 1,100 and 2,000 meters above sea level, with the park being flat and dotted with acacia shrubs but mostly covered by the savannah grassland, making the temperatures high and hotter during the day and cold during the 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 receives strong sunshine, especially at midday when the sun passes through the zenith from March to late September. The temperatures range from 15 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius around the Ikoma Area, while in the central Seronera area the temperatures range from 10 degrees Celsius at night to 28 degrees Celsius during the daytime.
The Serengeti climate varies from sector to sector due to the difference in altitude in 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 in the middle of the year. It’s these climatic conditions that have contributed 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 rainfall 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 in December.
Like all other parts of Africa, Serengeti National Park experiences both dry and wet seasons as detailed below:
Dry Season
The Serengeti climate is characterized by a long dry season of 4 months from June to October. It’s funny that the park is always cooler at night during dry months than wet months, while during the day the park is hot, hence making the vegetation go dry.
Dry months are considered to be the best months for visiting Serengeti National Park due to 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 your 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. The most famous experience in 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 the short rains of November to December, making the Serengeti climate favor the movement of the wildebeest as they prepare for their calving season in the South Serengeti in Ndutu Area. This period is also the best time for birders, one can spot 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. These 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, is experienced from November to December. The short rains are unpredictable, but they mostly rain for a short time and do 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 determining the park experiences; understanding the Serengeti climate pattern helps one to plan his or her trip for the best dream experience.
