Visiting Tanzania in January: Climate, Animals and Visitor Numbers

In January you land in the middle of one of the Serengeti's densest wildlife spectacles. Calving season is in full swing on the Ndutu plains, with wildebeest giving birth by the thousands over just a few weeks, and predators are well aware of it. Lion, cheetah and jackal trail the herds here for precisely that reason, so January ranks among the best months of the year for dramatic predator action as well as newborn animals. The short rains that start in November are usually fading by now, which suits visitors: the plains stay green and very photogenic, without the heavier and more disruptive downpours that come in March and April. A morning shower is possible, but it seldom gets in the way of a full day of game driving. Availability is the catch. January is one of the best-known windows for calving season, and camps around Ndutu and the southern Serengeti are booked well before the month arrives. If January's calving season is what's pulling you toward Tanzania, lock in your dates earlier than you would for a general safari. See our Tanzania safari itineraries or contact us to check availability for a January calving-season trip.