Tanzania Weather in April 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

April is by far the rainiest month, and it is usually cloudy. There is moderate to high rainfall all over the country that disrupts beach going, safaris, and hiking. So, we mainly recommend seeing the highlights in the urban areas and going to the wilderness preserves near them as weather conditions permit.

Read on for our travel advice and weather information including average temperatures, rainfall, and travel tips…

Content Preview

Tanzania Weather in April: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 19–29°C (65–84°F)
• Rainfall: 28 cm (11 inches)
• Rainy days: 18
• Sunshine hours/day:5 hours

Weather of Tanzania's Major Cities in April

Northern Tanzania: It rains most days, but seldom all day at the famous northern attractions. There are warm to hot temperatures and heavy rainfall. Tanzania is said to have the greatest concentration of large wild animals in the world. Conditions are not good for spotting the most wildlife, but with a good guide, you still can see many amid beautiful scenery.

Southern Tanzania: In April, there is moderate to high rainfall. Generally, it is not a good month to tour the south because the popular southern natural preserves such as Nyerere are warm or hot, humid, and very rainy with occasional flooding. Mosquitoes are a problem.

The Best Places to Visit in Tanzania in April

Top things to do in April include enjoying the urban highlights and seeing wildlife.

1. Dar Es Salaam — Tour the Highlights

Dar Es Salaam, the capital city with 6 million people, has the largest airport in Tanzania and national museums. Many tourists arrive in Tanzania through it. The rainfall is very high with possible flooding.

Places to go in Dar Es Salaam: The Botanical Gardens and local street markets such as Kariakoo. The National Museum explains Tanzanian history and culture.

Natural highlights near Dar Es Salaam: Pugu Hills Forest Reserve (1 hour's drive). Bongoyo Island is a protected island offshore offering a natural get away.

2. Ngorongoro Crater — Safari

Of all the famous safari areas of Tanzania, Ngorongoro is where we recommend you go for best weather conditions and animal sightings because there is a lot of wildlife in the biggest volcanic crater in the world, and conditions for driving and sightseeing are usually fine.

The conditions at the bottom of the crater are drier and milder because the rim shelters it. The floor is about a mile high, about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet), and has a drier micro-climate. Expect freezing temperatures at night on the rim that is about 2,300 meters (8,530 feet) high.

An advantage of going in April is that there are thinner crowds and lower costs. Tanzania is green, lush and beautiful. At times though, the roads are muddy. You can see trumpeting elephants in the 260 square kilometer (100 square mile) crater. Driving from Arusha takes 3 hours.

3. The Serengeti — Watch the Wildlife

In April, the Great Wildebeest Migration, the movement of herds of wildebeest, antelope and other grazing animals, leaves Ndutu and the southern Serengeti. They travel northwest through the central region of the Serengeti. The drier weather there makes a safari enjoyable even in April.

Though the rainfall is moderate at 16 cm (6 inches), there is actually much less precipitation than at many of the other wildlife reserves, and relatively little compared to Arusha. Temperatures are mild or warm. The big migratory herds feeding their young are the main attraction.

Transport to the Serengeti: Driving from Nairobi takes 7 hours, from Arusha 8 hours, from Arusha airport 9 hours, and from Maasai Mara 3½ hours plus additional time at the border. There are airfields for direct flights.

4. Arusha National Park — A Variety of Things to Do

With the weather so rainy in April, you would ideally need a great natural park with a variety of things to do close to a good tourist town for short excursions. Arusha is a big wilderness park only about an hour from the town of Arusha with beautiful green scenery and opportunities to hike, safari, kayak, and fish.

Most mornings are dry, so you could plan morning excursions there and have tea and dinner in town. Roads might be muddy or difficult to navigate in April, and the average temperatures range from 25°C (77°F) to lows of 13°C (55°F). Hiking on Mount Meru might be dangerous due to slippery trails.

Transport: By vehicle, Arusha Park is a little more than an hour from Arusha. It is an hour and a half from Kilimanjaro International Airport and 5 hours from Nairobi.

5. Arusha — Resting, Food, and Excursions

The little city of Arusha is a good place to stay during inclement weather since gourmet dining, shopping, spas, and places to go designed for international tourists are at hand. It called the Safari Capital because people going on wilderness excursions use it as a base. There are luxurious lodges and hotels and a domestic airport.

The weather is warm, and it rains twice as much in April than any other month. It rains about 15 days of the month. You could visit the Natural History Museum or go to the Snake Park. Arusha Park is about an hour away and Ngorongoro is a little more than 3 hours away.

Transport: Driving from Nairobi takes 5 hours and driving from Kilimanjaro International Airport takes an hour.

Low Tourist Season: Touring Advice for April

April is in Tanzania's low tourist season. The weather is worst in April and May, and the heavy rains hamper the usual tourist activities. So, crowds are thin, and lodges, restaurants, and hotels that are used by tourists often close. The tall brush and grass hamper views, and the wildlife is dispersed. Prices are low.

We recommend you tour northern Tanzania in April for better weather conditions, better nature preserves, and more things to do.

Public holidays in April:

• April 1, 2024 is Easter Monday, a pubic holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
• April 7, 2024 is Karume Day, a public holiday.
• April 26 is Unification Day. It marks the unification of Zanzibar and Tanganyika (the precursor to present-day Tanzania) in 1964. Government offices and some businesses close.

What to Wear in April

Throughout Tanzania, mosquitoes could be a big nuisance in April. A hat, long-sleeved shirts, light trousers or long dresses, mosquito repellent and a mosquito net are recommended to avoid mosquito bites and sunburn.

Bring a jacket for the highlands, winter clothes if you are going to the high mountains, and rain gear or umbrellas. Wear neutral-colored clothes to avoid alarming the animals and avoid dark colors since they attract tsetse flies.

Monthly Weather in Tanzania

Recommended Tours for Tanzania in April

A private tour is recommended. Our expert trip planners know the local conditions and are good at optimizing your trip for comfort, enjoyment, safety and speed of travel, as are our local guides and private drivers.

With Global Highlights, we can optimize and adjust for your private time. We are flexible to do as much itinerary tailoring and expert arranging as you need to make the best trip for you.

Contact us to begin a tour inquiry.