Green Season
March Kilimanjaro
+ Safari Guide
Long rains begin. Wildebeest herds move north. Trails turn muddy. Parks empty out. Prices drop 30-40%. The honest guide to Tanzania's most misunderstood month — and why March might be exactly right for you.
Tanzania's most honest month — raw, green, and genuinely affordable.
March sits at the crossroads of Tanzania's tourist seasons. The Christmas peak is over. Easter hasn't started. The long rains begin. Most visitors don't come in March — and that's precisely why it has become a favourite of photographers, birders, and travellers who prioritise value and solitude over guaranteed wildlife theatre.
The wildlife is more dispersed. The mountain trails are muddy. Some roads become challenging. Summit success rates drop. But the landscapes transform within days of the first rains — parched golden plains become vivid green, storm clouds build dramatic skies over the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater floor greens up for the first time since November. If you want peak-season wildlife density, come in July. If you want the real Tanzania at its most affordable and most photographic, come in March.
Why March
The green season has hidden strengths
Empty Parks, Significant Savings
March is Tanzania's lowest-key month. Christmas and New Year peak is long gone. Easter hasn't arrived. The northern circuit parks are quiet — particularly in the second half of March. Lodges and operators offer their deepest discounts of the year: 30-40% off standard pricing is common. If budget matters, March delivers more Tanzania for your dollar than any other month.
The Green Season Begins
The long rains typically begin in mid-to-late March, transforming the landscape from dusty gold to vivid green. The Serengeti plains, which looked parched in January, become carpeted in fresh grass. The Ngorongoro Crater floor greens up. Tarangire's baobab groves are at their most dramatic against storm clouds. For landscape photography, March is extraordinary — dramatic skies, lightning over the plains, and lush conditions that the peak-season photographers never see.
Birding at Its Peak
March is one of the best months for birding in Tanzania. The long-distance migrants from Europe and Asia are still present before departing north. Resident birds are breeding — males in full breeding plumage. The Rift Valley lakes have significant flamingo congregations. Over 1,000 bird species are accessible. A birding safari in March is exceptional value and largely uncrowded.
Migration Tail End
The great wildebeest herds are moving north through the central and western Serengeti in March. The calving is over — 500,000 calves were born in January and February. Now the herds are on the move, spreading across the western corridor and heading toward the northern Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. You won't see the dramatic river crossings of July-October, but you will see vast herds moving across the plains.
Ngorongoro Crater in March — green season quiet, dramatically different from peak dry season
Honest Comparison
January–February vs March vs April–May
| Factor | Jan–Feb | March | Apr–May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowd level | Low-Medium | Very Low | Minimal |
| Safari price | Standard | 30-40% off | Lowest |
| Wildlife visibility | Excellent | Good (dispersed) | Challenging |
| Landscape photography | Dry season gold | Green season drama | Flooded |
| Kili trail conditions | Dry, dusty | Wet, muddy | Very wet |
| Summit success rate | 85-95% | 72-86% | 60-72% |
| Best for | Classic safari + climb | Budget, birds, photography | Not recommended |
March sits at the transition — best value and lowest crowds, with the long rains just beginning
The Safari
Northern Circuit in March — what to expect
Central / Western Serengeti
Migration herds on the moveWildlife: Wildebeest and zebra in large moving herds, lion prides following the herds, hyena clans, occasional leopard in the western corridor acacias
Recommended safari days: 3-4 days
Pro tip: March is the last month to see large migrating herds in the northern Tanzania circuit before they cross into Kenya. The western corridor and northern Serengeti have the best concentrations. Wildlife is more dispersed than in peak season but the photographic conditions and empty roads are compensation.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Green season wildlife, birdingWildlife: Elephant herds on the crater floor, black rhino grazing in the Lerai Forest, flamingos on Lake Magadi, breeding lions
Recommended safari days: 1-2 days
Pro tip: Ngorongoro Crater in March is dramatically different from peak season. The crater floor is green, the soda lake has significant flamingo concentrations, and there are very few vehicles. The driving circuit is less dusty and the light is soft.
Tarangire National Park
Elephant herds, quiet parksWildlife: Large elephant herds concentrated near the Tarangire River, baobab landscapes, tree-climbing lions, giraffes
Recommended safari days: 1-2 days
Pro tip: March is Tarangire at its quietest and most beautiful. The elephants are still concentrated near permanent water but the park is almost empty of visitors. The long rains create spectacular scenery: lush river valleys, dramatic skies, and iconic baobabs looking fully hydrated.
The Climb
Best Kilimanjaro routes for March
Machame Route
7 DaysBest for
Experienced hikers comfortable with wet conditions
Summit success rate
March weather note
March is the transition month. Early March has reasonable trail conditions. By late March, trails are wet and muddy, especially above 3,000m. Rain gear is essential. The scenery — green valleys, waterfalls, mist — is the most beautiful of the year on Machame.
Lemosho Route
8 DaysBest for
Those prioritising acclimatisation in wet conditions
Summit success rate
March weather note
Lemosho's western approach is less affected by the early rains. The remote start means fewer porters on the trail. March Lemosho is lush and green — the Shira Plateau is particularly beautiful.
Marangu
6 DaysBest for
Budget climbers — hut accommodation provides shelter
Summit success rate
March weather note
Marangu's hut accommodation is an advantage in March — you stay dry at night. The 6-day version with an extra rest day at Horombo hut is more appropriate than the 5-day.
Northern Circuit
9 DaysBest for
Experienced trekkers wanting a remote March experience
Summit success rate
March weather note
The Northern Circuit is the least-used route in March. You will see almost no other groups on the western approach. The crater rim is often cloud-covered in the afternoons.
Planning
March packing — wet season essentials
Mountain Gear (March Wet Season)
- —Waterproof hiking boots with excellent ankle support (trails are slippery in March)
- —Gore-Tex or waterproof boots — essential, not optional
- —Warm sleeping bag (rated -10C) + sleeping bag liner for damp conditions
- —Waterproof jacket and trousers (full rain gear system — March rains can be heavy)
- —Trekking poles (mud on trails makes these essential in March)
- —Backpack cover + dry bags for electronics and camera gear
- —Headlamp with extra batteries (rain can cause power outages at camps)
- —Sunscreen SPF 50+ (UV still intense between cloud breaks)
Safari Gear (Green Season)
- —Waterproof camera bag with silica gel packs (humidity is high)
- —8x42 binoculars — essential for dispersed wildlife and birding
- —Rain poncho for game drives (keeps you dry when roof is open)
- —Quick-dry clothing — mornings start cool (10-15C), afternoons warm (22-28C)
- —Mosquito repellent (mosquitoes are more present in green season)
- —Lightweight fleece layer for morning game drives
- —Camera lens cleaning kit (dust + humidity + rain = dirty lenses)
Documents & Logistics
- —Tanzania e-visa (apply online — allow extra time, March is low season for processing too)
- —Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country
- —Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation — VERIFY wet season coverage
- —Park fees — standard rates apply in March (not holiday peak)
- —Flexible itinerary — March weather can cause road closures in some parks
The Climb
Kilimanjaro Route Guide
Compare Machame, Lemosho, Northern Circuit for March departures.
View Routes →
The Safari
Safari Itineraries
See March safari itineraries with visible pricing and green season deals.
View Itineraries →Questions
March Kilimanjaro + Safari FAQ
Is March a good month for a Tanzania safari?
March is the most misunderstood month in Tanzania tourism. Most people write it off because of the long rains. But March has significant strengths: the parks are almost empty, prices drop 30-40%, the birding is exceptional, and the landscape photography is unlike anything you see in peak season. The trade-off is that wildlife is more dispersed — animals have abundant water everywhere, so they don't concentrate around permanent waterholes the way they do in the dry season. If you're a photographer, birder, or someone who prioritises a uncrowded experience over guaranteed wildlife density, March is outstanding.
Should I climb Kilimanjaro in March?
March is a challenging but viable climbing month. Early March (1-15) is reasonable — the trails are wet but passable, and the mountain is at its greenest and most beautiful. Late March (20-31) sees more consistent rainfall, particularly above 3,000m. Summit success rates are lower than the dry season months (72-86% versus 85-95% for January-February). But the price reductions are significant and the mountain is nearly empty.
How much does a March Kilimanjaro + Safari cost?
March is the best-value climbing and safari month in Tanzania. A 7-day Machame + 3-day northern circuit safari combo starts from ,200 per person in March — 30-35% below January peak pricing. Many camps offer additional early-year deals in March. The value is strongest from March 1-20. Late March sees some uptick as Easter approaches.
What will I see on safari in March?
March safari wildlife is different from peak season. You won't see the massive concentrations of animals at waterholes that characterise July-October. Instead: the wildebeest herds are dispersed across the western and northern Serengeti, moving daily. Lions are following the herds. The birding is exceptional — migratory species are still present. Ngorongoro Crater has excellent wildlife year-round, with the added March benefit of very few vehicles and green, dramatic scenery.
Will the long rains ruin my trip?
The long rains in March are not like monsoon season in Southeast Asia. They typically come in afternoon bursts — heavy but short — with sunshine in the mornings. Game drives in the early part of the day are usually unaffected. The landscapes transform overnight — the parched January plains become lush and green within days of the first rains. The main disruptions are: some remote roads in Tarangire and the southern circuit can become impassable, and mountain trails are muddy.
What's the difference between March and April for this combo?
April is the worst month for Tanzania travel. While March is challenging, April is when the long rains peak: heavier, more consistent rainfall, flooded roads, wildlife most dispersed, and photography extremely difficult. Most high-quality operators actually close in April. If you're considering combining a Kili climb with safari in the March-May window, March is the clear choice.
March rewards the honest traveller
The long rains start. The trails get muddy. The wildlife disperses. But the prices drop 30-40%, the parks empty out, and the landscapes transform into something the peak-season visitors never see. If you want the real Tanzania — raw, green, and affordable — March is waiting.