When to go

Where to go in August

Conditions across all 46 destinations we cover, ranked for August. Wildlife viewing first, then weather, with the quieter option leading where two places are equally good.

Best in August

Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzaniaHigh season
Lesser flamingos breed here — the only reliable site in East Africa.
Serengeti National ParkTanzaniaHigh season
Mara crossings in the north — book far ahead.
Maasai MaraKenyaHigh season
Peak crossing month — and peak vehicle numbers.

Every destination in August

Ratings are out of five. Crowds invert: more bars means busier.

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in August
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	10 mm	20–35 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	10 mm	13–25 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	30 mm	11–26 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	19–33 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	10 mm	14–27 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	5 mm	16–32 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	45 mm	21–29 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	5 mm	13–28 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	40 mm	15–29 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	10–26 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	10 mm	16–29 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	40 mm	10–23 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	5 mm	14–30 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	10 mm	7–19 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	40 mm	9–22 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	9–22 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	14–27 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	16–29 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	90 mm	10–23 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	5 mm	18–32 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	5 mm	16–29 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	10 mm	15–27 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	15–28 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	70 mm	21–29 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	30 mm	8–25 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	30 mm	9–26 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	30 mm	11–24 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	70 mm	21–29 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	130 mm	17–29 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	45 mm	21–29 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	45 mm	21–29 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	16–31 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	10 mm	6–20 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	50 mm	3–18 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	45 mm	20–29 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	45 mm	21–30 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	40 mm	14–28 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	10 mm	12–24 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	22–30 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	17–28 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	16–28 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	17–28 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	70 mm	21–29 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	5–18 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	17–27 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	11–24 °C

Climate normals and typical patterns, not a forecast. East African rains have been arriving less predictably than these averages suggest — treat them as a guide to the shape of the year, not a promise about a given week.