When to go

Where to go in October

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

Best in October

Mafia IslandTanzania
Whale sharks arrive in Kilindoni bay.
Maasai MaraKenyaHigh season
The herds turn south; last crossings of the season.
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania
Dry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water.

Good conditions, few people

Strong weather this month without the high-season crowds — usually the best value on the calendar.

Every destination in October

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

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in October
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	70 mm	13–29 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	9–22 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	25 mm	18–33 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	25 mm	20–35 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	10–21 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	11–22 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	10–21 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	17–34 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	17–30 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	22–38 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	20–36 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	20–36 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	18–33 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	15–32 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	11–29 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	15–28 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	16–30 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	18–29 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	11–29 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	140 mm	18–31 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	13–27 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	15–26 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	11–22 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	10–28 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	16–28 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	16–27 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	17–28 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	24–32 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	22–31 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	14–27 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	23–32 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	8–23 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	23–31 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	120 mm	5–20 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	6–17 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	17–27 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	12–23 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	18–27 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	160 mm	18–27 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	180 mm	15–27 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	160 mm	18–26 °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.