When to go

Where to go in January

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

Best in January

Kidepo Valley National ParkUgandaHigh season
Kidepo runs opposite to the rest of Uganda — this is its dry season.
Mafia IslandTanzaniaHigh season
Peak whale shark season — near-daily sightings.
Serengeti National ParkTanzania
Calving season begins on the southern plains.

Good conditions, few people

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

Every destination in January

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

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in January
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	5 mm	17–35 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	24–32 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	15–28 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	9–22 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	70 mm	11–24 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	10–23 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	15–28 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	80 mm	10–21 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	40 mm	15–31 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	11–29 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	30 mm	18–33 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	25 mm	24–32 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	25 mm	24–32 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	16–29 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	24–32 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	30 mm	20–35 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	16–28 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	30 mm	11–28 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	11–22 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	17–30 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	70 mm	24–32 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	17–30 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	20–35 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	18–32 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	10–28 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	13–29 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	13–27 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	18–28 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	22–38 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	16–30 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	17–31 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	140 mm	19–33 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	50 mm	5–21 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	6–19 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	60 mm	8–23 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	25 mm	25–33 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	25 mm	24–32 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	23–32 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	18–29 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	14–27 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	24–33 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	17–29 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	18–29 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	15–27 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	18–28 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	12–25 °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.