When to go

Where to go in March

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

Best in March

Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda
Dry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water.
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda
Wet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country.
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda
Wet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country.

Every destination in March

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

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in March
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	18–35 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	10–22 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	11–23 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	10–21 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	25–33 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	25–33 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	15–27 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	12–29 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	9–21 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	15–27 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	11–22 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	110 mm	22–37 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	70 mm	21–36 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	80 mm	21–36 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	80 mm	19–33 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	80 mm	16–32 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	17–29 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	16–28 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	11–28 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	12–29 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	14–29 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	19–33 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	17–29 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	14–27 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	18–27 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	16–28 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	110 mm	16–29 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	17–30 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	19–32 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	60 mm	26–34 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	60 mm	25–33 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	23–32 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	14–26 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	140 mm	24–33 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	17–28 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	8–22 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	5–20 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	6–18 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	12–24 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	18–28 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	18–28 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	18–27 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	160 mm	15–27 °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.