When to go

Where to go in September

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

Best in September

Serengeti National ParkTanzaniaHigh season
Crossings continue; the far north is the place to be.
Volcanoes National ParkRwandaHigh season
Kwita Izina, the gorilla naming ceremony.
Maasai MaraKenyaHigh season
Crossings continue with slightly thinner crowds.

Good conditions, few people

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

Every destination in September

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

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in September
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	14–27 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	10–22 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	35 mm	12–28 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	50 mm	22–30 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	5 mm	16–32 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	15 mm	21–37 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	20 mm	20–35 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	10 mm	14–30 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	20 mm	11–28 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	8–21 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	15–29 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	5 mm	18–34 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	30 mm	17–30 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	10–22 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	11–23 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	50 mm	22–30 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	15 mm	16–29 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	10 mm	19–34 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	10 mm	17–31 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	50 mm	22–30 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	16–29 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	22–30 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	35 mm	9–27 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	11–23 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	22–30 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	35 mm	10–28 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	35 mm	12–26 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	110 mm	16–32 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	15–27 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	140 mm	17–30 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	17–29 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	16–28 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	7–22 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	50 mm	21–30 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	22–31 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	15 mm	13–26 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	40 mm	4–20 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	23–31 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	15–28 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	70 mm	22–30 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	6–18 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	18–28 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	17–28 °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
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	130 mm	12–24 °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.