The best times to visit Selous Game Reserve for ideal weather are

May 14th to September 16th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Selous Game Reserve Travel Info

Weather in Selous Game Reserve

Temperature

Average temperatures in Selous Game Reserve vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for most of the year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 33rd percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Selous Game Reserve, the hottest months are December, February, and then January. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid to late November where highs are regularly around 92°F (33.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 70.5°F (21.4°C) at night.

Selous Game Reserve Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Selous Game Reserve Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Selous Game Reserve Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Selous Game Reserve Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Selous Game Reserve Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 90.2 80.2 71.6
Feb 90.2 80.2 71
Mar 89 79.1 70.9
Apr 85.7 76.5 69.6
May 83.8 74.6 67.1
Jun 83 72.6 62.5
Jul 82.6 72.2 61
Aug 83.9 73.7 62.7
Sep 86.9 75.8 63.7
Oct 89.4 78.3 66.8
Nov 90.5 79.7 69.3
Dec 90.7 80.4 71.3

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 32.3 26.8 22
Feb 32.3 26.8 21.7
Mar 31.7 26.2 21.6
Apr 29.8 24.7 20.9
May 28.8 23.7 19.5
Jun 28.3 22.6 16.9
Jul 28.1 22.3 16.1
Aug 28.8 23.2 17.1
Sep 30.5 24.3 17.6
Oct 31.9 25.7 19.3
Nov 32.5 26.5 20.7
Dec 32.6 26.9 21.8

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Selous Game Reserve are July, September, and then August. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid July. For example, on the week of July 16th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late March with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of March 26th.

When can you find snow in Selous Game Reserve? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Selous Game Reserve.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Selous Game Reserve (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 11% 0 2.1
Feb 18% 0 4
Mar 28% 0 4.8
Apr 38% 0 6.2
May 23% 0 3.2
Jun 6% 0 0.6
Jul 2% 0 0.2
Aug 3% 0 0.7
Sep 3% 0 0.4
Oct 8% 0 1.2
Nov 16% 0 2.8
Dec 16% 0 3.6

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 11 0 5.3
Feb 18 0 10.2
Mar 28 0 12.2
Apr 38 0 15.7
May 23 0 8.1
Jun 6 0 1.5
Jul 2 0 0.5
Aug 3 0 1.8
Sep 3 0 1
Oct 8 0 3
Nov 16 0 7.1
Dec 16 0 9.1

 

Humidity and Wind

Selous Game Reserve has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is September (53.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is April (76.8%).

Wind in Selous Game Reserve is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is January, followed by December and November. January’s average wind speed of around 4.4 knots (5 MPH or 8.1 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late December where average top sustained speeds reach 13.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Selous Game Reserve.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 4.4 Light breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Feb 3.4 Barely noticeable 11.3 Significant breeze
Mar 1.9 Barely noticeable 10.4 Significant breeze
Apr 0.3 Still 8.1 Gentle breeze
May 0.2 Still 7.3 Significant breeze
Jun 0.3 Still 7.4 Gentle breeze
Jul 0.9 Still 9.3 Significant breeze
Aug 1.7 Barely noticeable 10.4 Gentle breeze
Sep 2.8 Barely noticeable 12.5 Significant breeze
Oct 3.1 Barely noticeable 12.3 Significant breeze
Nov 3.8 Barely noticeable 12.8 Significant breeze
Dec 4.2 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 61.3%
Feb 61%
Mar 67.6%
Apr 76.8%
May 74.3%
Jun 64.6%
Jul 57.8%
Aug 56.6%
Sep 53.2%
Oct 54.8%
Nov 58.6%
Dec 60.6%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Selous Game Reserve?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Tanzania; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Oct 26, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania is July, followed by September and October. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Selous Game Reserve in June. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 63.2 in June means 63.2% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Selous Game Reserve Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 90.5°F (32.5°C) and 83.1°F (28.4°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 7 to 11 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Selous Game Reserve, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 92°F (33.3°C) and 85.3°F (29.6°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 5 days per month. Tourism is the busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be higher priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Selous Game Reserve to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 91.1°F (32.8°C) and 89.4°F (31.9°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 3 to 5 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Tanzania › Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania