Tanzania lies close to the equator and has a tropical climate with an average difference between the highest and lowest temperature of just five degrees. The coastal area is almost year-round hot and very humid with temperatures between 22C and 30C and humidity between 75 and 80 percent. In the mountainous areas, including the Kilimanjaro, Usambara Mountains, and the northern and southern highlands, the temperature in the period May to August can go down up to 12C. In the hill country you can get a regular frosts. The hottest time of year is generally October through February. In some places in the interior it can be very hot and the temperature can reach up to more than 40degrees Celsius.

The influence of the prevailing monsoon winds has a major impact on the amount of rainfall. A large part of Tanzania has two rainy seasons: October and November with little rains and the period March to May with big rains (rain season). Precipitation varies enormously and is very irregularly distributed across the country. Every year, after the rainy season, the landscape is beautiful green again.

The average rainfall is about 750 mm per year. There are also areas where more than 1 250 mm falls, while in the dry areas, especially around the Central Plateau, remains 500 mm annual precipitation. The Central Plateau has only one rainy season, between December and May.