Hi All,
We will be in the Serengeti, the Ng Crater and Tarangire from July 4 - July 15. Looking on line it looks like the temps are in the high 60's F to the low 50's at night. But, the actual temp doesn't mean that much. 50 F in humid South Florida is different than 50 F in dry Las Vegas. Wind is a major factor too.

So, how cold is it really? I just want to know if I need a heavy jacket or will a lighter one do with a long sleeve underneath? We are going to German and Amsterdam afterward where it will be summer so I would rather not lug around a heavy jacket. But, I am a sissy to the cold

This weekend we bought duffle bags, a backpack, a pair of zip off pants each ($19.99 at Bass Pro Shops) and a money belt. Getting closer!

Thanks,
Duane

Those temps are good for the Serengeti, though the night temps can be a bit lower. However, on the rim of the Crater, it's cold, cold... can be in the low-40s, even freezing.

There shouldn't be any rain in July, so humidity shouldn't be an issue. Besides, when it's cold, it's cold, you don't think much about humidity, certainly not when the temps are 40-50/degrees. If it is humid, what you'll have is that nasty damp kind of feeling, that cuts right through you.

We all have our own body thermometer. One's cold, is anothers comfy. So, if then heading to warm countries, stick with layers. But, if weather is what weather can be, it might be cold in Amsterdam and Germany.

As Sandi said, be prepared for pretty cold weather. I was in Tanzania early July a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at how cold it was. I was glad I was properly warned and therefore prepared. I wore my long underwear more than once. And I am hot natured. The Crater was, as Sandi mentioned, freezing. To put things in perspective, it was "you can see your breath" cold. It was also cold elsewhere in Tanzania in the early mornings. I just looked back at my photos, and I was bundled up in a blanket on a morning drive at Klein's Camp. Daytime temperatures, however, were perfect that time of year. Shorts weather, but not too hot. Well, not hot for anyone living in the Southeast. I don't remember any humidity at all, but then I live in the Southeast also, so I probably wouldn't have noticed it. You will be surprised at how much the altitude affects temperature. You can buy silk long underwear on line at any of the outdoor clothing retailers. I think I got mine from REI. They weigh practically nothing, are inexpensive, can be worn under your clothes for morning game drives or at night for sleeping, are washable, and dry quickly.

Duane, we were at the Crater at the beginning of July last year and it was the only place in our 14 day itinerary where I put on my light fleece. It was chilly on the rim in the morning, but down in the crater a short time later it was lovely - no extra layers needed. Humidity isn't a factor at that time of year....it's dry. I would recommend you leave the <i>heavy</i> jacket at home and take a lighter one for early morning use.

We had short sleeves on at Tarangire and in all parts of the Serengeti, but the highlands were a bit cooler.

You are doing a similar trip to what we did last year. I'm excited for you....you will have a <i>wonderful</i> time, Duane!!

June and July in northern Tanzania can be quite nice during the day, like around 80F in the Serengeti and Ngorongor, but at night you should expect around 55F, sometimes a little bit cooler, at the top of Ngorongoro. Add a few more degrees for Serengeti. The numbers don't seem that cold, but if you are camping out it feels much cooler than it really is. I always advise for people to bring fleece jackets, as some folks need it more than others.

I have the same type question as Duane ! We will be in Kenya and Tanzania between June 26 and July 4 (Mt. Kenya Forest (Serena Mt. Lodge)/Lake Nakuru/crossing the Equator/ visiting Thompson Falls/Lake Nakuku/Maasai Mara N't Park/Ngorongoro/Lake Manyara). I keep seeing &quot;take a fleece jacket&quot; but no one says whether this jacket is a thick fleece or more sweater/sweatshirt type jacket. Are gloves/ear muffs a good thing to have along also? I surely don't want to take a heavy jacket to add to the weight of luggage unless absolutely necessary. I'm hoping layering will work better too! Someone mentioned long underwear. So what do you do if you start out in the mornings with too much clothing (other than jackets) - how do you shed it easily ?

dds -

If on a private safari, you can peel off layers in the back seat of the vehicle. Or on a potty stop in the loo.

Fleece or sweatshirt or sweather - whichever is comfortable and you have in your closet. Unless you don't own, no reason to buy something extra. Add silk underwear or a thermal t-shirt. Having a pair of gloves, a knit cap, scarf, socks are light and easy enough to pack.

Huh?

Thermal underwear? Thick gloves? Mittens? Undressing in the car?

We trek and camp in the high altitudes of the NCA and never even suggest this much warmth!

You will most probably be in a closed vehicle so you will spend little time outside (only your head will pop out of the hatch). And you only have to walk a short distance between your lodge room and the restaurant!

IMO a better suggestion is:

a. convertable pants. Your legs will always be inside the car!
b. Thin fleece tops over your t-shirts (long-sleeve if you burn easy).
c. very thin gloves if you get cold easy
d. Very thin lightweight waterproof and windproof outer layer pants and jacket with hood. You can wear this over your other clothes in the early am and take them off later. These outer layers pack small and weigh little.

Decide what to pack depending on your temperature tolerance.

If you get cold easily, which sounds like you do, add another layer to your packing. Thermals are light to pack and can be doubled. And then can be taken off during the day. Thick jackets are cumbersome to deal with and you will need it only during the evening and early morning.

If you like how 50F's feel, light fleece is the way to go and bring one thermal pack just incase it is cooler than you expected.

To avoid undressing in the vehicle, which is not common in my experience, I put the heaviest layers on the outside. Therefore I do not wear long underwear that might get too hot later in the day. Instead I'll wear two pairs of convertibles. Or I'll put a pair of rain pants or fleece pullups on the outside, with convertibles zip-offs next to my skin.

In the midday heat I can be down to shorts if need be. If long underwear were the layer closest to my skin, then zipping off to shorts would leave me with my long johns exposed. Not good.

I employ some of these same strategies on a daily basis for my bike ride to and from work and they work well. Though no shorts at work.

Thanks all. Layers seem to be the way to go. As for a jacket, I'll take a light weight one. I can always add shirts underneath.

I never travel without my gloves and ear muffs if the temps are going to be below 60F. If my ears and hands are warm, the rest of me follows So, I will bring these!

Thanks again for all the information.
Duane

When I was in Tanzania we went out very early on game drives and were back at the camp in time for breakfast. This was true everywhere except the Crater, where we stayed out all day. So, on very cold morning drives I wore my thermal underwear, and it was gone by 10:30 in the morning, when we came back to the camp and I changed (usually into convertibles). In the Crater we stayed out all day, so I only wore the thermals at night when I sat out on the porch, and when sleeping. I did use the top alot more than the pants, and no I didn't change clothes in the back of the vehicles, although it would have made for some hilarious photo ops if I did But, for clarification, none of the vehicles were closed vehicles. All were open. No hatch top. It was very cold, IMHO. So cold that everyone got a blanket and hot water bottle at the beginning of each morning game drive. So Duane, if you are used to southeastern temperatures, make sure you bring some layers. I did not have gloves, hat, or scarf, but did weare my fleece headband around my ears a couple of time. I found taking the silk longjohns worthwhile, even though I only used them a couple of times.

Hmmm, CCAfrica open vehicles and early AM game drives! That explains it!

But most people on safari in Tanzania go out after breakfast (as late as 8am) in closed vehicles. A huge difference in terms of temperature!

This is why safari postings on Fodor's should be read with care as the variables are so different!

Duane, I think you got it right.

We will be in closed vehicles on a private safari so I could change. And yes, I am not sure we will be the early risers, my wife doesn't work well early in the morning

I guess worst case is I can always buy a sweatshirt over there.
Thanks everyone, I think I am on track now.
Duane

wow. gloves? I went away from the thread and glad I came back. As previously stated, everybody has a different cold tolerance. My recommendation is usually for a light jacket of some sort, which usually ends up being a light fleece. Closed vehicles certainly help, but you will find that most of the time the day warms up fairly quickly.