Butterfly Safaris in Tanzania - Ultimate 2026 Guide
At Goar Africa Safari Tours , we’ve spent years guiding travelers into the quiet, hidden corners of this country. These are the kind of places where you’ll find vibrant colours dancing through the air and forests come alive with the gentle hum of life & the occasional flutter of butterfly wings , suggesting that even nature’s beauty must have had an artists touch. Its picturesquely painted in the air. For us, Butterfly safaris in Tanzania are so much more than just another tour – it’s a true calling, a romantic entanglement with the natural world. Also, a chance to share with you some of the country’s truly hidden treasures inclding places that very few people ever really get to experience.
Just imagine yourself standing in the East Usambara mountains on a misty morning, the clouds slowly lifting to reveal gliding Swallowtails dancing about ancient tree branches . Or picture the warm sunshine streaming down on the forest canopy of Udzungwa Mountains National Park & the endemic butterflies flitting about like tiny jewels . These are the places we know & love so well – the forests, the highlands and the craters – where life in all its many forms is teeming about, & every step you take seems to reveal something new, something beautiful & extraordinary. Lastly, Tanzania is renowned to have a population size of 1000 butterfly species like the Papilionidae, Pieridae and the Riodinidae.
Why Tanzania Is Exceptional for Butterfly Safaris?
The extraordinary butterfly habitats such as Kitulo Plateau, the Rubondo Island and the Golden boundless plains like the Serengeti national park that also offer other exclusive experiences such as the wildebeest migration make Tanzania a go- to butterfly safari destination. What makes butterfly safaris in Tanzania even more special is the ability to pair them with other wildlife experiences. Tanzania safari experiences include the big 5 safaris and by choosing this country one contributes to the conservation of not only the butterflies but also other endemic species.
When is the best and worst time to go for Tanzania butterfly safaris?
Every month has its own kind of weather and climatic conditions in Tanzania. However, the best thing about Tanzania is that each month’s weather supports butterflies. But in the long rainy months of March to May as the wild plants and the vegetation blossom the butterflies increase in numbers and the sightings of the different kinds of butterflies are magnificent. From June to October and January to February the weather becomes dry and the days are sunny which insights that the vegetation that was once dense becomes sparse and even if the number of butterflies reduces. But they are very active during this time therefore tourists can easily study the social behaviors of butterflies in Tanzania.
In conclusion, the best time to visit Tanzania for the butterfly safaris is usually from June to October. So, it’s because of the weather that contributes to the great accessibility to the different routes and pathways. Also, this time is also good for other safari holidays in Tanzania such as the wildebeests calving season . This usually happens in the Southern parts of the Serengeti around the Ngorongoro crater. On the other hand, months from March to May are the worst times for Tanzania butterfly tours. Also, they are usually avoided by tourists because of the heavy rains that could negatively impact on one’s butterfly safari expedition by leading to transportation delays that could sometimes lead to bias and make the safari less enjoyable.
Top Places to visit for Butterfly Safaris in Tanzania
1. Zanzibar butterfly Centre.
Zanzibar is a coastal town in Tanzania known for its unspoiled picturesque coastal beaches. Also, it is known for having great historical landmarks such as the stone town that are of a significance to the different influences such as the Arabs and the Swahili people. However, butterfly lovers can visit the Zanzibar butterfly Centre to watch and monitor the different behavioral patterns of the butterflies in Tanzania.
So, these include feeding and mating while viewing the different behavioral patterns species like the Blue Pansy, the Zanzibar green- Banded Swallowtail and the Diadem butterfly. Lastly, explore the unique tropical floral species like the lantana that are the habitats to the butterflies in Tanzania. Zanzibar butterfly centre is found in Unguja island one of the awe- inspiring vistas in the Zanzibar town.
2. Ngorongoro crater.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located along the rift valley in the southern parts of Serengeti national Park in the eastern region of Tanzania. The scenic beauty at this conservation area is not only breathtaking, but also overwhelming because it combines nature and landscape to form spectacular outlook. This crater is also a habitat of the wildebeest. Therefore, tourists that come here for the butterfly watching Safaris can also have an opportunity to observe the calving season of these animals.
The latter usually portrays different animal relations like the predator -prey patterns. The Ngorongoro crater has over 200 butterflies’ species such as the painted lady, Common Zebra Blue, common citrus swallowtail and the Blue pansy. Top recommended spots for butterfly watching in this area include the Ngorongoro crater, the riverine forests and in the Ndutu woodlands.
3. Kitulo plateau.
Kitulo plateau, normally considered to the “Serengeti of flowers” is a vast harbor just as the Serengeti for the radiant blossoms like the orchids and lilies and vibrant butterflies. It is situated in the Njombe and Mbeya highlands south of Tanzania. Kitulo National Park is also regarded as a sanctuary full of bliss because it evokes a sense of wonder and peace. Some of the endemic butterflies kinds at Kitulo plateau include the papilion jacksoni, the Vanessa cardio, the Précis Octavia and the Acraea that can be sighted at the Nhumbe valley and near the phenomenal Matamba falls.
4. Kilimanjaro National Park.
Imagine venturing into moun Kilimanjaro National Park that has Africa’s highest summer immersing yourself in not only nature‘s beauty. Also, the remarkable culture of the local of people. In addition to spotting the different butterfly types like African Queen, the Charaxes and the Danaus chrysippus, you will be able to see animals such as the bush bucks, duikers, elephants in areas like the Machame trail and the Shira plateau.
4. Udzungwa mountains national park.
Udzungwa is a heaven for nature photographic captures because of the various ecosystems and biodiversity’s like the waterfalls and the verdant lush vegetation on the terrain of the mountains. Udzungwa has a size of over 6oo butterflies species and some of them are rare like the Bicyclus, Euphaedra and the Udzugwa forest beauty.
5. East Usambara Mountains.
These mountains are located in the eastern of Tanzania they have over 400 butterflies’ species such as the Amani tiger, Usambara Acraea and the blue-spotted Charaxes. These butterflies in East Usambara Mountains are usually concentrated in areas like the Lushoto region, the Amani nature Reserve and the forests like the shagayu forest.
Top tips for a butterfly Safari in Tanzania and Zanzibar
- Timing for your Zanzibar and Tanzania butterfly safari is very crucial. For example if one wants less crowds, they go for Tanzania and Zanzibar butterfly safaris between March to June. However, the best time to go for Tanzania butterfly and other safari experience is between June to October.
- A butterfly safari in Tanzania includes getting an expert in tracking butterflies as well as exclusive experiences, such as scenic view viewing.
- Resist from touching the butterflies in Tanzania because you could easily harm them since they are very fragile species.
- It is advisable for one to have an educational and beneficial butterfly watching safari in Tanzania. Also,they should do research about the butterfly spots in Tanzania where they can find them, the different species of butterflies and how they behave.
- One of the essential tips is that one should look and pack the right necessities and gear that is needed for this butterfly watching safari in Tanzania.
- Usually, during photography tours in Tanzania, desist from use of the flashlight and move swiftly in order not to scare or chase them away.
- Before and during the butterfly safari, ensure to keep informed about the weather and the safari destination that they are to go to.
