East Africa's safari belt sits at altitude — the Serengeti, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater rim and most of Uganda's parks range from roughly 1,500 to 2,300 meters — which means daytime temperatures are pleasantly warm (24-29°C/75-84°F) rather than tropically hot, and early-morning game drives regularly start at 10-15°C (50-59°F), cold enough that a fleece is not optional. Two rainy seasons bracket the year almost everywhere in the region: the 'long rains' from roughly mid-March through May, and the 'short rains' from November into early December, though the short rains are typically brief afternoon downpours rather than the all-day soakings of April. Rain rarely cancels a game drive outright — vehicles have covers, and animals do not stop being visible in the rain — but it does affect road conditions and, in low-lying parks, can make some tracks temporarily impassable. Coastal Zanzibar and low-altitude Murchison Falls run noticeably hotter and more humid than the highland parks. Pack for a 20-degree daily temperature swing regardless of season: a warm layer for dawn, breathable cotton for midday, and a light rain shell year-round.