This is rainy season. The sky is white and condensation hovers around our house as everything drips, drips.
The trees, balconies, the clouds all drip in a chorus of steady rain.

An hour later, the sun is shining and the grass is glistening. Yellow weaver birds hop along, looking for bugs or drinking from little puddles and several white butterflies flutter over blooming flowers. This is also rainy season.

This season of green and wet is Mr Mechanic’s favorite. He loves to watch the fields burst into life, the accelerated growth of trees and corn that seems miraculous to me. Every year I wonder how it is possible that anything in nature might grow so fast.

I, on the other hand, detest the rainy season. I quickly tire of the mud and gloom and miss waking to a sunny morning and mud-free yard. I always say I will don my raincoat and rubber boots and go out for a long walk in the rain, and, inevitably I make a cup of tea or coffee instead and stay inside with a book.
However, I simultaneously appreciate the rains because I recognize these months of constant rain bless us for the rest of the year. Most of the corn and rice and beans grown for consumption in Tanzania are produced in abundance because of this rainy season. Without it, crops would die or be meager and there would be very real problems.

I hate the rainy season, but I am also thankful for it.

Some guests actually prefer to visit Tanzania in the rainy season, which initially surprised me, but now I understand a bit better.

Here are some reasons why visitors might prefer to come to Tanzania during the April – June rains:

Mix of sun and rain – it rains often, but not non-stop. You’re sure to have sporadic sunshine and absolutely no dust. If you’ve got allergies to dust, rainy season might be the best time for you to fully enjoy this beautiful country.

Cooler weather – if you want to enjoy Africa without the strong sun and most intense heat, this is a great time of the year to visit. However, please note that some areas have bouts of humidity when the sun does show its face: Zanzibar, for example, will be humid. But, it is always humid, so that’s nothing new.

Photographers – rainy season is gorgeous! Green and lush, and remember what I said about the sun? The sunlight reflecting off of water droplets on a leaf, or an elephant stepping out of an intense green forest is some great footage! Also, last year there was a huge, clear rainbow from some angle every other day because of the weather, and who doesn’t love rainbows?

Animals – During the dry season animals may congregate around a few water-sources. But during the rains, travelers can spot wildlife in a different habitat; among trees and in tall, green grass. During dry season predators may have an easier time picking off prey at a drinking spot, but during the rains, leopards lurk in trees and cheetahs squat in savannah grasses. This gives travelers a varied experience from the typical ‘dry savannah’ perspective that is often portrayed.

Fewer tourists – because rainy season aligns with low season, there are few tourists at the parks. Travelers often share that they feel they have the whole national park, an entire lodge to themselves. Those who like a private experience or a secluded feel to their travels, rainy season may be just the ticket!

Nature – Everything grows so quickly during rainy season. Even a week-long visit in Tanzania will allow a traveler to see incredible growth in plants because of the magical mix of rain and sun. For the science-buff, nature lover or gardener, Tanzania’s rainy season offers something unique.

Heavy rain in East Africa is unlike any rain I have ever experienced. Yes, there is drizzling and showers – but the downpours, oh, the downpours are an adventure! The first time I heard this kind of rain was under a tin roof in a remote area of Northern Uganda. It was in 2006, during a time of unrest in Uganda: the LRA was active and the local tribe had been provoked in other ways and there was a real threat of war. I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning to the loudest crashing and thundering I have ever heard. It was like twenty adults jumping up and down overhead while banging on drums. I thought it was war, I thought the world was coming to an end. I woke up in a state of total and utter fear. And then, I realized it was only rain. The heaviest downpour I’d ever experienced.
The same kind of rain is here in Tanzania as well: rivers and waterfalls crash down from the roof, lakes forming in a matter of minutes. In a span of ten minutes, the sky lets loose like a broken water main. And then the sun bursts out and an incredible rainbow arches overhead and makes everything feel like a fantasy.
It is an adventure to experience East Africa’s downpours.

Rainy season is expected, but not entirely predictable. No one knows for sure when it will start and end – March to June? April to the end of May? But it is also predictable because when the rains do start showers continue in a similar pattern. For example, last year it rained every morning, with sun in the late afternoon. This year, it has typically been raining every evening and very heavy rains through the night. Of course, some days are dreary and there are afternoon showers, too. However, it pretty consistently rains every night.

The great part is that this weather is pretty predictable and therefore travelers can be prepared. Rain boots are a great investment, and if you don’t want to pack a pair in your luggage they are affordable and easy to find in the Arusha area for less than $20 USD. A quality rain jacket is a must to include in your packing list, and consider several warm layers, as well.

I think I’m coping with this rainy season better than other years. Perhaps it is because of social distancing forcing me to stay home that the broken roads and muddy streets affect me less. Also, with nowhere to go, staying at home in my pajamas and drinking a hot cup of tea pairs pretty well with rain.
The times the sun does come out, I take full advantage! Go for a walk, soak up the rays and vitamin D, mud or not.

Also, this year Mr Mechanic and I have been good about preparing our garden and small field and we are experiencing the results of getting everything in before the rains. I have to get outdoors, rain or not, almost daily to weed my flourishing garden. Mr Mechanic pulls on rubber boots every morning and checks the fifty or so trees he planted around the property. Our field of beans and corn is doing great.
I love seeing how enthusiastic Mr Mechanic is about the rain, and perhaps his joy is rubbing off on me, even if what I feel is a distant appreciation.

The kids? Well, they all have rain boots and rain jackets, but with the cold, wet weather it’s not too much fun to play outside. However, they were all busy the weeks before helping to plant their own rows of beans, trying to plant potatoes and experimenting with strawberry seeds. I think they are enjoying their hours inside, watching Discovery Channel videos and helping make dinner.

Rainy season is partially about personal-preference, Mr Mechanic loves this time of year, but is also about perspective; I appreciate the rains and am trying to make the best of this time by tending a garden and getting outdoors when the sun makes an appearance.

If you like the weather of Ireland or Seattle, Washington, and prefer travels that are full of adventure but not full of other people, consider coming to Tanzania during the rainy season.