When is the Best Time to Visit Kenya?

The best time to visit Kenya is from June to October when there’s virtually no rain and daytime temperatures are not too hot. However, with a diverse geography and a moderate climate, Kenya is considered a great year-round safari and beach holiday destination.

Most Kenya safari destinations are also at their best between January and the end of March; the climate is mild, mostly dry and game viewing is fantastic. A rainy season visit – between mid-March to June and again between November and December – is well worth considering. You’ll avoid the peak-season crowds and take advantage of lower, off-season rates for safari lodges in Kenya.

The best time to visit Kenya’s renowned beach destinations is a moot point: Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline is hot and very humid all year round and rainfall can occur at any time.

Destination Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Amboseli National Park

30°C
45mm
31°C
56mm
30°C
87mm
28°C
146mm
26°C
68mm
25°C
13mm
24°C
4mm
25°C
5mm
27°C
7mm
29°C
31mm
29°C
103mm
28°C
80mm

Lamu Archipelago

30°C
7mm
31°C
3mm
31°C
28mm
31°C
134mm
30°C
307mm
30°C
157mm
29°C
87mm
29°C
44mm
29°C
47mm
30°C
43mm
30°C
51mm
30°C
31mm

Masai Mara National Reserve

28°C
82mm
28°C
95mm
28°C
124mm
27°C
166mm
26°C
110mm
26°C
59mm
25°C
28mm
26°C
44mm
27°C
52mm
28°C
56mm
27°C
100mm
27°C
111mm

Nairobi

26°C
48mm
27°C
49mm
27°C
95mm
25°C
200mm
24°C
151mm
23°C
37mm
22°C
15mm
23°C
21mm
25°C
22mm
26°C
52mm
24°C
132mm
25°C
83mm

Samburu National Reserve

32°C
15mm
34°C
21mm
33°C
58mm
32°C
113mm
32°C
47mm
32°C
4mm
31°C
5mm
31°C
5mm
33°C
5mm
33°C
53mm
31°C
140mm
31°C
57mm

Mombasa

27°C
24mm
28°C
16mm
28°C
59mm
27°C
145mm
26°C
228mm
25°C
101mm
24°C
81mm
24°C
64mm
25°C
55mm
26°C
88mm
27°C
79mm
27°C
57mm

Diani Beach

27°C
24mm
28°C
16mm
28°C
59mm
27°C
145mm
26°C
228mm
25°C
101mm
24°C
81mm
24°C
64mm
25°C
55mm
26°C
88mm
27°C
79mm
27°C
57mm
Dry Season
Wet Season
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Best Time to Climb Mount Kenya
Best Time for Safari

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Month by Month Guide for Travelling to Kenya:

Visiting Kenya in January & February

Leopard at Mara House, Kenya | Go2Africa

January is a great time to visit Kenya for game viewing and is the height of the summer season. January lies outside of the two notable ‘long’ and ‘short’ rain periods and is a good time for beach holidays on the Kenyan coast, but the temperatures are high.

February is another great month for a Kenya safari, the central highlands are warm in the day and cool in the evening, while the coast is extremely hot in the daytime and temperatures follow suit in the evening. February experiences the lowest levels of precipitation in the Masai Mara, compared to the rest of the year, and the chances of encountering wild species at watering holes is higher. February is where to go in Kenya to conquer Africa’s second highest peak, Mount Kenya.

 

Travelling to Kenya from March to May

Luxury family tent in Kenya | Go2Africa

In March, the weather transitions quite quickly from ‘hot and dry’ to ‘wet and rainy’. Rain is commonplace throughout large parts of the country, and the savannah often becomes a muddy landscape – with some areas difficult to visit due to impassible roads. The silver lining to the less-than-ideal weather is that crowds are absent and costs are lower.

April is one of the wettest and rainiest months in Kenya. Nairobi and the central highlands are hot in the day and comfortable at night, while Mombasa is hot both in the day and at night. Game drives can be challenging on muddy roads in this month, but it’s a fantastic time for photographers to go on safari. There is no dust, the landscape is lush and beautifully green, and the skies provide moody backdrops for incredible wildlife images. Just be sure to protect your equipment from the elements!

In May the long rains have settled in to quench the African plains, and along the coastline, the beaches are no longer a sunshine paradise. It’s not an ideal time for a powder-soft sand, ocean escape.

Travelling to Kenya from June to October

Great Migration at Saruni Mara in Kenya | Go2Africa

The months of June through to October mark the start of the long dry season, which is regarded as the best time to go to Kenya for a truly ‘Out of Africa’ safari experience. The weather is at its best in these dry months, wildlife congregate around water sources, and there is an air of anticipation for the arrival of the Great Migration’s mega-herds into the Masai Mara.

Towards the end of July is when the herds of Mother Nature’s greatest spectacle start arriving in the Masai Mara and when you could have a front-row seat to dramatic river crossings. The weather is temperate and dry but not too dusty, and occasional bouts of showers are still possible.

In August, the Great Migration is at its height. Temperatures are pleasant, and awe-inspiring action can be witnessed when thousands of zebras and wildebeest perform their death-defying river crossings, with hungry crocodiles in wait. The weather is generally dry in September and the game-viewing action continues.

In October, the migratory herds usually start leaving the Masai Mara, but Kenya has no shortage of resident wildlife that will keep safari enthusiasts delighted in Big 5 country.

 

Visiting Kenya between November & December

Lions in Kenya | Go2Africa

November is the start of the short rainy season and most of the parks and camps remain open, while some camps close on the Laikipia Plateau. Despite the rain, this is a good time to take the opportunity to enjoy a less crowded Kenya safari at lower prices.

The last month of the year can be very hot with potential rain, but viewing the local wildlife is – as it always is – spectacular. December is also great for birdwatchers as bird numbers increase greatly at this time of the year.

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