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Best time to visit Kenya

The beauty of Kenya is you can visit throughout the year. If you're hoping to do something specific, certain seasons or times of year are better than others. Find out when to visit Kenya based on which adventure you seek upon the country's glorious soil. 

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  • Best time for a safari in Kenya

    Depending on what wildlife you want to see, some months are better than others! In general, the best time to visit Kenya for a safari is during dry season. 

    January and February: These are the warmest months in Kenya, and it's possible to see animals in high densities.
    June to September: As the dry season begins, animals congregate around waterholes and riverbanks. 
    December: This is a beautiful time to visit if you want to see birds that have migrated to the region and baby animals. 

    Not recommended
    March - May, October to November: This is the rainy season in Kenya. The wet season makes for poor wildlife spotting - but you will snag an African safari deal!
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  • Best time to see the Great Migration

    The Great Migration is an annual journey that millions of animals embark on through Tanzania's Serengeti in the south and Kenya's Masai Mara in the north in a circular route (view migration map).

    July and August: During these months you can catch the Great migration in Kenya. July and August are when the wildebeest move to Masai Mara and cross the Mara River in droves, a sight that many travellers to this region hope to see. If you want to catch herds of wild animals crossing the flowing river, this is the best time to see the Great Migration in Kenya.

    Alternatively, look for a cross-country Kenya-Tanzania safari to experience the migration any time of the year. 

     
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  • Best time to visit Kenya's beaches

    Kenya is the perfect setting for a beachside getaway for most of the year! Thanks to the sun shining down on the coastline consistently, the sand and sea are usually warm.

    January and February: The probability of rain is low, and the sea temperatures hover at 29°C (84°F). January and February are great months to work on your tan and take a dip. 
    October to December: If you don't need to wait for the school holidays, these months are a great time to visit for a sandy escape and go snorkelling.

    Not recommended
    April, May and June: These months are not recommended. There's a high probability of rain. In May, you can expect an average of 17 rain days and 300mm of precipitation.
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  • Best time to visit the big cities

    The slightly cooler months of July and August might be the best time to visit cities like Mombasa or Nairobi in Kenya, but there are plenty of other fantastic cities you have to check out while you're visiting this beautiful country. 
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  • Best time for a cheap Kenya holiday

    The cheapest time to fly to Kenya is from March-June and September-November; the rest of the year is peak season. If you are flying in peak season, another way to score a good deal is to book a separate ticket to Europe and fly to Kenya from there.
    See all Kenya budget tours

  • Best time for a Kenya family holiday

    For families and travellers who are worried about malaria, visit during the dry season from June to December or January to February. Malaria epidemics are more common during the rainy season.
    See all Kenya family tours

Best month to visit Kenya

Best time to visit game parks

Climate in Kenya

masai men walking in the bush

  1. Dry Season

    January to February and June to October

    Sunny, rain-free days defines Kenya's dry season, and the country has two, from January to February and June to October. Many people visit Kenya at this time because the sparse water and vegetation forces wildlife to congregate around available waterbodies, as such, it's the optimum time for game viewing. This also happens to be the most expensive time to visit. The days are pleasant, but the nights are cold, so it's important to pack layers for those chilly game drives at night!

  2. Rainy Season

    March to May and November to December

    During the rainy season or wet season, it rains frequently in Kenya. As a result, safari destinations are lush with greenery, and there are fewer visitors in the parks, and it's much cheaper to travel at this time! It's much harder to see wildlife at this time, but not impossible, and the landscapes during your game drives will be stunning. Kenya experience a second rainy season recognised as the ‘short rains’, where for a few weeks in November and December the region will experience some wet weather.
     

Temperatures and rainfall in Kenya

Kenya is an African country, bisected by the Equator, with three different climate zones: hot and humid along the coast, temperate in the west and south-west where there are mountainous regions, and hot and dry in the north and east. The table below shows average temperatures along the coast. Temperatures in Masai Mara are much lower (read more).
 

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
High°C Day31° C31° C32° C31° C29° C28° C27° C27° C28° C30° C31° C31° C
Min °C Night23° C24° C24° C24° C23° C22° C22° C22° C22° C22° C23° C23° C
Max °F Day88°F88°F90°F88°F84°F82°F81°F81°F82°F86°F88°F88°F
Min °F Night73°F75°F75°F75°F73°F73°F72°F72°F72°F72°F73°F73°F
Chances of rainlowlowhighhighhighlowlowlowlowlowmediummedium

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