There is no bad month to visit Kenya, but there is a best month for what you want to do. It all comes down to the rain: two dry seasons, two rainy seasons, and the Great Migration in between.
Kenya's seasons in a nutshell
Kenya sits on the equator, so it is warm all year and the seasons are about rain, not heat. Roughly:
Long dry season, late June to October. The classic safari season. Clear skies, short grass, animals gathered at water, and the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara.
Short rains, November to early December. Usually short afternoon showers, with sunny mornings. Green, quiet and good value.
Short dry season, mid-December to March. Hot, dry and bright, with green landscapes after the rain. Great for safari and the beach.
Long rains, April to early June. The wettest time, especially at the coast in May. Some camps close and tracks get muddy, but parks are empty and lush.
Month by month
January and February. One of the best times of year. Dry and hot, good game viewing in every park, and ideal beach weather. A good window for climbing Mount Kenya.
March. Still mostly dry and very warm. The rains can start towards the end of the month.
April and May. The long rains. Expect heavy showers, especially at the coast. Fewer visitors and many young animals, but some lodges close until June.
June. The rain fades and the land is green. Herds begin moving towards the Mara by the end of the month.
July to September. Peak season. The migration fills the Maasai Mara, the weather is dry and Nairobi's nights are cool. Humpback whales pass the coast near Watamu. Book camps early.
October. Still dry, with the herds starting to head back to Tanzania and fewer vehicles around. One of our favourite months.
November. The short rains, usually in brief afternoon bursts. Migrant birds arrive from Europe and Asia, making it a great month for birdwatching.
December. The rains ease by mid-month. The Christmas and New Year holidays are busy, especially at the coast, so plan ahead.
Best time for a safari
For the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, go from July to October, with August and September the most reliable for river crossings. For a quieter safari with good weather, January and February are excellent in every park, from Amboseli to Samburu. See the migration, month by month.
Best time for the beach
The coast at Diani, Watamu and Lamu is best from December to March, when it is hot, dry and calm, and again from July to October, when it is a little cooler and breezier. Avoid May if you can, the wettest month on the coast. Whale sharks are sometimes seen off Diani around February and March.
Kenya with Tanzania or Zanzibar
If you are combining Kenya with Tanzania, July to October lets you follow the migration across the Mara and the northern Serengeti. Zanzibar shares Kenya's coast weather, so the same rule applies: aim for December to March or July to October, and skip April and May.
Quick questions
What is the best time to visit Kenya for safari?
Late June to October, in the long dry season, with the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara from about July. January and February are also excellent and quieter.
What is the best time to visit Kenya for safari and beach?
January to March, when both the parks and the coast are dry and sunny. July to October also works, with slightly cooler days on the coast.
Is December a good time to visit Kenya?
Yes. The short rains usually ease by mid-December, the parks are green and the beaches are sunny, but the holidays are busy, so book early.
What is the rainy season in Kenya?
The long rains fall from about April to early June, and the short rains from November to early December. The coast is wettest in May.
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