Best time to visit Kenya: safari and migration

Kenya lies on the equator, but much of the country is high: Nairobi is at about 1,700 metres, so the days are warm rather than hot and the nights cool. The year is shaped by two rainy seasons. According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, the long rains from March to May are the main rainy season over most of the country, and the short rains from October to December are the second. In between lie the dry seasons that are best for a safari: a long one from June to October and a shorter one in January and February. The great wildebeest migration reaches the Maasai Mara during the long dry season. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 at four places.

The short answer

• Best time for a safari: June to October. Dry, sunny days, cool mornings, animals gather at the water.
• Wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara: about July to October.
• Second dry season: January and February, warm and mostly dry – good for safari and the coast.
• Long rains: March to May, the wettest time; some lodges close and roads in the parks can become difficult.

Kenya's climate: all 12 months

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide and averages over hills and plains. The rainy seasons vary a great deal from year to year: in some years the long rains are weak, in others they bring floods. Treat the numbers as a rough guide; the seasonal pattern is reliable.

The Maasai Mara is driest in July and August, with only 14 to 21 mm, exactly when the migration arrives. The peaks in April and November mark the long and short rains.

Nairobi is never really hot: the warmest months, February and March, reach 27.4 °C by day, and July is the coolest at 22.7 °C, with nights around 12 °C.

Kenya month by month

June to October: the main safari season

The long dry season. The grass is shorter, animals gather near rivers and waterholes, and game drives are easier. July and August are the driest months in the Maasai Mara and Amboseli, with only 11 to 21 mm. Mornings and evenings on safari can be cold, especially in an open vehicle at sunrise. This is also the busiest and most expensive time of year.

July to October: the wildebeest migration

Every year, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra move from Tanzania's Serengeti into the Maasai Mara. According to the Kenya News Agency, the animals migrate to the Kenyan side between July and October, and most visitors come between July and September; the river crossings at the Mara River are the best-known moment. The timing depends on the rain in any given year, so the herds can arrive a little earlier or later.

November and December: short rains

Showers return, often in the afternoon, with 135 to 159 mm in November in the Mara and Amboseli. Safaris are still possible, the landscapes turn green and there are fewer visitors. December is drier again in many areas.

January and February: the short dry season

Warm and mostly dry, with 44 to 60 mm in February in the parks. A good time for a safari combined with the coast around Diani, which is hot and dry at 30 to 31 °C. Calving season in the southern Serengeti means the big herds are in Tanzania, not in the Mara.

March to May: the long rains

The main rainy season according to the Kenya Meteorological Department, with April the wettest month in Nairobi at 186 mm and May on the coast at 275 mm. Some camps close, and dirt roads in the parks can become difficult. Prices are at their lowest.

Safari and coast

A classic trip combines several parks: the Maasai Mara for the big herds and predators, Amboseli for elephants in front of Kilimanjaro, and lakes such as Nakuru in the Rift Valley. Many travellers end on the coast, at Diani Beach south of Mombasa, or fly on to Zanzibar. The coast follows its own pattern: its wettest months are April and May, while it is mostly dry from December to March. According to the UK travel advice, safaris should be booked with established operators rather than touts, and park rules and wardens' advice should be followed. Flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport serve the parks, and an airport transfer^* gets you into the city on arrival. Comparing Africa? See also the best time to visit South Africa.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Nairobi, the parks and the coast day by day on one map, including the flights or long drives between them. The forecast for your travel days shows rain and cold mornings, and the packing list suggests warm layers for early game drives, sun protection and neutral-coloured clothing. If you combine Kenya with Zanzibar, both parts stay in one trip, which you can share with your travel companions, including shared expenses.

Before you go

• Entry: Check the current entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
• Time: Kenya is 3 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 2 hours in summer.
• Power: 240 volts; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G).
• Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

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