Your visit to Kenya is likely driven by a desire to discover its lyrical landscapes and diverse wildlife. Kenya lies on the equator in East Africa, offering tropical conditions and stable temperatures year-round.
Deciding when to go to Kenya is a perennial question for visitors. There’s no simple ‘best time to visit Kenya’ as good conditions vary across the country, and one person’s ideal weather will be another’s disappointment. Having said that, most visitors will find something positive about the weather through most of the year.
Kenya is located in East Africa. As a result, Kenya’s climatic zones break down into mountain, highland, coast and arid.The climatic zones can be further sub-divided, with arid composed of semi arid, arid and very arid, the highlands from plains to foothills, all of which has a localised affect on the climate, and therefore on the flora and fauna found there.
Whatever the ambient temperature in the shade, when the sun is out - which is a good deal of the time, and often from dawn until dusk for weeks on end - it is always fierce: you’re on the equator, and you’ll know all about it if you neglect the sunscreen.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that weather conditions vary greatly throughout the country and from month to month. Kenya also experiences two rainy seasons (which we’ll explain in more detail), but even so, most visitors believe Kenya to be a great place to visit throughout the year. Since Kenya is in the eastern regions of the African continent temperatures are typically warm no matter what the season. To put this into perspective, temperatures in winter range between 20°C and 25°C.
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So, when is the best time to visit Kenya? It depends on what you want to point your binoculars at. For the awe-inspiring Great Migration, a visit during the dry season from late July to October is your best bet, when herds travel between the southern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The dry season also brings sightings of blush-pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru. Meanwhile, the rainy seasons offer fewer crowds and excellent wildlife spotting opportunities, particularly during March.
Sandwiched between the short rains of November and the long rains of April, January displays flourishing vegetation and newborn wildlife. Read on for our carefully curated month-by-month guide to help you plan your Kenyan adventure.
Kenya’s daytime temperatures average between 20°C/68°F and 28°C/82°F, but it is warmer on the coast. Kenya is too close to the equator to experience a real winter and summer.
Kenya's temperatures are very high all year round due to its location near the equator. Summer temperatures (January and February) range from 35° to 40°C during the day, and 25°C to 30°C at night. During the winter months, mainly July and August, temperatures average 30° to 35°C during the day, and 20°C to 25°C at night.
Both the coastline and the Lake Victoria basin have hot and humid climates. This coastal strip is relatively mild, but watch out for the humidity. Further north the climate is very hot, even bordering on a desert climate.
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The plateaus, located about 60 miles from the coast, rise to altitudes ranging from 3280ft to just over 9800ft. Temperatures are pleasant throughout the year, with average days reaching above 25°C in summer and winter. The nights are a little cooler, but still very pleasant, with temperatures averaging 20°C in summer, and falling to around 10°C in winter.
Understanding Kenya's Rainy Seasons
Due to its location on the equator and proximity to the Indian Ocean, Kenya has distinct dry and rainy seasons. There are two main dry seasons. The first one runs from December to March, which is the country's summertime. Another dry season, the country's winter, runs from July to October. The two rainy seasons come in between.
The “long” rainy season is the first of the year and usually lasts from April to late May. It is the longer of the two rainy seasons and has been known to start as early as March. The rain can be torrential and can cause drainage ditches to overfill and big puddles to build up by the side of the roads. April and May are usually quiet seasons for tourism and an intrepid explorer could find themselves on a truly magical holiday if they came to Kenya in this period.
The first is the longer rainy season, which runs from April to June. Another shorter rainy season runs between November and mid-December.
The “small” rainy season is the shorter of the two and spans from late October to December. It usually follows a long period of drought which leaves the landscape looking dry and bare.
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Kenya’s two rainy seasons are largely determined by wind. The cooler ‘Kusi’ wind, brings with it the heaviest rains. This is known as the ‘long rains’, between the months of April, May and early June. The monsoon winds bring the second rainy season, known as the ‘short rains’ and are between the months of November and December, but are usually intermittent. However from mid December to March, Kenya has it’s driest season with almost no rainfall.
Kenya through the yearThere are two dominant influences on the climate in Kenya: the onshore monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean, and altitude. The winds determine the onset of Kenya’s two rainy seasons, with the hot northeast monsoon or kaskazi blowing dry air in from the Persian Gulf from November to March/April and the warm, moist kusi monsoon blowing in from the southeast from April/May to October. It’s the slightly cooler kusi that normally delivers the heaviest rain, a season known as the ‘long rains’, in late-April, May and early June. The relatively cool season, from late-June to October, gets much less rain. There’s a second rainy season, the ‘short rains’, for a few weeks in November and December, followed roughly from mid-December to March by a dry season of hot, usually rainless, weather.
A common myth about equatorial countries is that their climates usually lack diversity and stay the same throughout the year. Firstly, Kenya is typified by drastic changes in altitude. The coastal regions in the East of Kenya are at a low altitude and the climate is humid and hot. The climate in Nairobi is cool and dry with lots of sun. We can thank the altitude for that, with Nairobi sitting at 1,795 meters above sea level. Kenya’s highest point, the Batian peak of Mt.
The final thing to note here is that the sun is very punctual in Kenya. As the country is on the equator, the sun rises daily between 6:00 am and 6:30 am, and sets between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
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Tips for Visiting During the Rainy Season
When visiting Kenya during one of its dry seasons, it's best to keep in mind that the driest month to travel to the country is January (summer). Rainfall usually begins at a mild rate in April, and then gradually intensifies until early May, before further decreasing and finally stopping at the end of June. When visiting Kenya during the rainy season, it's best to keep in mind that the second half of June is generally a lot drier. Conversely, Kenya's most intense monsoon season, with the heaviest rainfall, is in May.
The alternating dry and rainy seasons make Kenya a real mosaic of climates. During a rainy season in Kenya, the sun, which generally shines for ten to 12 hours a day, fades away and is covered by large black clouds in minutes. Like most rainy episodes in other countries at the same latitude (especially in Asia), rainfall is torrential, but the duration of the downpours is short-lived. Usually, following 30 minutes of heavy rain it only takes another 30 minutes for everything to dry again, and these downpours can happen both during the day and at night.
Although prolonged rainfall isn’t that uncommon, the typical pattern is for rain to fall as a torrential downpour, lasting perhaps half an hour to an hour, with the sun then coming out and drying the wet ground in minutes. Camps and lodges always provide umbrellas, though your footwear will get muddy and you are still likely to get wet if you happen to be outside. There’s little point in bringing waterproofs.
The theory of Kenya’s climate is one thing: predicting the actual weather for specific dates is increasingly difficult as climate change impacts more and more, bringing floods and droughts, unseasonably cool and unseasonably hot weather. These impacts can be more than inconvenient: a dramatic flash flood swept the seasonally dry course of the Ewaso Nyiro in March 2010, destroying the bridge linking Samburu and Buffalo Springs national reserves and badly damaging several camps and lodges.
In Kenya’s national parks, the watering holes fill up and attract animals from all over to a nourishing meeting place for all. The previously dry and arid landscape has miraculously become green and lush with vegetation. The air, previously hot and dust-filled, feels thick and moist. To add to the magic of this time of year, there are many newborn elephants which can be found trumpeting through the bush and across the plains of Tsavo. The rains are a key component of the Tsavo life cycle, and without them, life would not be sustained in the same way as it is now.
Two other points to bear in mind about the weather in Kenya: firstly, swimming pools are rarely heated, and only those on the coast are guaranteed to be warm; and secondly, although people sometimes talk about Kenya’s “winter" - and Kenyans themselves tend to make a big fuss about temperatures that most visitors would consider quite warm - they’re simply referring to a slightly cooler time of year, not the sort of precipitate drop in the mercury that we experience at higher latitudes.
The Magic of the Green Season
When travelers hear the words “rainy season,” they often imagine canceled plans, muddy trails, and cloudy skies. But in Kenya, the rainy season; also known as the green season, is one of the most magical times to experience a safari.
- After the first rains, Kenya’s vast plains undergo a breathtaking transformation into a lush, green paradise. The once-dry savannas burst into life as fresh grass carpets the land, wildflowers bloom in dazzling colors, and rivers and streams begin to flow once again. The air feels fresh and alive, filled with the sounds of birds and wildlife rejoicing in the renewal of the land.
- During the rainy season in Kenya, the landscape becomes a photographer’s dream. The soft, diffused lighting enhances every detail, while dramatic clouds roll across the sky, creating breathtaking contrasts and depth. After the showers, brilliant rainbows often arch over the plains, adding a magical touch to the already stunning scenery. Wildlife appears even more striking against the lush, emerald-green backdrop-lions lounging in the grass, elephants wandering through misty valleys, and herds of antelope grazing peacefully.
- Crowds thin out during the rainy months, which means quieter parks, more personalized experiences, and peaceful encounters with nature.
- This is one of the best-kept secrets in African travel-rainy season safaris are more affordable!
- The animals don’t disappear during the rains. In fact, it’s birthing season!
- For bird lovers, this is paradise. The rainy season in Kenya attracts thousands of migratory birds, including colorful species from Europe and Asia.
- With the rain comes cooler air and pleasant weather, making game drives and outdoor adventures more enjoyable.
- There’s nothing quite like a Kenyan sunset after a rainfall-dramatic clouds, bursts of color, and golden light reflecting over wet plains.
- Traveling during the green season helps sustain local communities and lodges that rely on tourism year-round.
- The rainy season is for true adventurers.
At Cross Wild Safaris, we craft unforgettable experiences in every season.
The ever-changing landscape of Kenya means that no two climates are the same. As well as the altitude, there is another factor which means Kenya’s climate changes throughout the year: the rain.
It’s generally sunny, dry and temperate most of the year in Kenya despite being situated directly on the equator. Central Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau is situated at an altitude that keeps temperatures comfortable. Coastal areas are obviously hotter, but the ocean breeze helps to maintain pleasant conditions for most of the year.
Many travelers assume that because they are traveling to Africa, it must always be warm. This is not the case in Kenya during the night and early morning, however, particularly in June, July and August. You can expect days to be absolutely beautiful, temperate and sunny, but nights and early mornings will be chilly, possibly near freezing, so we recommend you bring warm layers you can peel off as it warms up through the day. A lightweight down jacket or fleece pullover is ideal. Gloves, hat, scarf and warm long pants are also essential at this time of year for early-morning wildlife drives.
Average Monthly Temperatures & Rainfall
Please keep in mind that these are averages, and that weather can be unpredictable. Be sure to check current weather conditions a few days before your departure at: www.weather.com. Remember to check the weather for each location on your itinerary, as conditions may vary.
Kenya Monthly Weather Information and Recommendations
- January: January is hot and dry. Temperatures tend to gradually increase over the course of the month. Average highs range from the mid-70s F to the mid-80s F, while average lows range from the mid-50s F to the mid-60s F. During the hot days, we recommend a short-sleeved shirt, shorts or zip-off pants and plenty of sun protection, including sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt may also be useful for shielding your arms from the sun.
- February: February in Kenya remains hot and dry with long, hot, sunny days and little or no rain. February is usually the hottest month of the year. Highs are typically in the upper 70s F to low 90s F. Travelers should be prepared for the heat with a short-sleeved shirt, shorts or zip-off pants and plenty of sun protection, including sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt may also be useful for shielding your arms from the sun.
- March: March in Kenya is still hot, although it sometimes brings the beginning of the long rains, which last until June. As summer comes to an end, highs will be mainly in the 80s F. Average lows will be in the mid-50s F to mid-60s F. We recommend rain gear, including a rain jacket or lightweight poncho and rain pants.
- April: April is the true beginning of the long rainy season, which is likely to bring either lengthy periods of rain or sporadic heavy downpours in the late afternoon. All this moisture turns the landscape lush and green. When it is not raining, daytime temperatures will be warm, with highs in the upper 70s and 80s F. At night it may cool down into the upper 50s F. Travelers should be prepared with a lightweight, “breathable,” waterproof rain jacket, rain pants and inexpensive rain poncho.
- May: Much the same as April, May is characterized by heavy rains. It also marks the beginning of winter. High temperatures are generally in the mid- to upper 70s F and lows are usually in the 50s F. Raingear is a must, with a lightweight, “breathable,” waterproof rain jacket, rain pants and inexpensive rain poncho for the best protection.
- June: By June the rains have typically subsided, and the drier winter season has arrived in Kenya (although you may still want a rain jacket just in case). High temperatures are usually in the 70s F while lows are mostly in the 50s F. As it is cooler this time of year, we recommend a sweater or fleece at night and in the early mornings, as well as a warm hat, gloves and a scarf for early morning wildlife drives that may take place in open vehicles.
- July: Winter continues through July with high temperatures in the 70s F and lows in the 50s F. Nights and early mornings can be very chilly, especially during wildlife drives in open vehicles. We recommend a warm fleece jacket as well as a hat, gloves and scarf. As the day warms up you’ll want to shed these layers and will likely be most comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts or zip-off pants.
- August: August is the final month of winter in Kenya, and conditions are very similar to those in July. High temperatures will be in the 70s F with lows in the 50s F. Nights and early mornings can be very chilly, especially during wildlife drives in open vehicles. We recommend a warm fleece jacket as well as a hat, gloves and scarf. As the day warms up you’ll want to shed these layers and will likely be most comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts or zip-off pants. In the Maasai Mara, light rain showers are possible in the afternoons and evenings.
- September: September in Kenya is characterized by the end of winter. It is typically dry with high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s F and lows in the mid-50s to low 60s F. Because it can still be chilly in the evenings and early mornings, we recommend a warm fleece jacket as well as a hat, gloves and scarf. As the day warms up you’ll want to shed these layers and will likely be most comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts or zip-off pants. In the Maasai Mara, light rain showers are possible in the afternoons and evenings.
- October: Kenya’s short rains begin in October. High temperatures generally range from the upper 70s to the low 90s F, with lows in the upper 50s to mid-60s F. Be prepared for rain showers with a lightweight, “breathable,” waterproof rain jacket, rain pants and inexpensive rain poncho. You will also likely want a T-shirt and shorts or zip-off pants for warmer periods when the sky clears and the sun is out.
- November: The short rains continue into November, and travelers should be prepared for conditions similar to those in October.
- December: By December the short rains have ended for the most part, and, as summer begins, Kenya tends to be sunny and dry. High temperatures tend to be in the 70s and 80s F, while lows are in the mid-50s and 60s F. For the hot daytime temperatures, we recommend a short-sleeved shirt, shorts or zip-off pants and plenty of sun protection, including sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt may also be useful in shielding your arms from the sun.
The best times, then, for viewing wildlife run from late December to late February and mid June to late September, these months being dry, the cover diminished, the game that much easier to see. This is true of most of Kenya, except the Lake Victoria basin, where there is a single dry season, running from October through to March. However, Kenya is proving vulnerable to climatic change.
Annual rainfall patterns are becoming less easy to predict, with both drought and unseasonable rains affecting everything from agricultural output to the movement of wildlife.
Average Monthly Temperatures & Rainfall:(In Fahrenheit and inches)
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75-85 | 55-65 | Minimal |
| February | 77-90 | 55-65 | Minimal |
| March | 80s | 55-65 | Moderate |
| April | 75-85 | 50s | Heavy |
| May | 75-80 | 50s | Heavy |
| June | 70s | 50s | Moderate |
| July | 70s | 50s | Minimal |
| August | 70s | 50s | Minimal |
| September | 75-85 | 55-65 | Minimal |
| October | 75-90 | 55-65 | Moderate |
| November | 75-85 | 55-65 | Moderate |
| December | 70-80 | 55-65 | Minimal |
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