Best Time to Visit Kenya

On this page, you will find information about the climate and the best time to visit Kenya. We created climate tables and charts for the locations of Nairobi und Mombasa. These contain details about temperatures, precipitation and more.

Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Kenya for your holiday.

Climate Overview

When to travel to Kenya?

The so-called dry season in Kenya, i.e. the periods with the lowest rainfall, generally lasts from mid-December to mid-March and from June to October inclusive. Both periods are considered the best travel time in Kenya, both for bathing holidays and wildlife watching on safari. While the beaches now offer the best conditions, the Indian Ocean shines in its most beautiful blue and the snow-white sand offers the perfect backdrop, the reserves and national parks are rather lacking water.

But it is precisely this drought that causes the animals to gather at rivers, lakes and waterholes, giving you the best opportunities for extraordinary discoveries. The phenomenal natural phenomenon of “Big Migration”, i.e. the large herd migration of thousands and thousands of wildebeests and zebras from the Serengeti in Tanzania into the fertile expanses of the Masai Mara, usually takes place between July and September.

However, we expressly point out that due to unforeseeable dry periods or particularly heavy rainfall, the migration is by no means exactly calculable. On the coast, however, you have almost a guarantee for a dream holiday, 8 to 9 hours of sunshine will inspire you as much as the warmth of the Kenyans and the high service quality of many hotels. Did you know that Diani Beach has already been awarded several times as the most beautiful beach in the whole of Africa and could even leave island paradises like Zanzibar behind?

Perhaps you should get your own impression of the beauty of the region at the best travel time, you will certainly not regret it! But don’t worry: the so-called “rainy season” is by no means a drama either, mostly short but strong showers in the evening or night hours. It rarely rains continuously for several days, shortly after the downpours the sun comes out again and you can enjoy the very special atmosphere (at great low season prices) to the fullest.

Best Time to Visit the Regions

Find the best time to visit the regions (Kenya) in the following overview.

Location	Best Time to Travel
Nairobi	all except April, May, November, and December
Mombasa	all except April, May, October, and November
Diani Beach	January, February, March, July, August, and September
Masai Mara	January, February, March, July, August, September, and October

Climate Charts Kenya

In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.

Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.

Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia

Climate Tables Kenya

In the following, you will find some climate tables for Kenya, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.

Highlights and sights

The most popular region for bathing holidays on Kenya’s sun-kissed coast is undoubtedly the world-famous Diani Beach on the south coast, which has become the epitome of a tropical holiday paradise. Nearby, the Kisite-Mpungutium marine reserve on Wasini Island is an ideal destination for a day trip and is not only popular with divers and snorkellers. Again and again the boats are accompanied by playful dolphins who jump through the waves full of joy. On the north coast of Kenya are the equally impressive towns of Malindi, Watamu and Kilifi, as well as beautiful beaches such as Vipingo and Shanzu.

For active holidaymakers, safari fans and nature lovers, Kenya offers mountain areas such as the evergreen vastness of the Aberdares or Mount Kenya National Park with countless hiking routes and impressive flora and fauna. The most popular safari reserves in Kenya include Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park just west of Amboseli National Park – world-famous for its incomparable elephant photos against the majestic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Masai Mara remains the flagship of the Serengeti ecosystem, and bird enthusiasts will love the Rift Valles lakes (Lake Naivasha, Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, among others).

We would like to recommend two special tips: The rather unknown parks in northern Kenya are breathtakingly beautiful and offer unbelievable experiences due to the comparatively low number of visitors. Especially Samburu and the neighbouring areas of Buffalo Springs and Shaba are real insider tips! If you are more interested in a seaside holiday on the coast, but would like to gain some cautious experience with a safari, then we recommend the Shimba Hills. Just a 45-minute drive from Diani Beach, you’ll get a real jungle feeling and with a little luck, you’ll see the first wild elephants, gazelles or giraffes of your life in no time. It’s a great start!

Current Weather and Forecast

Important Regions and Cities

We have extended climate information for the following regions:

Destinations in the Vicinity …