Best time to visit Kenya: weather and seasons by month

Kenya runs on two rainy seasons: the long rains (March–May) and the short rains (roughly late October–December). Between them sit the two safari windows, January–February and June–October. The table below gives the verdict, crowd level and price band for each month, with the one-line reason.

Use it as a filter, not a rule. A wet month in the Mara is not the same as a wet month in Samburu, and the coast behaves differently again.

The Mara and the south-west (Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakuru) are best in January–February and July–October. Migration herds are in the Mara roughly July–October. April–May rains soften roads and close some camps.

The central highlands and Nairobi are mild all year at about 1,700 m. June–August evenings are cold, so pack a fleece. September–October is the most reliable window.

The southern savanna (Amboseli, Tsavo East and West) is dry and dusty, with the clearest Kilimanjaro views on early dry-season mornings. The northern drylands (Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkana) are semi-arid and hot; June–September and December are the strongest months.

On the coast (Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamu) it is humid year-round. The heaviest rain falls April–June and some hotels close in May. January–February, September–October and December are the better beach months.

Kenya's price curve is steep. July–September and the Christmas period are peak: lodge rates climb, the Mara park fee rises to US$200 a day from 1 July, and August bookings are commonly made 6–12 months ahead. March–May and November are the low season, when the same camps discount heavily and parks empty out.

Shoulder months are the value play. Late June gives dry-season conditions while the Mara reserve is still on the low fee until 30 June. October keeps the herds and the crossings but sheds some family traffic. For a full breakdown of what things cost, see the cost of travel in Kenya page.

Holidays move domestic demand, not international prices. Easter fills Naivasha and coast resorts with Nairobi families, and Mombasa and Lamu are busy at the end of Ramadan. Christmas week is the single most expensive coast window.

Rain in Kenya usually means afternoon or evening showers rather than all-day downpour, but the long rains can close dirt airstrips and make park roads difficult. If you travel in April or May, build in a buffer day before an international flight and confirm your camp is open.

Safari timing matters more than the calendar: game viewing is best in the first hours after dawn and the last hour before dusk, in every season. In the dry months animals concentrate around water; in the green months the landscape is lush and photography is easier, but sightings are more scattered.

Pack layers for the highlands and Nairobi, sun protection for the coast and the northern drylands, and a light rain shell in the shoulder months. File your eTA at least a week before you fly, whatever month you choose.