Dec → Feb
27 to 28°
nights 15°
- 12 rainy days · 91 mm
- 11 h of sun
- sea 28°
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
In short: July to October for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, in the height of the dry season, and January and February for a short, quieter dry season. August remains the best compromise for seeing the Mara River crossings, with only 32 mm of rain in the reserve, against 126 mm in April.
- The Great Migration: From late July to October, wildebeest from the Serengeti fill the Masai Mara; the river crossings peak in July and August.
- The herds head back: In October, the first rains arrive and, from November, the wildebeest take the road back to the Serengeti: the end of the migration season.
- The short dry season: In January and February, between the short rains at the end of the year and the long rains of March, for parks less busy than in August.
- Birds and the green season: From March to May, the long rains turn the savannah green and offer the best period for birdwatching, with cheaper lodges.
Best avoided: April and May: the heart of the long rains, with 126 mm over 17 days in April in the Masai Mara, muddy tracks and some areas of the reserve hard to reach.
Sources: masaimara.com, masaimara.com, diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Jan27°recommended
- Feb28°recommended
- Mar28°fair
- Apr27°not recommended
- May27°not recommended
- Jun27°fair
- Jul27°recommended
- Aug28°recommended
- Sep29°recommended
- Oct30°recommended
- Nov28°fair
- Dec28°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Kenya, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 15° | 10.9 h | 114 mm | 14 d | 28° | ✓ |
| February | 28° | 15° | 11.3 h | 70 mm | 11 d | 28° | ✓ |
| March | 28° | 16° | 11.1 h | 100 mm | 13 d | 29° | |
| April | 27° | 16° | 10.2 h | 126 mm | 17 d | 29° | |
| May | 27° | 15° | 10.7 h | 63 mm | 11 d | 28° | |
| June | 27° | 15° | 10.7 h | 24 mm | 4 d | 28° | |
| July | 27° | 14° | 10.5 h | 14 mm | 4 d | 27° | ✓ |
| August | 28° | 15° | 10.4 h | 32 mm | 5 d | 26° | ✓ |
| September | 29° | 15° | 10.8 h | 44 mm | 7 d | 27° | ✓ |
| October | 30° | 16° | 10.8 h | 26 mm | 5 d | 27° | ✓ |
| November | 28° | 16° | 10.5 h | 127 mm | 16 d | 28° | |
| December | 28° | 15° | 10.7 h | 88 mm | 12 d | 29° |
The four seasons in Kenya, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Masai Mara Reserve) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
27 to 28°
nights 15 to 16°
- 14 rainy days · 96 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 29°
Jun → Aug
27 to 28°
nights 14 to 15°
- 4 rainy days · 23 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 27°
Sep → Nov
28 to 30°
nights 15 to 16°
- 9 rainy days · 66 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 27°
Book early for January to February and July to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Kenya, month by month
EventsGreat Migration in the Masai MaraJuly to OctoberLamu Cultural FestivalNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: February, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Kenya, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- July to OctoberGreat Migration in the Masai Mara big crowds
The wildebeest arrive from the Serengeti and cross the Mara River between July and October, watched by crocodiles lying in wait at the crossings.
- NovemberLamu Cultural Festival
Dhow races, Swahili poetry contests and donkey parades in the lanes of Lamu, over a few days in November.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Kenya, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇰🇪 Masai Mara | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
| 🇰🇪 Mombasa | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended27°15° at night
- 114 mm · 14 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
February
Recommended28°15° at night
- 70 mm · 11 d
- 11.3 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
March
Fair28°16° at night
- 100 mm · 13 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended27°16° at night
- 126 mm · 17 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended27°15° at night
- 63 mm · 11 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair27°15° at night
- 24 mm · 4 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
July
Recommended27°14° at night
- 14 mm · 4 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
August
Recommended28°15° at night
- 32 mm · 5 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 26°
High season, book early
September
Recommended29°15° at night
- 44 mm · 7 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
October
Recommended30°16° at night
- 26 mm · 5 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
November
Fair28°16° at night
- 127 mm · 16 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair28°15° at night
- 88 mm · 12 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 29°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Frequent rain: 114 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (100 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. A very wet month, 126 mm of rain over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 24 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 27 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Rain stays light: 14 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 32 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 44 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
November. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 127 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (88 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
July to October for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, in the height of the dry season, and January and February for a short, quieter dry season. August remains the best compromise for seeing the Mara River crossings, with only 32 mm of rain in the reserve, against 126 mm in April.
Which month should you avoid in Kenya?
April and May: the heart of the long rains, with 126 mm over 17 days in April in the Masai Mara, muddy tracks and some areas of the reserve hard to reach.
What is the hottest month in Kenya?
October, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Masai Mara Reserve).
What is the coldest month in Kenya?
January, with 27 °C at best during the day and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Masai Mara Reserve).
What is the driest month in Kenya?
July: 14 mm over 4 days of rain, against 127 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Kenya?
February, with 11.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Kenya?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in September: 29 °C in the afternoon, 15 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in Kenya?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 26 to 29 °C depending on the month (warmest in March), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Diani Beach).
When is the best time to hike in Kenya?
June, July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Masai Mara Reserve), the safest windows for walking.
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Photos: Bushland Adventure Travel / Pexels · Alex Wafula / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Jos van Ouwerkerk / Pexels · Nunzio Guerrera / Pexels · Sanjeed Quazi / Pexels · Nirav Shah / Pexels · Mukula Igavinchi / Pexels