Dec → Feb
28 to 30°
nights 16°
- 11 rainy days · 69 mm
When is the best time to visit Masai Mara?
- Jan28°recommended
- Feb30°recommended
- Mar29°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 Masai Mara, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 16° | 79 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| February | 30° | 16° | 45 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 16° | 80 mm | 11 d | |
| April | 27° | 16° | 138 mm | 18 d | |
| May | 27° | 16° | 66 mm | 10 d | |
| June | 27° | 15° | 37 mm | 7 d | |
| July | 27° | 15° | 15 mm | 4 d | ✓ |
| August | 28° | 15° | 23 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| September | 29° | 16° | 33 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| October | 30° | 16° | 54 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| November | 28° | 16° | 110 mm | 15 d | |
| December | 28° | 16° | 83 mm | 13 d |
The four seasons in Masai Mara, 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 29°
nights 16°
- 13 rainy days · 95 mm
Jun → Aug
27 to 28°
nights 15°
- 5 rainy days · 25 mm
Sep → Nov
28 to 30°
nights 16°
- 10 rainy days · 66 mm
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 Masai Mara, month by month
EventsGreat MigrationJuly to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Masai Mara, 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 big crowds
Wildebeest from the Serengeti arrive in the reserve and cross the Mara in droves, watched by crocodiles.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended28°16° at night
- 79 mm · 12 d
High season, book early
February
Recommended30°16° at night
- 45 mm · 8 d
High season, book early
March
Fair29°16° at night
- 80 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended27°16° at night
- 138 mm · 18 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended27°16° at night
- 66 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair27°15° at night
- 37 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Recommended27°15° at night
- 15 mm · 4 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended28°15° at night
- 23 mm · 5 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended29°16° at night
- 33 mm · 6 d
High season, book early
October
Recommended30°16° at night
- 54 mm · 9 d
High season, book early
November
Fair28°16° at night
- 110 mm · 15 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair28°16° at night
- 83 mm · 13 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (79 mm). High season: book early.
February. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (45 mm). High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (80 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. A very wet month, 138 mm of rain over 18 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 37 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 15 mm over 4 days. High season: book early.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 23 mm over 5 days. High season: book early.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 33 mm over 6 days. High season: book early.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (54 mm). High season: book early.
November. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 110 mm over 15 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (83 mm). 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 Masai Mara?
January to February and July to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 27 to 30 °C, with 7 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Masai Mara Reserve).
Which month should you avoid in Masai Mara?
April: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 138 mm over 18 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Masai Mara Reserve).
What is the hottest month in Masai Mara?
February, 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 Masai Mara?
April, with 27 °C at best during the day and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Masai Mara Reserve).
What is the driest month in Masai Mara?
July: 15 mm over 4 days of rain, against 138 mm in April, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Masai Mara?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in February: 30 °C in the afternoon, 16 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Masai Mara?
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.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Masai Mara guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Kenya: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Balazs Simon / Pexels · Alex Wafula / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Bushland Adventure Travel / Pexels · Wladimir Kühne / Pexels · John Mburu / Pexels