Kenya is a classic African safari destination. Known for destinations like Mount Kenya and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a safari in Kenya promises a truly unforgettable experience and the chance to see many of the continent’s most famous wildlife.
There are two dry and two wet seasons throughout the year in Kenya, with the former often being the busiest times for tourism because the weather conditions make it easier to spot wildlife when the landscape isn’t as green or thick. But the rainy times of year in Kenya are still a stunning time to visit the national parks and also offer a quieter experience with better deals on travel and accommodation.
There are plenty of things to consider when it comes to deciding when is the best time to go to Kenya for a safari. In this article, we break it down by month to help you decide.
The best months to visit Kenya really depend on which part of the country you’re planning to visit, as the weather conditions and things to do vary quite a bit depending on whether you’re in the north, the south or by the coast. But if you’re planning a safari holiday, the best time to go to Kenya is between July and October when the weather is warm and dry and then wildlife in the country is easiest to spot.
It’s worth noting that these months of the year are the peak season for tourism in Kenya, which means that a lot of the popular national parks and safari camps are going to be very busy. School holidays in particular are a very popular time for families to visit Kenya on safari, so if you’d prefer a less crowded experience of the country’s landscape, you might prefer to visit at a different time of year.
If you’re trying to visit Kenya on more of a budget, or would rather see the scenery when it’s thick and green, then planning a trip between November and June will give you a better experience. Months like January and February offer good weather conditions without an excessive number of other tourists, whilst November, April and May are some of the wettest months of the year and therefore the quietest time to experience a safari.
January kicks off the year with quite a busy month for safaris in Kenya, with perfect weather for spending time outdoors meaning that plenty of people plan a safari. You’ll enjoy brilliant conditions for exploring the plains or even hiking through the landscape, but you may be sharing your tour and the parks with many other visitors.
Don’t let the potential busyness put you off however, as the weather in Kenya in January is one of the things that makes this month such a popular time of year for safaris. It’s hot and dry with average high temperatures inland of around 28°C, but unlike in the summer, the temperatures stay relatively mild overnight.
February is one of the driest months in Kenya, so it’s considered to be the best time of year to go on a safari if you want to spend as much of your time as possible exploring the parks. With minimal chances of rain and very dry vegetation, this is an ideal time to spot wildlife in Kenya.
It’s another very busy month for tourism, but if you don’t mind the crowds and peak season prices, it’s a brilliant time to visit. Average high temperatures are 28°C during the day, dropping to around 11°C in the evenings. If you’re visiting the mountains in Kenya as part of your trip then these locations get very chilly at night, so be prepared if you’re staying at a safari camp.
The weather in Kenya in March is the same as the previous months for the first few weeks. But as the month progresses, conditions grow wetter and more humid and rains start to arrive in the national parks, which can impact roads and make game drives more difficult.
If you’re looking to visit Kenya in March for a safari then plan your trip at the start of the month for the best possible conditions to see wildlife and admire the scenery.
Average temperatures can increase to around 28°C at their peak, which will feel warmer because of the humidity, so it’s a good time to visit if you like the heat!
April is a relatively wet month in Kenya, which means it’s not one of the best times to go on safari in Africa if you’re aiming to spot as much wildlife as possible. The wet weather means that the vegetation is thicker, so animals are harder to spot, but this also means that game drives and safari camps are much less busy and enjoying a tour by yourself is much more likely.
The temperature in Kenya in April drops as the month progresses, with an average of around 25°C inland. It’s also quite humid at this time of year, so mosquitos are out in full force.
May is solidly in the rainy season in Kenya, so you can expect showers most afternoons during the month. This wet weather means that there’s a riot of vegetation across the plains in the national parks, providing incredible photo opportunities but making it harder to spot wildlife.
The average temperature in Kenya in May reaches around 24°C, with the rainy weather providing a slightly cooler climate. The rain also stops the majority of tourists visiting the national parks, so whilst it’s not the best time of year to go on safari, it’s a great time to visit if you’re looking for an off-season experience.
The end of June is one of the best times of year to visit Kenya for all kinds of holidays, and safaris are a great activity if you’re in the country. It’s a shoulder season for tourism, so if you plan your visit at the end of the month then you’ll enjoy brilliant weather conditions without too many other visitors in the national parks.
The rainy season comes to an end by the middle of June in Kenya with chances of wet weather decreasing, particularly in the north of the country. Temperatures stay cool with an average high of 24°C and it’s still quite cloudy, but your safari expeditions are less likely to get interrupted by rain as the month progresses.
Many people consider July to be the best time for a safari in Kenya if you’re looking for an unforgettable summer holiday. The weather is warm and dry without getting overly hot, and the proximity to the rainy season means the landscape will still be quite lush, providing a very picturesque setting for game drives.
It’s the peak season for safaris in Kenya in July, so bear that in mind when you’re booking your trip. With average highs of 23°C, it’s a great time of year to enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible, particularly in places like Maasai Mara where the Great Migration is just beginning.
If you’re hoping to catch The Great Migration then August is the best time to go on safari in Kenya. Plenty of species travel across the country to Maasai Mara, providing some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities that you’ll get all year.
The weather in Kenya in August is also optimal for safari trips and game drives, with fairly limited rain and high temperatures of around 24°C. At night the temperature can drop to 10°C, so make sure you’ve packed enough layers to be comfortable at all times of the day.
If you’re looking for peak-season weather without the peak-season crowds then September is the best time for a safari in Kenya, especially towards the end of the month. Aside from in the mountains, there’s only a handful of rain showers in September and the weather is increasingly warm as the skies grow clearer and humidity decreases.
The average high temperature in Kenya in September is 25°C, with cold conditions in the evening that can reach 9°C overnight. Some parks and safari camps will still be quite busy, but it’s a little quieter than previous months and there are still plenty of chances of spotting Kenya’s most impressive wildlife.
If you’re looking for the best time to visit Kenya in the shoulder season for tourism then October is an excellent choice. You’ll want to make sure you visit at the start of the month however, as the chance of rain quickly increases from about halfway through the month.
Rain showers in Kenya in October are more common as November approaches, but are usually pretty light and won’t impact the temperature, which hovers between 17°C and 25°C. It’ll get harder to see the animals in the national parks once the rain has started and the plants and trees start to grow faster, which is another reason to plan your visit early.
November is known as one of the rainiest months of the year in Kenya, especially in the more mountainous areas of the country. It’s not as popular for safari holidays because of the high chance of wet weather, but if you’re hoping for off-season prices then you can get some great deals at this time of year.
The weather isn’t consistently wet in November in Kenya, so you’ll likely still get some days of good safari weather if you’re visiting. It’s very quiet in the national parks in November as well, which is ideal if you like to visit places in the off-season.
The wet weather from November continues into the first half of December, but as the year comes to an end the frequency of these showers tails off and conditions become much more favourable for safaris. This is mirrored in the increase in visitors that Kenya’s national parks get as the month progresses, as travellers arrive to make the most of the good conditions for spotting wildlife.
Christmas is usually the busiest time of the month for tourism as people visit Kenya over the holiday season, and New Year is quite a popular time as well. The average high temperature in December in Kenya is 25°C, hovering around 19ºC most of the time during the day and dropping down to a chilly 10°C at night.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to going on a safari in Kenya, from Samburu and Lake Nakuru National Park to Laikipia and the classic Masai Mara. Whether you choose to visit in the peak season and make the most of the perfect conditions or enjoy a quieter atmosphere and grab a great deal at a different time of year, it’s one of the most popular places for a safari for good reason.
If you’re looking for more advice on safari holidays or African travel destinations like Kenya, check out our Africa Travel Guide and read more recommendations for what to do and when to visit.
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