When is the best time to visit Kenya?

17.11.2023 - 14:53 / lonelyplanet.com

With about half the country on either side of the equator, Kenya’s climate isn’t a straightforward split of dry and wet seasons. In fact, its dry season has a short wet season, and its wet season is interrupted by a dry one – clear as mud, right?

What this means practically is there’s not exactly a single best time to visit Kenya. There is somewhere ideal to visit at any time of year, but for the Great Migration, bird migration or quality diving, you’ll need to pick specific months.

For climbers, the dry season is prime time for safety and visibility. Temperatures are generally consistent across Kenya, with the coast hotter – but humidity can vary. It can get cold in the mountains, and Kenya’s highest peak, Mt Kenya, is always covered in snow.

This East African nation counts more than 42 Indigenous communities in its population of nearly 54 million people, and many festivals and events explore this diversity – from the Lamu Cultural Festival celebrating the archipelago’s Swahili heritage and the exuberant Mombasa Carnival to the diverse gathering that is the Lake Turkana Festival.

If the wildebeest migration is on your must-see list, head to the Masai Mara from July onward to observe one of nature’s greatest sights – thousands of wildebeest, zebras and giraffes making the move across the Serengeti.

These high-season months are an enjoyable time to visit any of Kenya’s parks because the grass is thin, there’s little rainfall and sightings are easier as animals congregate around waterholes; they're also climber-friendly because of good visibility and lack of rain. July is also a good time to spot huge flocks of pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru.

Much like July, August is one of the best all-around months to visit Kenya, but it’s a busy time. The Great Migration is well and truly underway, and wildebeest are filling the plains of the Masai Mara. If you’re not in the Mara, August is an excellent time to visit other national parks and conservancies around Kenya.

You can also visit Nairobi without the humid stickiness that makes urban exploring harder work. The capital’s food scene is popping, and Nairobi Restaurant Week is a chance to get your fill. For a hyper-local experience in Samburu County in northern Kenya, the one-day Maralal Camel Derby is a colorful display of camels, costumes and culture.

September offers the best of July and August in terms of weather and wildlife but with slightly fewer crowds, especially in the latter part of the month. You can still catch the migration as hot, dry weather sets in, and there’s almost no chance of rain. It's also when the East African Community Arts Festival JAMAFEST takes place. It’s every two years and rotates between East African nations.

Nairobi hosts the Tusker Safari