Every season in Kenya is safari season. There is no bad time to visit. But depending on what you want to see, how much you want to spend, and how many other tourists you want around, some months are clearly better than others.
We run safaris from Diani Beach every week of the year. Here is what we have learned from five years and over a thousand trips.
The Quick Answer
The best overall months for a Kenya safari are July through October. The weather is dry, the grass is short (easier to spot animals), and the Great Migration is in the Maasai Mara. But these are also the busiest and most expensive months.
The best value months are April, May, and early June — the green season. Prices drop by 30 to 40 percent, landscapes are stunning, and the parks are quiet. You will get rained on occasionally, but game drives still happen every day.
Month-by-Month Breakdown
| Month | Weather | Wildlife | Crowds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Hot & dry | Medium | Mid | |
| February | Hot & dry | Medium | Mid | |
| March | Warm, light rain | Low | Low | |
| April | Long rains | Very low | Lowest | |
| May | Long rains ending | Very low | Lowest | |
| June | Dry, cooling | Low-Medium | Mid | |
| July | Cool & dry | High | Peak | |
| August | Cool & dry | Very high | Peak | |
| September | Dry, warming | High | Peak | |
| October | Short rains start | Medium | Mid-High | |
| November | Short rains | Low | Low | |
| December | Dry, warm | High (holidays) | Peak |
The Great Migration: When and Where
The Great Migration is the single biggest draw to the Maasai Mara. Around two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a continuous loop between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Mara. The herds typically arrive in the Mara between mid-July and stay until late October.
The dramatic Mara River crossings — where thousands of wildebeest plunge into crocodile-infested waters — happen on no fixed schedule. They depend on rain, grass, and herd pressure. But your best chances are in August and September.
September is often the sweet spot: the herds are firmly in the Mara, crossings are happening regularly, and there are slightly fewer tourists than in August.
Best Time by Destination
Maasai Mara
Year-round excellent, but July to October for the Migration. January and February are great for big cat sightings with fewer crowds.
Amboseli
Best from June to October and January to February. The dry months offer the clearest views of Kilimanjaro and the best elephant photography.
Tsavo East & West
Best from June to October. The red elephants of Tsavo are visible year-round, but the dry season concentrates wildlife around waterholes.
Diani Beach
Best from December to March and June to October. Water temperatures are warm year-round. The short rains in November are brief and rarely spoil a beach day.
Lamu Island
Best from December to March. The dhow sailing and snorkelling are best when seas are calm. The Lamu Cultural Festival in November is worth timing your visit around.
How Weather Actually Affects Your Safari
Rain in Kenya is not like rain in Europe or North America. It rarely rains all day. A typical rainy season pattern is: sunny morning, clouds building by 2 PM, a heavy downpour for 30 to 60 minutes, then clear skies again. Game drives run every day, rain or shine.
The real impact of rain is on roads. Some tracks in the Mara become muddy in April and May, but a good 4x4 with an experienced driver handles them without issue. We have never cancelled a safari due to weather.
Our Recommendation
If it is your first time in Kenya and budget is not the primary concern, come in September. You get the Migration, excellent weather, slightly fewer crowds than August, and the light is golden for photography.
If you want the best value, come in June. The dry season has started, the Migration herds are beginning to arrive, and prices are still mid-season.
If you want total solitude, come in May. You will have the parks nearly to yourself, and the landscape is impossibly green and beautiful.
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Start Planning →Written by the Almond Safaris team from our headquarters in Diani Beach, Kenya. We run safaris to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, and across Kenya's coast every week of the year. Ask us anything.