Best time to visit Kenya for safaris

Kenya is one of the best safari destinations on the African continent and has a great deal of safari attractions and destinations. One of the frequently asked questions about Kenya safaris is the best time to visit the country. The answer to this question usually comes down to what you expect, the different seasons of safaris and what you want to do while on your safari.

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Kenya is an all year round safari destination and tourists can visit any time however, depending on several factors that we are going to discuss, you will be able to decide on the best time to visit Kenya for a safari.

The best time to carry out the different safari activities

All in all, the best time to visit Kenya for a safari depends on the different safari activities that you intend to participate in and below is a sample of the best time to carry out the different safari activities.

Best time for bird watching: The best time for bird watching in Kenya is during the wet season which is experienced from March to May and October to November.  The rains during this period sometimes cause floods although due to Kenya’s closeness to the equator, the weather changes at any time and the rains might not be received throughout the day. This is also known as the low season and if you are an ardent birder, this safari is good for you during the wet season.

Best time for a wildlife safari: The dry season which is experienced from December to January and October to November is the best time for a wildlife safari in the national parks and reserves of Kenya. The different animal species can easily be spotted gathering around the watering holes to cool down giving tourists a chance to spot a variety of wildlife.

Best time for a wildebeest migration: The wildebeest migration that takes place in Masai Mara is one of the most sought after safaris in Kenya where millions and thousands of wildebeests, gazelles, antelopes and zebras cross the Grumeti and Mara Rivers from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara in Kenya due to weather changes. Although the event is an all year round event, the wildebeests start gathering around the edge of the Mara River in anticipation of crossing the crocodile infested river around July. Thousands of people gather to witness the crossing but note that it must be booked in advance so as not to miss out. Always expect a high number of tourists around this time and the cost is also on the high end too as well especially when it comes to accommodation.

Best time for photography safaris: The rainy season in Kenya starts late October through November and March to May and this is the time when the thirsty landscapes spring to life with beautiful greenery vegetation. Many photographers tend to travel during this period also known as the low season because it is the best time for a photography safari with the unique and beautiful scenery across the country.

Best time for a hot air balloon ride: Hot air balloon rides are best carried out during the hot season because the rains usually disrupt the activity and heavy winds are not good for the hot air balloon ride. This is usually paid for differently and offered in Masai Mara Nature Reserve.

Best time to visit Kenya beaches: The best time to visit the beaches in Kenya for a safari is from June to October during the dry season. These months are the best because there is little or no rainfall to disrupt the tourists who plan to relax along the beaches and carry out activities which include snorkelling, sunbathing, sport fishing and boat rides.

Best time for a budget safari: The low season in Kenny is from October to November (the short rains) and March to May (long rains). During this period, few tourists visit Kenya and many of the safari services are reduced as well including accommodation, transport, and food among others. The rainy season is the best time to go for a budget safari in Kenya and although you will not be able to spot all the wildlife species, it is still a good time to carry out the different safari activities.

The most budget friendly time to travel to Kenya for a budget safari is from March to May. It is however faced with many negativities which include muddy rains, floods, heavy rainfall and inaccessible roads. Many of the safari camps in the country shut down as well.

The seasons of travel in Kenya

Kenya has three safari seasons and these are the peak season, shoulder season and low season. 

The low season: When you search about the low season which is also the rainy season in Kenya, many of the sites will tell you to avoid it but not us because there are so many activities that you can carry out during this period. The low season is from March to May with April having the heaviest rainfall and October to early December. When the rains are received, they do not take the whole day and the temperatures rarely drop below 26 degrees Celsius.

Wildlife viewing during the low season is not as good as it should be during the peak season and this is because the increased rainfalls lead to the vegetation becoming dense and water easily accessible to the animals hence you won’t be seeing much wildlife around the waterholes. However, the lack of animals is compensated for with good scenery for photography safaris and bird spotting.

The beauty of visiting Kenya during the low season is the absence of crowds and the low cost of the safari. Some accommodation facilities shut down completely whereas others offer discounts to attract more tourists during the low period.

The shoulder season: Also known as the off-peak season, this is considered to be one of the best times to visit Kenya for a safari. The off-shoulder season in Kenya is from September to October and during this period, you get to experience both the dry and wet season. Most of the wildlife can still be seen during this period as well.

The good thing about travelling to Kenya during the shoulder season is the fact that there is excellent value for money in a way that the camps and lodges reduce their costs, you still get to see all the wildlife without the crowds and there are special offers to attract more tourists.

The peak season: The peak season in Kenya is also the dry season and the best time to spot the different wildlife species. The peak season is from June to September and December to February and is characterized by large crowds of tourists, the high cost of the safari and numerous wildlife that can easily be spotted as they gather around the river banks and water holes. 

Some of the activities that are carried out in the different tourist destinations in the country include game drives, cultural trips, mountain climbing, guided nature walks, visiting the beaches and boat rides among others.

The best time to visit Kenya month-by-month

January and February

January and February are a hot and dry season in Kenya and many of the wildlife especially animals can easily be spotted gathering around the different watering holes and river banks in search of water to cool down. This makes a good time to go for a safari in Kenya because you not only get to spot the animals, but the migratory birds are still present during this period.

January usually falls in the dry season just right after the short rains and is considered to be one of the best months to visit Kenya for a safari. There is less rainfall, the national parks and reserves are usually quiet with few tourists, animals can be spotted easily because of the dry weather which forces them to gather around the watering holes and you should expect reasonable prices during this month.

February is considered to be one of the dries months in Kenya with an average of three days of rainfall the entire month. It is one of the best months for visiting Kenya and some of the destinations to look out for include Masai Mara, Samburu National Park, Nairobi National Park and many more others where you get to see animals like zebras, the big cats, migratory bird species, giraffes, elephants and antelopes among others. February is known as the predatory month with lots of herbivores to be hunted down.

March to May

March marks the end of the short dry season and the beginning of the long rainy season not only in Kenya but the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The rains in Kenya start with high temperatures and good visibility of the wildlife in the different national parks, although the landscapes start changing with greenery due to the consistent rains. During this period, the great wildebeest migration is still absent in the country and the animals start spreading out which makes it hard to spot the wildlife. Note that some of the lodges and camps have started closing down in anticipation of the rains.

April is the wettest month in Kenya and has long rains characterized by flooding. The month is characterized by clouds in the sky throughout the month, lush vegetation which means there are more places where the animals can hide making it hard to spot the wildlife. The long rains lead to muddy and slippery roads, and inaccessible roads and some of the safari activities cannot be carried out including mountain climbing among others. If possible, avoid the month of April because of the heavy rains. Mosquitoes are quite many during this period and lodges and camps offer low season rates to all types of tourists.

May is also an extremely wet month and marks the end of the long rainy season in Kenya. You should expect a lot of rainfall during this period and for all tourists travelling on a budget, and interested in bird watching, and photography safaris, this is the best time to visit Kenya. The accommodation facilities still offer low season rates in Kenya.

June to September

June marks the end of the wet season and the beginning of the dry and peak season. This marks the beginning of the busy season although the first few months of the season are still wet but as you get to the middle of June, the dry season starts. It is an excellent time to spot the different wildlife in the different national parks, go mountain climbing, guided nature walks, visit the beaches and cultural trips among others.

July ushers in the dry season officially with the scarcity of water and thinning of the vegetation making the sighting of the different wild species much easier. July is the best time to catch a glimpse of the roaming wildlife in the national parks and reserves and it also coincides with the wildebeest migration. The Mara crossings happen in mid-July and therefore expect large crowds during this time. The cost of the safari is also high in July and all tourists are advised to book their safari in advance.

August and September are the peak season for Kenyan safaris. August has a low humidity and little rainfall making it one of the best months to visit Kenya. The accommodation rates in both months are high, you get to see almost all the wildlife species in the parks but expect large crowds who come to witness the Great wildebeest migration. The high rates are constant throughout till mid-October when the short rainy season starts.

October to November

October is still a peak season in some parts of the country whereas others start on the wet season. It is advisable that you arrive earlier in the month to enjoy wildlife spotting and the wildebeest migration as some herds can still be seen in Masai Mara in October. The concentration of the wildlife is around the river banks and the watering holes making it easy to spot and enjoy the wildlife.

November is characterized by rains and marks the beginning of the short rainy season. There are few clusters of animals around the watering holes during this period and the accommodation prices are low as compared to the previous months. It is best however to still book in advance or join the November safari with the oncoming holidays.

December

December is a festive month and marks the start of the peak season. The Christmas holidays attract a large number of tourists in the different safari destinations so you should expect large crowds and a hike in the general cost of the safari.

In conclusion, Kenya can be visited all year round depending on the safari activities you wish to engage in. Contact us to help you organize your Kenya safari all year round.