Kenya Travel Guide Best Time To Visit
Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.
The best months for visiting Kenya (and the best time for wildlife viewing) are during the Dry season from June to October. The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Masai Mara in July or August and remains in Kenya throughout September. It starts moving back to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park around October. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ for some parks, depending on the rains. There is a dry spell between the rains in January and February that is also a great time to visit.
June to October Dry Season
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Wildlife is easier to spot because the bush is thin and animals gather around water
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It's unlikely to rain – the days are sunny with clear skies
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There are fewer mosquitoes
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August to October are the best months to see the wildebeest migration
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It gets very busy and crowded in the most popular parks
November to May Wet Season
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The scenery is beautiful and green
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Rates drop because it's the low season
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Newborn animals can be seen
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Migratory birds are present from November to April
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Except for March to May, rains are usually just short showers in the afternoon
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During March to May the rains can be continuous
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Some lodges and camps close down during part of the Wet season
Wildlife Photos
Lioness carrying her cub
© Maggy MeyerBuffalo herd
© Vladislav BelchenkoKirk's dik-dik
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBuffalo bulls
© Marius DobilasPortrait of a lioness
© Maggy MeyerFemale leopard lying in a tree
© Maggy MeyerPlains zebras fighting
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBaby African elephant
© Ariadne van ZandbergenStriped hyena cub
© Ariadne van ZandbergenCheetah
© Ariadne van ZandbergenTopi standing on a termite mound
© brittakReticulated giraffes
© Rich CareyElephant walking
© Traci BeattieVon der Decken's hornbill perched on a branch
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBlack rhino
© CHARUVILA GANGADHARAN SAJEEVKUMARWildebeest running in the annual migration
© Pisit RapitpuntWildebeest crossing the Mara River during the great migration
© Jane RixLeopard hunting
© UrmasPhotoComCheetah with cubs
© William DaviesMale lion standing in tall grass
© William DaviesCheetah standing on a termite mound to look for prey
© William DaviesBlack rhino
© Ariadne van ZandbergenCheetah feeding on a wildebeest
© Harry Collins PhotographyElephant under a stormy sky
© Harry Collins PhotographyMasai giraffes
© Danita DelimontMasai giraffe with young
© Joe McDonaldYoung male impalas grooming
© Svilana TkachPlains zebras
© Ariadne van ZandbergenGrant's gazelle
© Ariadne van ZandbergenCommon eland
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBuffalo
© Ariadne van ZandbergenTwo white rhinos
© andamanseRhinos grazing
© JavarmanLesser flamingos
© Ariadne van ZandbergenSpotted hyena with flamingo kill
© Michael PolizaBack and white colobus at Elsamere Lodge
© Ariadne van ZandbergenHippo yawning
© pchouiWaterbuck standing in the water
© oyaboyaHippo in the water
© TheBionicDanGiraffe portrait
© wrangelGrant's gazelle
© Ariadne van ZandbergenJackson's hartebeest
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBlack-backed jackal in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
© Ariadne van ZandbergenElephant bull in front of Mt Kilimanjaro
© GraemesHerd of elephants at sunset
© Graeme ShannonBlack-and-white colobus
© Ariadne van ZandbergenLeopard
© Tomas Hulik ARTpointYoung elephant bull walking on the road
© CK-TravelPhotosAfrican wild cat
© Ariadne van ZandbergenPair of lions
© Sergey Novikov Best Time To Go by Major Park
The Masai Mara National Reserve offers great wildlife viewing throughout the year. In the peak of the rainy season, most other parks, especially in the highlands and along the coast, can be problematic with regards to heat, humidity and continuous rain. Some of the lodges and camps close as a result. The dry months offer quality wildlife viewing throughout Kenya.
- Amboseli National Park
- Buffalo Springs NR
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Masai Mara NR
- Samburu National Reserve
- Tsavo East National Park
- Tsavo West National Park