Tsavo East National Park

Weather & Climate

235 Tsavo East Safaris

Expert

By Anthony Ham

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Climate Chart Tsavo East National Park – 171-845m / 561-2,772ft

Visitors to Tsavo East National Park can expect a hot, dry climate. The average temperature varies between 31°C/88°F during the day and 20°C/68°F at night. In most years, rainfall peaks in April and November during the long and short rains, respectively. Rain tends to fall as short, heavy showers.

Dry Season –June to October

The Dry season months are the coolest. Days are full of sunshine and there is very little rain.

June & July – Days are normally sunny. Average afternoon temperatures are around 29°C/84°F.
August & September – The average September temperature is 29°C/84°F, although it does get much hotter.
October – It is hot and humid in October, and temperatures increase prior to the rain.

Wet Season –November to May

The short rains and the long rains are separated by a drier, hotter couple of months in January and February. Road conditions are at their worst in April and May.

November & December – ‘Short rains’ – November is one of the wettest months of the year. Rain generally doesn’t last all day, but expect afternoon storms. The average daytime temperature is 31°C/88°F.
January & February – These months see a break between the rains. The exact duration of this dry period is difficult to predict. February is reliably the hottest month. It has an average in the afternoon of 32°C/90°F with higher peaks.
March, April & May – ‘Long rains’ – The long rains usually begin in late March. It hardly ever rains all day, but fleeting afternoon showers should be expected. April receives the most rainfall during this period. Temperatures in the afternoon are about 32°C/90°F.