What is the best time to visit Kenya
Kenya has a definite peak tourism season, but that is not the only the best time to visit Kenya. In case you want to go on safari and witness the great migration or climb Mt Kenya, you will be restricted to specific months. Otherwise there are benefits to coming at other times of the year, even though the big rain season is the best avoided.
Kenya’s wildlife parks can be visited throughout the year; however the best wildlife viewing is seen during the dry seasons from January to March and July to October. The second dry season coincides with the phenomenal spectacle of the great wildebeest Migration.
During this migration, millions of wildebeest, zebras and antelopes come through Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti, resulting in one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles in the world. Those who are looking for a combination of a safari to both Kenya and Tanzania will definitely want to travel at this time.
Lake Nakuru is the best visited in the dry season as the rains can interfere with game drives during the wettest months. Likewise the visitors to Amboseli are recommended to visit Kenya in the drier months as the best time to visit. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli are hit and miss, but your best chance is early morning or late afternoon in the months of November to May, when the sky is clear of dust. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli are hit and miss, but your best chance is early morning or late afternoon in the months of November to May, when the sky is clear of dust.
There is the great wildebeest Migration in Kenya; these are the endless plains of East Africa and are the setting for the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle, the thrashing of more than 6 million hooves during the great Migration. From Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara over 1 million wildebeest, 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle and some 200,000 zebras, persistently tracked by Africa’s great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1800 miles each year in search of rain ripened grass.
The exact timing of this incredible event is hard to predict, as the path of the wildebeest migration is dependent on rain. The animals follow the path of the rain in order to feed off the new grass whilst also being close to a good water supply. In case you like to visit Kenya or Tanzania to watch the great event then you need to time the season with the best time to visit Kenya being July to September.
The best time to visit Kenya’s beaches
The coastal regions of Kenya, from Diani and Mombasa to Malindi as well as the northern islands of the Lamu Archipelago, tend to experience hot and humid weather year round. However, the temperatures and rainfall are at their highest between mid-March and May, so if you are planning a beach break with your safari in Kenya, the its not the best time to visit Kenya thus consider visiting outside of these months.
Those that are keen on snorkeling or diving should visit in the months of October, November and March for the clearest seas. The local marine life includes crabs, star fish, turtles and variety of colorful corals. Kenya’s tropical waters are also famous for hosting migrating whale sharks, particularly around Diani Beach. Between October to April, whale hark safaris offer you the chance to see these gentle giants’ in an unspoilt environment.
Best time to Climb Mount Kenya:
Kenya’s two dry seasons are viewed as the best times for climbing Mount Kenya. However the weather and temperatures can be unpredictable, and vary considerably according to the altitude and even the time of the day. It’s the best to avoid the short rains from November to early December and the long rains from November to early December and the long rains from April to June.