When To Go

Best Time to Visit
The best wildlife viewing months in Kenya are during the dry season from June to October. The wildebeest migration reaches the Masai Mara in July and remains until October when they move back to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ from park to park.

Best Time to go on Safari
Kenya offers quality wildlife viewing throughout the year, but the ultimate game viewing times are in the dry season from June to October. This corresponds with the time the wildebeest migration is in the Masai Mara. The exact timing depends upon rainfall, but it’s typically in August that the wildebeest migration reaches the northern Serengeti and they begin to cross into the Masai Mara. In October, they make their way back into the Serengeti. These months are high season for tourism. The parks are much quieter in low season and prices more competitive, but often more rain occurs.

Samburu and Meru in the north, are home to some interesting localized dry country species.  The odd looking gerenuk is often seen standing on its hind legs feeding on dry bushes.  The Grevy’s Zebra and reticulated Giraffe are beautiful variants to the more common species found throughout the region.  Tsavo is home to the rare fringe-eared oryx.

Best Time for Bird Watching
The birdlife in Kenya is good year-round, but at its prime from September to April when the migratory birds from Europe and Northern Africa are present. During this time, resident bird species are nesting and are in breeding plumage.

*Travel alert: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against non-essential travel to the following areas: the Eastleigh area of Nairobi; within 15km of the coast between Tiwi and the Tana River; Garissa District; Lamu County; areas north of the Tana River in Tana County; and within 60km of the Somalia border. Please check with your relevant national government.