The climate of Kenya and when to visit

Kenya is in the equatorial belt of Africa and its climate, influenced by the monsoon from the Indian Ocean, is characterized by almost constant temperatures throughout the year.

In the central highlands the climate is temperate, the days are warm and nights are cool, while on the coast and in the Southern region the days and nights are hot and the humidity is often high; in the Northern and North-Eastern parts of the country the climate is hot and dry with virtually no rainfall all year.

The climate of Kenya has two rainy seasons, heavy rains in the months from April to June and short rains in November, and two dry seasons, a longer and with milder temperatures from July to October and a shorter with high temperatures from mid-December to February.

The rains usually manifest themselves in the form of showers or thunderstorms, often in the evening, that often leave space to the sun even during periods of rain.

 

For a photo safari to see animals of the savannah the best times are those that correspond to the two dry seasons as animals congregate in the vicinity of the few sources of water available and therefore it is easier to find them, also the vegetation is reduced to a minimum and this facilitates sightings; in the rainy season the vegetation is lush and, if on one hand the landscapes are very attractive, on the other sightings are more difficult, also water is available a bit everywhere, and then the animals are dispersed throughout the territory.

The months from July to October are the best time to watch the spectacle of the Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras, that, at this time, are in the Masai Mara National Reserve and the neighboring Conservancy; with a little luck you can watch the crossing, by the herds of the Mara River, an exciting and unique event.

To witness the birth of the cubs of herbivorous, including wildebeests, zebras and antelopes, the best time is from February to March; the births of puppies are an amazing and exciting event but are often associated with hunting scenes harrowed by predators that take advantage on the vulnerability of mothers and pups just come to light.

As for birdwatching the best period is from November to February, in this period, besides the presence of more luxuriant vegetation, come Palaearctic migratory birds that fly in this part of Africa to avoid the harsh Northern winter.

 

For lovers of the beaches and the ocean the best time is from January to March when the rains are non-existent and the ocean waters are crystal clear and temperatures high; in the months from July to October on the coast it does not rain, the temperatures are mild but sometimes, when there is low tide and the ocean retreats, you can find some algae.

 

It is very important to know that it is not a phenomenon that occurs every day in the months involved, ie from July to September, and also often you just have to change beach to avoid the algae; finally, the algae in question, when present, look more like pieces of bamboo cane and the impact is minimal, because the beaches, particularly at the resorts, are consistently clean.