There is never a bad time to travel to Kenya as each season has its own attractions and highlights depending on your interests. Kenya's dry season falls in two separate times of the year. December to February is the hot dry season. This is an excellent time for bird watching and game viewing. It is also calving season for the wildebeest and zebra, providing rich pickings for the predators.
The winter months fall from June to October where temperatures are moderate and it is largely dry providing excellent viewing conditions. The peak tourist season in Kenya falls largely in July and August. The wildebeest migration is present plains of the Masai Mara during these months returning to the Serengeti in around November. Travelling at this time of year greatly increases the chances of seeing game – the grasses will be shorter and more game is likely to head to the waterholes in the evenings.
Kenya's heavy rains fall between April and May. This by no means rules it out as a safari destination during these months. There is an abundance of wildlife activity in the reserves and the landscapes are green and beautiful. During these months your safari will be un-crowded (and more reasonably priced) and there can also be long periods of sunshine. Sometimes the road conditions can be difficult during these months but we will help and advise you on how to work around this. November too is wet with intermittent showers and some flash flooding. It is during this month that the birds begin to arrive from Eurasia.
The temperatures on Kenya's coast average around 28°C with an average of 8 hours of sunshine per day. It can rain during any month. In recent times, changing global weather patterns make transitions between rainy and dry seasons come and go unpredictably.
Speak to us about your specific interests and we will advise you on the best time of year to travel to the region which suits you best.
Most visitors will start their journey in Nairobi which is only an 8 hour flight from most of Europe. There are daily connections from Nairobi to most European cities and regional flights across the African continent. From Nairobi there are regular scheduled flights to the popular reserves and national parks enabling you to make a 2 or 3 day visit.
Kenya's established infrastructure makes it an easy country to travel around. The more remote areas are best accessed by light aircraft; these flights are an adventure in themselves and enable you to enjoy a fish eagle's view of the African wilderness. You can choose to tour and enjoy a dedicated safari holiday in several locations, or, fly straight into a reserve or national park and then on to your chosen beach resort.
If it is a first time safari, we recommend you combine in a 5 or 6 day safari the famous Masai Mara and Amboseli National Parks in Southern Kenya. Most visitors to these two parks will encounter the Big 5, leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo and elephant. Animals in these two parks are well used to vehicles so they are easily observed, an ideal trip for photographers. You can access both these parks by road or by light aircraft and if we often recommend that you also incorporate a visit to one of the Rift Valley Lakes such as Lake Nakuru or Lake Naivasha. Nairobi is the point of access and it is from here too that you would fly home or connect with a flight to Mombasa for a beach break at the coast. Lake Victoria is also easily accessed by light aircraft from the Masai Mara. In many ways this would be termed a southern circuit.
If you looking for privacy and luxury, and really want to explore the country's less travelled parks, or indeed it is a second or third safari, we would recommend visiting Northern Kenya and the reserves of Samburu, Shaba & Mount Meru. These parks will provide real insight into Kenyan culture with the Samburu tribe. This northern circuit can also be expanded to include the Laikipia ranches. A safari in Lakipia is ideal for all age groups from young children to teenagers upwards. You can choose to participate in the activities as a family or the day can be tailored to suit the individual needs of the family. On a flying safari you could still combine the Masai Mara and the Amboseli with the above if so desired.
In many cases people do like to spend a night or two in Nairobi and visit attractions such as Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum and the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. These safaris circuits are tried and tested but speak to us for advice on what would combine for your specific requirements.