When to go
On the
coast of Kenya, the best months for a beach holiday are August and September, since they are the coolest, and are also quite sunny and with rare rains. If you want, you can also choose January and February, which are the driest months of the year, but they are also hot and muggy; on the other hand, they are those in which the sea is calmer and clearer, so they are the most suitable for diving.
If you want to visit the
arid regions, July and August are the least hot months, although there is no big difference in comparison with the rest of the year: the heat is still intense.
For a
safari in national parks and in the highlands, you can choose from two periods: June to September and January-February. In the former period, the risk of showers in the afternoon and evening is higher at high altitudes, in the latter, the chance of intense heat at lower altitudes. However, since in the early hours of the day and at higher altitudes it can be cool throughout the year, it's better to dress in layers.
It is worth while to recall that the equatorial
sun is very strong, and it is even stronger at high altitudes; the sun is strongest in the two months when it passes directly overhead at noon, that is, in March and September.
The days last about 12 hours throughout the year, so the sun rises at about 6:00 in the morning and sets at 6:00 p.m., and it's used by the local population as a clock.
The
worst period is that of the long rains, from March to May in the interior, and from April to June on the coast, with a peak in April in the interior and May on the coast: it is typically the rainiest and the one with the greatest risk of flooding.
What to pack
For the
plateau, in general, dress in layers with spring/autumn clothes, warmer at higher altitudes, a sun hat and sunscreen; you can also bring a raincoat for showers in rainy periods, which should be lighter in the warm season and at low altitudes. For
parks and reserves, neutral-colored clothes, comfortable canvas shoes. When going
mountain climbing, bring hiking shoes; for the summit of Mount Kenya, throughout the year, cold weather clothing, a down jacket, a Gore-Tex jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
In
winter (June to August): for the coast (Malindi, Mombasa) and the Tsavo National Park, bring light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, a scarf for the breeze, a light raincoat. For Lake Victoria, Nairobi, the Masai Mara and the plateau at intermediate altitudes, bring light clothes for the day, a sweater and a jacket for the evening, a raincoat or umbrella. For the highlands above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), spring/autumn clothes; above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), add a warm jacket and a hat. For the north and Lake Turkana, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light, long shirt and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, a desert turban, and a sun hat.
In
summer (December to February): for the coast (Malindi, Mombasa) and the Tsavo National Park, bring light clothing of natural fibers, a light sweatshirt for the evening. For Lake Victoria, light clothing of natural fibers, a sun hat, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella. For Nairobi, the Masai Mara and the plateau at intermediate altitudes, light clothes for the day, a jacket and a sweater for the evening. For the highlands above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), spring/autumn clothes, a raincoat or umbrella; above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), add a warm jacket and a hat. For the north and Lake Turkana, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light, long shirt and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, a desert turban, and a sun hat.
Back to the climate of
Kenya