Kenya is a year-round destination, with good game viewing throughout the year. For the best time to visit, you will probably want to visit between July and August, when the great annual migration is in full swing – a truly magical spectacle. If you are looking to visit Kenya during the warmer summer months then you will want to visit between December and March.

The best time to take Kenya safari is during the dry season from late June to October (these are the best wildlife viewing months). The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in August and remains until October when they move back to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ for some parks.

In the peak of the rainy season, most other parks, especially in the highlands and along the coast, can be problematic with regards to heat, humidity and continuous rain. Some of the lodges close as a result. The dry months offer quality wildlife viewing throughout Kenya.

The rainy seasons are also good times to travel, as there are fewer visitors and you can admire the striking emerald vegetation. December in particular is a great time to travel to Kenya, since the rains are short and you have the chance to see newborn animals and migratory bird species. Only the peak of the ‘long rains’ in March, April and May are very wet.

Kenya’s wildlife parks can be visited throughout the year; however, the best wildlife viewing is observed 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 the migration, millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope storm their way through Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti, resulting in one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles in the world. Therefore, those looking to combine a safari to both Kenya and Tanzania will definitely want to visit at this time.

Lake Nakuru is also best visited in the dry seasons as the rains can interfere with game drives during the wettest months. Likewise, visitors to Amboseli are recommended to time their safari with Kenya’s drier months. 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.

Recommended time to visit: January – March and July – October. These are the dry seasons, when vegetation is sparser and wildlife easier to spot. Less popular time to visit: April – June and November – December. Not so good for wildlife but the scenery is lush and crowds are fewer.

Exciting time to visit: The Great Migration, when millions of prey animals migrate across the Serengeti and Mara ecosystems. July – October is the best time to visit Kenya to see the migration in action. Best time for beaches: October – January are the best months to enjoy a Kenya beach holiday, with whale sharks spotted off the coast between January and March.