Planning essentials
Best time to visit Kenya
Reviewed 16 Oct 2026 · Each statement is labelled.
Kenya's two rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, an important rainfall season, particularly in the Central and Eastern regions.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
The Kenya Meteorological Department publishes an outlook before each rainy season. Each season's rains differ, so check the latest outlook for your travel dates.
Sources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Rainfall outlook for the October–December 2025 'Short Rains' season (KMD/FCST/5-2025/SO/03) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
The outlooks are issued per season; the advice to check them is ours.
The Great Migration in the Maasai Mara
The most dramatic part of the migration — when wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River into the Maasai Mara — usually happens between July and October.
Sources: Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board) (opens in a new tab); Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
The herds return to the Serengeti from around December, and calving is reported between March and May.
Source: Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Timing shifts from year to year with the rains, so river crossings in any given week are never guaranteed.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
What this means for your plan
During the rains, allow extra time for road journeys and game drives on unpaved roads, and keep a flexible day in your plan.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
If the migration is your main reason to travel, plan for July to October and give the Maasai Mara at least two to three days.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
Confirm before you travel
- The latest Kenya Meteorological Department outlook and forecasts for your dates
- Whether park roads and airstrips you need are open after heavy rain
- Peak-season prices and availability, which KenyaPlus does not hold
Ready to plan?
Turn this into a day-by-day plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) — Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) — Rainfall outlook for the October–December 2025 'Short Rains' season (KMD/FCST/5-2025/SO/03) (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board) (opens in a new tab) — The Great Migration (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) — Wildebeest migration attracts millions of tourists (checked 16 Oct 2026)