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When to go · Kenya

Kenya in April

Avoid month. Wettest month: some Mara camps and coast hotels close; roads turn to mud.

Key facts

Verdict
Avoid
Crowds
Low
Kenya
Prices
Low
Kenya

Verdict

AvoidVoykit month rating for Kenya

Wettest month: some Mara camps and coast hotels close; roads turn to mud.

Is another month better than April?

April is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Weather in April

  • Masai Mara and the south-west · Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakururainy

    Migration herds in the Mara roughly Jul–Oct; April–May rains soften roads and close some camps.

  • Central highlands and Nairobi · Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdaresrainy

    At 1,700 m Nairobi is mild; June–August evenings are cold, so pack a fleece.

  • Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westrainy

    Dry and dusty; Kilimanjaro views are clearest early mornings in the dry months.

  • Coast · Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamurainy

    Humid year-round; the heaviest rain falls April–June and some coast hotels close in May.

  • Northern drylands · Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkanafine

    Semi-arid and hot; short rains still bring green flushes to Laikipia.

  • Coastal Kenya: Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Lamu) · Indian Ocean shorelinerainy

    April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 25 °C (77 °F) in August to 30 °C (86 °F) in March. Whale sharks and manta rays visit November–February; humpback whales July–October.

  • Eastern Kenya: Mount Kenya foothills (Meru, Embu) · Western edge of the regionrainy

    Cooler and wetter than the plains; long rains March–May, short rains October–December. Pack a rain shell.

  • Eastern Kenya: Northern plains (Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir) · North and east of the highlandshot

    Semi-arid to arid; 30 °C (86 °F)+ most afternoons, irregular rain, drought years common. Marsabit town sits higher and is cooler at night.

  • Northern Rift Valley: Highland Rift (Kitale, Kabarnet, Iten) · Escarpment and highland beltrainy

    Long rains roughly March–May, short rains October–November; cool nights year-round at altitude.

  • Northern Rift Valley: Turkana (Lodwar, Lake Turkana) · Northern lowlandshot

    Hot and arid all year; the least punishing months are roughly June–September and December–February.

  • Southern Rift Valley: Rift Valley floor (Naivasha, Nakuru) · About 1,700–1,900 mrainy

    Long rains roughly March–May, short rains November–December. Days are mild year-round; nights at this altitude are cold enough for a jacket.

  • Southern Rift Valley: Escarpment and Mau (Nyahururu, Mau) · 2,000 m and aboverainy

    Cooler and wetter than the valley floor; morning mist is common in the wet months.

  • Western Kenya: Lake Victoria shore (Kisumu, Homa Bay) · Nyanza lowlandsrainy

    Warm all year, 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) by day; the long rains peak in April and the short rains in November. Mosquitoes are worst in the evening.

  • Western Kenya: Highlands (Kakamega, Kericho, Eldoret, Kisii) · Western highlands, 1,500–2,000 mrainy

    Cooler, often misty; nights can drop below 12 °C (54 °F). Rain falls on more days than the coast.

  • Nairobi24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days
  • Diani Beach31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days
  • Eldoret23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Embu24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days
  • Garissa35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Homa Bay27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Isiolo26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kabarnet28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kakamega30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kericho26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 16 rain days
  • Kerugoya24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 14 rain days
  • Kiambu24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 20 rain days
  • Kilifi31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 2 rain days
  • Kisii22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kisumu29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days
  • Kitale26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Lamu31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days
  • Lodwar33 °C (91 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days
  • Machakos27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 14 rain days
  • Malindi31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days
  • Mandheera35 °C (95 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Marsabit29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days
  • Meru25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mombasa32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days
  • Moyale31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days
  • Msambweni31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Mtwapa31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days
  • Naivasha25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days
  • Nakuru26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 15 rain days
  • Namanga28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Nanyuki24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Narok24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 12 rain days
  • Nyahururu25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Nyeri22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Rusinga Island27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 16 rain days
  • Vihiga27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 16 rain days
  • Voi31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Wajir35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Webuye28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 15 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Good Friday and Easter Monday

    Mar–Apr (moves — check)

    Long weekend; Naivasha and coast resorts fill with Nairobi families.

  • Easter check

    Moves each year · Nairobi

    Public holidays; travel out of the city is heavy.

  • Long rains

    Mar–May · Nairobi

    Downpours in the afternoon slow roads; some lodges close in April and May.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Kenya
Low
Prices · Kenya
Low

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Kenya, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Apr: Avoid

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Apr: Low

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    Apr: Low

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Apr: 3

    Jan: 3

April: Wettest month: some Mara camps and coast hotels close; roads turn to mud.

January: Short dry season: good game viewing, green landscapes, Christmas crowds gone after the first week.

Kenya: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in April

Rated best or good this month

  • Kisii

    Best months: Apr–Oct (dry to mild)

Better another month

  • Nairobi

    Heavy rain; flooded roads and worse traffic.