Kenya in December

Short rains early in the month; coast and lodges full over Christmas.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JanuaryGreatShort dry season: good game viewing, green landscapes, Christmas crowds gone after the first week.
• FebruaryGreatHot and dry; one of the best months for Amboseli and the coast.
• JulyGreatMigration herds usually arrive in the Mara; Mara fee rises to US$200 a day from 1 July.
• AugustGreatPeak river-crossing month; book lodges 6–12 months ahead.

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

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

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

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

• Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westfine

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

• Coast · Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamubest weather

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

• Northern drylands · Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkanabest weather

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

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

  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.April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 77 °F (25 °C) in August to 86 °F (30 °C) 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 regionfine

  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.Semi-arid to arid; 86 °F (30 °C)+ 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 beltfine

  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 mbest weather

  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 abovefine

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

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

  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.Warm all year, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) 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 mfine

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

• Nairobi23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Diani Beach32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Eldoret22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Embu26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Garissa33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Homa Bay30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Isiolo28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Kabarnet27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
• Kakamega30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Kericho26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Kerugoya24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
• Kiambu25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Kilifi30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Kisii24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Kisumu30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• Kitale28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Lamu32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Lodwar30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Machakos27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
• Malindi32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Mandheera33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
• Marsabit28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Meru22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
• Mombasa32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Moyale30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Msambweni30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Mtwapa32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 7 rain days
• Naivasha28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Nakuru26 °C (79 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
• Namanga27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Nanyuki21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 4 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 4 rain days
• Narok25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Nyahururu20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Nyeri22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Rusinga Island28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• Vihiga27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 9 rain days
• Voi26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
• Wajir33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Webuye27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days

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.

• Jamhuri (Independence) Day

  12 Dec

  Start of the Christmas travel season.

• Christmas and Boxing Day big impact

  25–26 Dec

  Buses full, coast and lodges booked out, higher rates.

• Christmas

  Dec 25–26 · Nairobi

  Shops shut; hotels busy.

• Short rains

  Oct–Dec · Nairobi

  Showers, flooded roads in low areas.

Crowds · Kenya

High

Prices · Kenya

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Coast

  Best weather of the year (Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamu)

• Northern drylands

  Best weather of the year (Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkana)

• Nairobi

  Mostly dry; holiday crowds and higher prices.

• Diani Beach

  Best months: Late Nov–mid-Mar; Jul–Oct is drier and cooler but windier

• Lamu

  Best months: Oct–Mar

• Lodwar

  Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season)

• Malindi

  Best months: Dec–Mar (check)

• Mombasa

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Moyale

  Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season, cooler nights)

• Msambweni

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Mtwapa

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Vihiga

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar