When to go · Kenya
Kenya in February
Great month. Hot and dry; one of the best months for Amboseli and the coast.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- Medium
- Kenya
- Prices
- Medium
- Kenya
Verdict
Hot and dry; one of the best months for Amboseli and the coast.
Is another month better than February?
No other month rates higher than February for Kenya in this guide.
Weather in February
- Masai Mara and the south-west · Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakurubest weather
Migration herds in the Mara roughly Jul–Oct; April–May rains soften roads and close some camps.
- Central highlands and Nairobi · Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdaresbest weather
At 1,700 m Nairobi is mild; June–August evenings are cold, so pack a fleece.
- Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westbest weather
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 Turkanahot
Semi-arid and hot; short rains still bring green flushes to Laikipia.
- Coastal Kenya: Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Lamu) · Indian Ocean shorelinehot
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 lowlandshot
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.
- Nairobi26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
- Diani Beach32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 3 rain days
- Eldoret23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Embu27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Garissa34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 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
- Kabarnet29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days
- Kakamega31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
- Kericho27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 11 rain days
- Kerugoya26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
- Kiambu26.5 °C (80 °F) / 13.5 °C (56 °F), 4 rain days80 °F (26.5 °C) / 56 °F (13.5 °C), 4 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) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
- Kisumu31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 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), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 2 rain days
- Lodwar30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 0 rain days
- Machakos28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 4 rain days
- Malindi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain days
- Mandheera35 °C (95 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
- Marsabit29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
- Meru24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- Mombasa33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 2 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), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
- Mtwapa32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 3 rain days
- Naivasha28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Nakuru28 °C (82 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Namanga29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
- Nanyuki24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
- Narok27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
- Nyahururu22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Nyeri23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Rusinga Island28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
- Vihiga29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
- Voi29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
- Wajir35 °C (95 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 1 rain days
- Webuye29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 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.
Ramadan
Lunar (moves each year)
Lamu and Mombasa Old Town eat after dark; daytime cafés close in Muslim areas.
Dry, warm season
Jan–Feb · Nairobi
Best city weather; safari traffic is high and hotels fill.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Kenya
- Medium
- Prices · Kenya
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Kenya, side by side.
Verdict
Feb: Great
Jan: Great
Crowds
Feb: Medium
Jan: Medium
Prices
Feb: Medium
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Feb: 2
Jan: 3
February: Hot and dry; one of the best months for Amboseli and the coast.
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
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
Where to go in February
Rated best or good this month
Masai Mara and the south-west
Best weather of the year (Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakuru)
Central highlands and Nairobi
Best weather of the year (Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdares)
Southern savanna
Best weather of the year (Amboseli, Tsavo East and West)
Coast
Best weather of the year (Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamu)
Warm, dry; the best city weather.
Best months: Late Nov–mid-Mar; Jul–Oct is drier and cooler but windier
Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct
Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb